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AP Lit Rhetorical Devices

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105864369AllegoryThe use of character and/or story elements to represent a larger idea (hope, freedom)
105864370AlliterationRepetition of initial consonant sound
105864371AllusionReference to another work
105864372AmbiguityMultiple meanings
105864373AnadiplosisRepeating the last word of a phrase or clause
105864374AnalogySimilarity between two things, sometimes used to explain stuff
105864375AnaphoraRepeating the first word of a phrase or clause
105864376AntithesisEstablishes the contrasting nature of two ideas by juxtaposing them
105864377AphorismA statement of known authorship that says something considered to be "common knowledge"
105864378ApostropheAn interruption of a speech to address an inanimate object (fate, liberty, love)
105864379ArchetypeA basic form of a type of story or character
105864380AsideWords spoken only to the audience or to a few characters while others are onstage
105864381AssonanceRepetition of similar vowel sounds in successive words (not sentences)
105864382AsyndetonOmitting conjunctions between words
105864383BildungsromanA coming of age story
105864384CaricatureExaggeration of physical features as a form of parody
105864385Carpe DiemSieze the day - a realization that life is short and we have to make the most of it
105864386CatharsisPurification of emotions
105864387CatachresisAn exaggerated metaphor using words in an unusual way
105864388CataloguingListing entities to show progression
105864389ChiasmusParallel structure in which the second part is in reverse order (learned unwillingly, gladly forgotten)
105864390ClichéAn old, tired, worn out, idea or expression
105864391ColloquialThe use of slang or informalities in writing
105864392ComedyA work that amuses the audience and ends happily
105864393ConnotationNon-literal, associative meaning of a word; the suggested meaning
105864394ConsonanceCorrespondence of sounds in words or syllables, can be found anywhere in the word
105866582DenotationThe strict, literal definition of a word
105866583DiatribeA forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or some institution
105866584Didactic LiteratureLiterature designed to teach a moral
105866585DictionThe writer's word choice and style
105866586EllipsisThe omission of one or more words that the reader can fill in
105866587EpanalepsisThe same word or phrase starts and ends a phrase or sentence
105866588EpistropheRepetition of the last part of a sentence or part of a sentence. "Of the people, by the people, for the people"
105866589EpithetAn adjective that qualifies a noun. "sneering contempt"
105866590EponymUsing an name of a famous person to describe an attribute. "The man is a regular Einstein"
105866591EuphemismA word used to avoid saying another word
105866592Figurative languageLanguage not intended to carry literal meaning
105866593Figure of speechA device used to produce figurative language
105866594HyperboleExaggeration to make a point
105866595InvectiveHarsh denunciation of a person
105866596IronyThe contrast between what is stated and what is meant, 3 types: Verbal, Situational, Dramatic
105866597IsocolonThe same gramatical form is repeated multiple times, "I came, I saw, I conquered."
105866598LitotesUnderstatement used to make a point
105866599Loose SentenceIndependent clause first, followed by dependent clauses. Thus, can end early.
106019997MetaphorFigure of speech comparing two seemingly unlike things
106019998MotifA theme repeated throughout a work
106019999OnomatopoeiaImitating natural sounds in the form of words
106020000OxymoronA paradox (usually) reduced to two words; used to show complexities
106020001PaeanA song of praise or triumph. Does not literally have to be a song.
106020002ParableA brief and simple story that illustrates a moral or religious lesson
106020003ParadoxA statement or expression that is self contradictory; used to provoke the reader into seeing things from another point of view
106020004Pathetic FallacyThe writer treats inanimate or nonhuman objects as if they had human feelings (cruel winds, dancing flowers)
106020005PedanticAn overly scholarly tone
106020006Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the meaning is not completed until the end, usually because the independent clause is at the end.
106020007PolysyndetonAdding additional conjunctions to make an effect of a very long list.
106020008RhymeThe repetition of a similar sound in a work.
106020009SatireTargeting human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule
106020010SibilanceConsonant sounds that make a "hissing" sound
106020011SimileA comparison using "like" or "as"
106020012SoliloquyA speech given alone on the stage that expresses the private, inner thoughts of the character
106020013SynecdocheA figure of speech in which the part is used to represent the whole, or occasionally, vice versa. "The White House said..."

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