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Johnson - APE3
Rhetorical Devices for AP English III
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Allegory | using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstract meaning, usually dealing with moral truth or a generalization about human existence. Ex. “Animal Farm” George Orwell |
| Alliteration | repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants in two or more neighboring words (as in “she sells sea shells");can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply a musical sound, and/or echo the sense of the passage. |
| Allusion | direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art Ex. “Plan ahead: it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark” - Richard Cushing |
| Ambiguity | The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage |
| Analogy | similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them; can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar; Similes and metaphors are specific types |
| Anadiplosis | repetition of the last word of one phrase, clause, or sentence at or very near the beginning of the next Ex. “Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know,/ Knowledge might pity win, and pity grace obtain.” --Philip Sidney |
| Anaphora | repetition of the same expression (word or words) at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences Ex. “They are masters who instruct us without rod or ferule, without angry words, without clothes or money.” |
| Anecdote | A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event. The term most frequently refers to an incident in the life of a person. |
| Antecedent | The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP Language exam occasionally asks for the ____ of a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences. |
| Antithesis | Figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel structure Ex. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” – Jim Elliot |
| Aphorism | A terse statement of know 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. Ex. "Those who succeed always have a Plan B." |
| Apostrophe | directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love in order to give vent to or display intense emotion, which can no longer be held back Ex. "Oh, death! Where is thy sting?" |
| Asyndeton | consists of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses to give the effect of unpremeditated multiplicity, of an extemporaneous rather than a labored account Ex. On his return he received medals, honors, treasures, titles, fame. |
| Chiasmus | a figure of speech in which two successive phrases or clauses are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the analogous words. Ex. “The land was ours before we were the land’s” - Robert Frost (N, V, Pro: Pro, V, N) |
| Colloquialism | expression of slang or informality in speech or writing; not generally acceptable for formal writing; give a work a conversational, familiar tone; includes local or regional dialects |
| Conceit | A fanciful expression usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being mad |
| Diacope | repetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase: word/phrase X, . . ., word/phrase X. Ex. We will do it, I tell you; we will do it. |
| Diction | the writer’s word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness |
| Didactic | describes works that have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles |
| Enumeratio | Figure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details, and may include a listing of causes, effects, problems, solutions, conditions, and consequences Ex. I love her eyes, her hair, her nose, her cheeks, her lips. |
| Epistrophe | the repetition of the same word or words comes at the end of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences Ex. "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child." |
| Euphemism | a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept; may be sued to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement |
| Exposition | In essays, one of the four chief types of composition; purpose is to explain something. In drama, the ___ is the introductory material, which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters and conflict. |
| Figurative Language | a general term referring to writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid. |
| Homily | This term literally means “sermon,” but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. |
| Hyperbole | A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement; often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible; often produces irony. Ex. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” - FDR |
| Hypophora | Figure of reasoning in which one or more questions is/are asked and then answered, often at length, by one and the same speaker; used to raise questions which the reader probably has on his/her mind and would like to see formulated and answered. |
| Imagery | The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, is appears with terms related to the five senses: visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, or olfactory |
| Invective | an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language |
| Verbal Irony | the words literally state the opposite of the writer’s (or speaker’s) true meaning |
| Situational Irony | events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and the readers think ought to happen |
| Dramatic Irony | facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction, but know to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. Irony is used for many reasons, but frequently, it’s used to create poignancy or humor |
| Juxtaposition | When two words, phrases, images, ideas are placed close together or side by side for comparison or contrast |
| Litotes | a figure of thought in which a point is affirmed by negating its opposite; a special form of understatement, where the surface denial serves, through ironic contrast, to reinforce the underlying assertion. Ex. He’s no fool (which implies he is wise). |
| Metaphor | A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity; makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful. |
| Metonymy | a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. Ex. A news release that claims “the White House declared” rather than “the President declared.” |
| Onomatopoeia | A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Simple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur. |
| Oxymoron | a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Simple examples include “jumbo shrimp” and “cruel kindness.” |
| Paradox | A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity |
| Parallelism | the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity; frequently acts as an organizing force to attract the reader’s attention, add emphasis and organization, or simply provide a musical rhythm. |
| Pedantic | An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish. |
| Personification | presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions; used to make these abstractions, animal, or objects appear more vivid to the reader. |
| Polysyndeton | Figure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions; the deliberate and excessive use of conjunctions; effect is a feeling of multiplicity, energetic enumeration, and building up – a persistence or intensity. |
| Repetition | The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern |
| Rhetorical Question | a question presented but not answered by the writer because its answer is obvious or obviously desired; used for effect, emphasis, or provocation, or for drawing a conclusionary statement |
| Satire | A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule; often makes use of devices such as irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, and sarcasm. |
| Simile | A comparison between two different things that resemble each other in at least one way, typically using the words "like" or "as" Ex. Here is your pencil and paper. I want you to compete as the greatest hero would in the race of his life |
| Syllogism | a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion. A frequently cited example proceeds as follows: All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal. |
| Synecdoche | a type of metaphor in which the part stands for the whole, the whole for a part, or in short, any portion, section, or main quality for the whole or the thing itself (or vice versa). Ex. Farmer Joe has two hundred head of cattle, and three hired hands. |
| Syntax | The way an author chooses to join and structure words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. |
| Understatement | The ironic minimizing of fact, presenting something as less significant than it is; effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic Ex. The earthquake interrupted business somewhat in the downtown area. |
| Zeugma | Several related figures of speech in which two or more parts of a sentence are joined together grammatically or semantically by a single word other than a conjunction. Ex. "Lust conquered shame; audacity, fear; madness, reason" |
Created by:
magtheag
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