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AP Language Rhetorical Terms Flashcards

Rhetorical Terms and Definitions for Ms. Kiley's AP Language and Composition Class.

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5566149913AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some allegories for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom. The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.0
5566149914AlliterationThe repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in "she sells sea shells"). Although the term is not used in the multiple choice section, you can look for alliteration in any essay passage. The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, and/or supply a musical sound.1
5566149915AllusionA direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions can be historical (like referring to Hitler), literary (like referring to Kurtz in Heart of Darkness), religious (like referring to Noah and the flood), or mythical (like referring to Atlas). There are, of course, many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers of allusion.2
5566149916AmbiguityThe multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, or a word, phrase, sentence or passage.3
5566149917AnadiplosisThe repetition of a key word, especially the last one, at the beginning of the next sentence or clause. For example, "He gave his life; life was all he could give."4
5566149918AnalogyA similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. An analogy can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. Analogies can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging.5
5566149920AnaphoraThe rhetorical device of repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences for emphasis and rhythm.6
5566149921AnathemaA thing or person accursed or damned; a thing or person greatly detested; a formal curse or condemnation excommunicating a person from a church or damning something; any strong curse.7
5566149922AntecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP language exam occasionally asks for the antecedent of a given pronoun in a long complex sentence or in a group of sentences.8
5566149923AnticlimaxUsing a sequence of ideas that abruptly diminish in dignity or importance at the end of a sentence, generally for satirical effect.9
5566149924AntimetaboleRepeating words in reverse order for surprise and emphasis. Same as Chiasmus.10
5566149925AntithesisA contrast or opposition of thoughts, usually in two phrases, clauses, or sentences. For example, You are going; I am staying. The exact opposite (Joy is the antithesis of sorrow).11
5566149926AphorismA terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb). An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author's point.12
5566149927ApostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity. William Wordsworth addresses John Milton as he writes, "Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee.13
5566149928ArchetypeThe original pattern, or model from which all other things of the same kind of thing are made; a perfect example of a type or group.14
5566149929AssonanceThe repetition of vowel sounds in a series of words; e.g., the words "cry and "side" have the same vowel sound and so are said to be in assonance.15
5566149930AsyndetonThe practice of leaving out the usual conjunctions between coordinate sentence elements. For example: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.16
5566149931AtmosphereThe emotional mood created by the entirety of the literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the atmosphere. Frequently, atmosphere foreshadows events.17
5566149932AttitudeThe position or posture assumed in connection with an action, feeling, mood. For example, to kneel in an attitude of prayer. Also a manner of acting, feeling or thinking that shows one's disposition, opinion or mental set, etc.18
5566149933Balanced SentenceThe phrases or clauses balance each other by virtue of their likeness in structure, meaning, or length: e.g., He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.19
5566149934BathosAn abrupt change from the lofty to the ordinary or trivial in writing or speech; anticlimax.20
5566149935Blank VerseBlank verse is poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. An iamb is a poetic foot consisting of one weak stress followed by one strong stress. A pentameter line is a line of five poetic feet.21
5566149936CacophonyHarsh sounding, jarring sound; dissonance.22
5566149937CaesuraA pause or break in the middle of a line of poetry23
5566149938ChiasmusSimilar to antimetabole, but reversing the grammatical elements rather than just words, for emphasis.24
5566149939ClauseA grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate, clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause. Examine this sample sentence: "Because I practiced hard, my AP scores were high." In this sentence, the independent clause is "my AP scores were high," and the dependent clause is "Because I practiced hard."25
5566149940ClicheAn overused, worn-out, hackneyed expression that used to be fresh but is no more. "Blushing bride" and "clinging vine" are clichés used to describe people.26
5566149941ClimaxArranging words, clauses, or sentences in the order of their importance, the least forcible coming first and the others rising in poser until the last.27
5566149942ColloquialThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, colloquialisms give a work a conversational, familiar tone. Colloquial expressions in writing include local and regional dialects.28
5566149943Complex SentenceA complex sentence contains two or more principal clauses and one or more subordinate clauses: e.g., You said that you would tell the truth.29
5566149944Compound SentenceA compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinate conjunction (and, but, or) or by a semicolon: e.g., The singer bowed to the audience, but she sang no encores.30
5566149945Compound-Complex SentenceA compound-complex sentence contains two or more principal clauses and one or more subordinate clauses: e.g., The singer bowed while the audience applauded, but she sang no encores.31
5566149946ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. A conceit displays intellectual cleverness due to the unusual comparison made.32
5566149947ConnotationThe nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. Connotations may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes.33
5566149948ConsonanceThe repetition of a constant sound within a series of words to produce a harmonious effect: e.g., And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. The "d" sound is in consonance. The "s" sound is also in consonance.34
5566149949Cumulative sentenceAn independent clause followed by a series of subordinate constructions that gather details about a person, place, event, or idea35
5566149950DactylicA foot in poetry with one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.36
5566149951Declarative SentenceA sentence that makes a statement: e.g., The king is sick.37
5566149952DenotationThe strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.38
5566149953DeviceA plan. Something used to gain an artistic effect.39
5566149954DictionRelated to style, diction refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. For the AP exam, you should be able to describe an author's diction (for example, formal or informal, ornate or plain) and understand the ways in which diction can complement the author's purpose. Diction, combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices etc., creates the author's style.40
5566149955DidacticFrom the Greek, didactic literally means "teaching." Didactic works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.41
5566149956DimeterA verse written in two-foot lines.42
5566149957DirgeA funeral hymn; a slow, sad song, poem, or musical composition expressing grief or mourning.43
5566149958ElegyA poem or song of lament and praise for the dead.44
5566149959EllipsisThe omission of a word or words necessary for complete grammatical construction but understood in the context. For example, "if possible" for "if it is possible." Also an intentional omission of words or letters or an abrupt change of thought, lapse of time, incomplete statement, etc.45
5566149960EnjambmentIn poetry, the running on of a sentence from one line or couplet to the next with little or no pause.46
5566149961EpanalepsisOpening and closing a sentence with the same word or praise for surprise and emphasis. For example, Buster is deeply concerned to promote the health and well being of Buster.47
5566149962EpicA long narrative poem in a dignified style about the deeds of a tradition or historical hero or heroes.48
5566149963EpigramA short poem with a witty or satirical point; any terse, witty, pointed statement, often antithetical. For example: "Experience is the name everyone gives to his mistakes."49
5566149964EpistlesAn epistle, or literary letter, is a formal composition written in the form of a letter addressed to a distant person or group of people. Unlike common personal letters, which tend to be conversational and private compositions, epistles are carefully-crafted works of literature, intended for a general audience.50
5566149965EpitaphAn inscription on a tomb or gravestone in memory of the person buried there; short composition in prose or verse, written in attribute to a person.51
5566149966EuphemismForm the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. The euphemism may be used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement. Saying "earthly remains" rather than "corpse" is an example of euphemism.52
5566149967EuphonyThe quality of having a pleasant sound; pleasant combination of agreeable sounds.53
5566149968Extended ParallelismThe repetition of words or grammatical elements to achieve cumulative force and rhythm. For example, in a single sentence: I photographed the living things of the Mojave Desert: cactus flowers in yellow bloom , an indigo bush with dark blue flowers, kangaroo rats hopping frantically over the sand, a vulture circling overhead, a rattlesnake basking in the sun.54
5566149969Extended MetaphorA metaphor developed at great length , occurring frequently in or throughout a work.55
5566149970FableA brief history, usually with animal characters, that teaches a lesson or moral.56
5566149971Figurative LanguageA device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Figures of speech include, for example, apostrophe, hyperbole. Irony, metaphor, metonymy, onomatopoeia etc.57
5566149972GenreKinds of types of literature. For example, poetry, drama, novel, short story, nonfiction, etc.58
5566149973HomilyA solemn, moralizing talk or writing; a sermon ( especially a long, boring one.)59
5566149974Hortative SentenceA sentence meant to encourage60
5566149975HyperboleAn overstatement or exaggerated way of saying something. Example: "This book weighs a ton." In literature, hyperbole is classified a s a figure of speech.61
5566149976IambicA foot in poetry with one unstressed syllable, followed by one stressed syllable.62
5566149977ImageryAnything in a literary work that calls up sensations of sight, taste, smell, touch, heat, pressure. In the expression, "My heart is like a singing bird", both the singing bird and the heart are images63
5566149978Infer/InferenceTo conclude or decide from something known or assumed; derive by reasoning.64
5566149979InvectiveA violent verbal attack; strong criticism, curses; an abusive term.65
5566149980Inverted order of a sentenceThis involves constructing a sentence so the predicate comes before the subject: e.g., In California grow oranges. This is a device in which normal sentence patterns are reversed to create an emphatic or rhythmic effect.66
5566149981Imperative sentenceA sentence that commands67
5566149982IronyGeneral, irony is an implied contrast. In verbal irony the contrast is between what is said and what is intended, as when one says in disgust, "That's just great." In dramatic irony, a character in a play, short story, or novel expects one outcome of a situation that the audience knows will end a different way. In situational irony the opposite or something very different happens than what is expected.68
5566149983Juxtapositiona poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, creating an effect of surprise and wit: e.g., "The apparition of these face sin the crowd;/petals on a wet, black bough."69
5566149984LanguageThe entire body of words used in a text, not simply bits of isolated diction; for example: an invitation to a graduation might use formal language, where as a biology text would use scientific and clinical language.70
5566149985Literal/ FigurativeLiteral is based on the actual words in the ordinary meaning. Figurative gives a more symbolic meaning or representing one concept in terms of another that may be thought of as analogous within sense of reference. In the words "screaming headlines," screaming is a figurative use. Litotes- Understatement employed for the purpose of enhancing the effect of the ideas expressed. Contains a negative.71
5566149986LitotesIronical understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary72
5566149987Loose Sentencea loose sentence makes sense if brought to a close before the actual ending: e.g., We reached Edmonton/ that morning/ after a turbulent flight/ and some exciting experiences73
5566149988LyricA melodic poem that expresses the observations and feelings of a single speaker. Unlike a narrative poem, a lyric focuses on a single, united effect. Types of lyrics include elegy, the ode, and the sonnet. Among contemporary American poets, the lyrics is the most common poetic form.74
5566149989MetaphorA comparison, like a simile but usually implied and without a comparative word such as like or as. Example: "My heart is a singing bird"; "He wolfed his food"75
5566149990MetonymyThe use of the name of one thing for that of another associated with or suggested by it. For example "the White House" of the "President."76
5566149991Mock Heroicburlesquing or mocking heroic manner, action, or character.77
5566149992MonometerA verse written in one-foot lines.78
5566149993MoodThe atmosphere of the literary work. In verbs, an expression of the manner in which the action is done. The three moods in English are indicative, the most common, which states the action is an actual fact ("Tony hit the ball"), imperative, stating a command ("Tony, hit the ball!"). A third mood, the subjunctive, is now rare in English. It is used to express a wish or a conditional statement: "If I were you...", "It is required that the applicant be under twenty-one."79
5566149994MotifA main theme or subject.80
5566149995MythA fictional tale that explains the actions of gods or heroes or the causes of natural phenomena. Some myths are a kind of primitive science, explaining how and why natural phenomena came about. Other myths express the central values of the people who created them.81
5566149996NarrativeThe telling of any story, or the story itself, the plot.82
5566149997Natural order of a sentenceThis involves constructing a sentence so the subject comes before the predicate: e.g., Oranges grow in California.83
5566149998NovelA fictional prose narrative, usually long enough to be published in a book by itself.84
5566149999OnomatopoeiaThe use of words that sound like what they mean. Buzz, clang, and hiss are onomatopoeia.85
5566150000OxymoronA figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory ideas or terms are combined; for example: thunderous silence, sweet sorrow and jumbo shrimp are oxymorons.86
5566150001ParableA parable is a brief story, usually with human characters, that teaches a moral lesson. The most famous parables are those told by Christ in the Bible.87
5566150002Paradoxa statement that seems contradictory, unbelievable, or absurd but that may actually be true in fact.88
5566150003Parellelismrefers to a grammatical or structural similarity between sentences or parts of a sentence. It involves an arrangement of words, phrase, sentences, and paragraphs so that elements of equal importance are equally developed and similarly phrased: e.g., He was walking, running, and jumping for joy. I learned to swim, to play tennis, and to ride a horse.89
5566150004ParodyA literary work that imitates and makes fun of another type of work, or specific author.90
5566150005PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.91
5566150006PentameterA verse written in five-foot lines.92
5566150007Periodic SentenceA periodic sentence makes sense only hen the end of the sentence is reached. E.g., that morning, after a turbulent flight and some exciting experiences, we reached Edmonton.93
5566150008PersonificationThe treatment of an object or an abstract idea as if it were a person, as in Tennyson's "Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white," and Shakespeare's "Time's cruel hand."94
5566150009Point of ViewIn fiction, point of view is the person or intelligence the writer creates to tell the story to the reader. The point of view may be that of a character in the story or of an outside observer who is not part of the action.95
5566150010ProseThe ordinary form of written or spoken language, without rhyme or meter; speech or writing that is not poetry.96
5566150011ProsodyThe science or art of versification, including the study of metrical structure, rhyme, stanza forms, etc.97
5566150012Punplay on words that are identical or similar in sound but have sharply diverse meanings. Puns can have serious as well as humorous uses: e.g., When Mercutio is bleeding to death in Romeo and Juliet, he says to his friends, "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man."98
5566150013RepetitionA device in which words, sounds, and ideas are used more than once to enhance rhythm and create emphasis: e.g., "...government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall perish form the earth"99
5566150014RhetoricThe skill of using spoken or written communication effectively. It is the art of guiding the reader or listener to agreement with the writer or speaker. Spoken rhetoric is called oratory.100
5566150015Rhetorical ModesNarrative, descriptive, expository & argumentative.101
5566150016Rhetorical Questiona question that expects no answer. It is used to draw attention as a point and is generally stronger than the direct statement: e.g., "If Mr. Ferchoff is always fair, as you have said, why did he refuse to listen to Mr. Baldwing's arguments?"102
5566150017Rhyme SchemeA rhyme scheme is a regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem. To describe rhyme scheme, one uses a letter of the alphabet to represent each rhyming sound in a poem or stanza.103
5566150018RomanceA story that presents a remote or imaginative incidents rather than ordinary, commonplace experiences. Although the events in a romance are improbable or impossible, the characters still reflect "truth of heart."104
5566150019SarcasmA taunting, sneering, cutting or caustic remark; gibe or jeer.105
5566150020SatireA literary work that ridicules various aspects of human behavior. Its purpose is often to correct certain faults, but underneath the surface it is sometimes pure personal attack. Gulliver's Travels and Animal Farm and both satires.106
5566150021SchemeFigures of speech that deal with word order, syntax, letters, and sounds107
5566150022SemanticsThe nature, structure, development and changes of the meanings of speech forms with contextual meaning.108
5566150023Sentence Inversionany sentence in which the normal word order is reversed, with the verb coming before the subject or the complete subject and predicate coming after another clause.109
5566150024Sentence StructureHow a speaker or author constructs a sentence affects what the audience understands. The inverted order of an interrogative sentence cues the reader or listener to a question and creates a tension between speaker and listener. Similarly short sentences ar e often emphatic, passionate or flippant, whereas longer sentences suggest the writer's thoughtful response.110
5566150025ShiftA change of feelings by the speaker from the beginning to the end, paying particular attention to the conclusion of the literature. (Progression)111
5566150026SimileThe comparison of two different things or ideas through the use of words like or as. It is a definitely stated comparison in which the poet says one thing is like another; e,g,, The warrior fought like a lion.112
5566150027Simple Sentencea simple sentence contains one subject and one verb: e.g., The singer bowed to her adoring audience.113
5566150028SoliloquyLines in a drama in which a character reveals his thoughts to the audience, but not to the other characters, by speaking as if to himself.114
5566150029Sonneta fourteen-line lyric poem focused on a single theme. Sonnets have many variations, but are usually written in iambic pentameter, following one or two traditional patterns. The Petrarchan, or Italian, or the Shakespearean, or English.115
5566150030Split order of a sentenceThis divides the predicate into two parts with the subject coming in the middle: e.g., In California oranges grow116
5566150031Stream of ConsciousnessA narrative technique that presents thoughts as if they were coming directly from a character's mind. Instead of being arranged in chronological order, the events of the story are presented from the character's point of view, mixed in character's feelings and memories just as they might spontaneously occur in the mind of a real person.117
5566150032Stylea group of different aspects of writing that have to do with the writer's way of saying something. Diction, sentence structure, figurative language, and various sound patterns all enter into style.118
5566150033SyllogismAn argument or form of reasoning in which two statements or premises are made and a logical conclusion drawn form them. Example: All mammals are warm blooded. Whales are mammals. Therefore whales are warm blooded.119
5566150034Symbol/SymbolismA thing or action that is made to mean more than itself. A rose, for instance, is used to symbolize love. Writers of ten use symbols to express ideas that are too complicated, too elusive, or too deep for words.120
5566150035SynecdocheA from of a metaphor, In synecdoche , a part of something is used to signify the whole: e.g., All hands on deck. Also, the reverse, whereby the whole can represent a part, is synecdoche: e.g., Canada played the United States in the Olympic hockey finals. Another form of synecdoche involves the container representing the thing be contained: e.g., The pot is boiling. In one last form of synecdoche, the material from which an objects is made stands for the object itself: e.g., The quarterback tossed the pigskin. In metonymy, the name of one thing is applied to another thing with which is closely associated: e.g., I love Shakespeare.121
5566150036Synesthetic ImageryDetail that moves from the simulation of one sense to a response by another sense, as a certain odor induces the visualization of a certain color. Here the act of reading, a visual stimulus, produces sound. e.g., "the cinnamon beat of the music," "yellow cocktail music," "the sparkling odor of jonquils," etc.122
5566150037SyntaxAt its simplest level, syntax consists of sentence structure and word order, but analysis of style and meaning never relies on one concept alone. Syntax should not be studied in isolation, but rather it should be examined in conjunction with other stylistic techniques that work together to develop meaning.123
5566150038TetrameterA verse written in four lines.124
5566150039ThemeWhat the author is saying bout the subjects in his work.125
5566150040ToneThe writer's or speaker's attitude toward the subject and the audience.126
5566150041TragedyA serious play typically dealing with the problems of a central character, leading to an unhappy or disastrous ending brought on as in ancient drama, by fate and a tragic flaw in this character, or, in modern drama, usually by moral weakness, psychological maladjustment, or social pressures.127
5566150042TrimeterA verse written in three-foot lines.128
5566150043Triteis applied to something, especially a n expression or idea which through repeated use or application has lost its origin freshness.129
5566150044TropeA figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression130
5566150045TrochaicA foot in poetry with one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable.131
5566150046Understatement (meiosis)The opposite of hyperbole. It is a king of irony that deliberately represents something as being much less than it really is: e.g., I could probably manage to survive on a salary of two million dollars a year.132
5566150047VernacularUsing the native language of a country or place; commonly spoken by the people of a particular country or place.133
5566150048VignetteA short, delicate literary sketch.134
5566150049ZeugmaFigure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses135
5566150050Rhetorical Strategiesmethods of development136
5566150051Argument and persuasionstating opinions and proposals137
5566150052Cause and Effectasking why138
5566150053Classificationsorting into kinds139
5566150054Definitiontracing boundaries140

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