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Rhetorical Devices
Literary Terms for 11th Grade AP English
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| abstract | 1 (adjective)existing only in the mind; not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature 2 (noun)a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance; a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory |
| ad hominem | 1 (adjective)arising from or appealing to the emotions and not reason or logic 2 (adverb)relating to or associated with a particular person |
| allegory | 1 (noun)a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning |
| alliteration | 1 (noun)the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words |
| allusion | 1 (noun)an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference |
| analogy | 1 (noun)a comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification |
| anecdote | 1 (noun)a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person |
| antecedent | 1 (noun)a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another 2 (adjective)preceding in time or order; previous or preexisting |
| antithesis | 1 (noun)a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else; a contrast or opposition between two things |
| argument | 1 (noun)an exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one; a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong |
| attitude | 1 (noun)a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior |
| balance | 1 (noun)an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady 2 (verb)keep or put (something) in a steady position so that it does not fall |
| cacophony | 1 (noun)a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds |
| character | 1 (noun)the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual 2 (verb)inscribe; engrave |
| colloquial | 1 (adjective)(of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary |
| comic relief | 1 (noun)comic episodes in a dramatic or literary work that offset more serious sections; a character or characters providing this |
| conflict | 1 (noun)a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one 2 (verb)be incompatible or at variance; clash |
| connective tissue | 1 (noun)elements that help create coherence in a written piece, such as literary transitions |
| connotation | 1 (noun)an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning; the abstract meaning or intension of a term, which forms a principle determining which objects or concepts it applies to |
| deduction | 1 (noun)the action of deducting or subtracting something; the inference of particular instances by reference to a general law or principle |
| denotation | 1 (noun)the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests; the action or process of indicating or referring to something by means of a word, symbol, etc |
| dialect | 1 (noun)a particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group |
| diction | 1 (noun)the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing; the style of enunciation in speaking or singing |
| didactic | 1 (adjective)intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive; in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a patronizing way |
| discourse | 1 (noun)written or spoken communication or debate 2 (verb)speak or write authoritatively about a topic |
| ellipsis | 1 (noun)the omission from speech or writing of a word or words that are superfluous or able to be understood from contextual clues |
| epigraph | 1 (noun)a short quotation or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest its theme |
| euphemism | 1 (noun)a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing |
| euphony | 1 (noun)the quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through a harmonious combination of words; the tendency to make phonetic change for ease of pronunciation |
| exposition | 1 (noun)a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory |
| extended metaphor | 1 (noun)a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem |
| figurative language | 1 (noun)language that contains or uses figures of speech, especially metaphors |
| flashback | 1 (noun)a sudden and disturbing vivid memory of an event in the past |
| form | 1 (noun)the visible shape or configuration of something; a particular way in which a thing exists or appears; a manifestation 2 (verb)bring together parts or combine to create (something); make or fashion into a certain shape or form |
| hyperbole | 1 (noun)exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally |
| image | 1 (noun)actual or mental picture: a picture or likeness of somebody or something, produced either physically by a sculptor, painter, or photographer, or formed in the mind |
| imagery | 1 (noun)visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work; visual images collectively |
| induction | 1 (noun)the process or action of bringing about or giving rise to something |
| inference | 1 (noun)a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning |
| invective | 1 (noun)insulting, abusive, or highly critical language |
| irony | 1 (noun)the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect; a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result |
| logic | 1 (noun)sensible argument and thought: sensible rational thought and argument rather than ideas that are influenced by emotion or whim |
| logical fallacy | 1 (noun)a false notion in logical argumentation |
| metaphor | 1 (noun)a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract |
| metonymy | 1 (noun)the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, or the track for horse racing |
| monologue | 1 (noun)a long and typically tedious speech by one person during a conversation |
| motif | 1 (noun)a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition |
| narrator | 1 (noun)a person who narrates something, especially a character who recounts the events of a novel or narrative poem |
| onomatopoeia | 1 (noun)the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named |
| oxymoron | 1 (noun)a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction |
| pacing | 1 (noun)the rate of speed at which an activity or movement proceeds 2 (verb)setting or regulating the rate of speed for |
| parable | 1 (noun)a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels |
| parody | 1 (noun)an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect 2 (verb)produce a humorously exaggerated imitation of (a writer, artist, or genre) |
| pathos | 1 (noun)a quality that evokes pity or sadness |
| pedantic | 1 (adjective)makes a big display of knowing obscure facts and details |
| periodic sentence | 1 (noun)in rhetoric, a complex sentence in which the main clause is left unfinished until the end in order to create the effect of anticipation or suspense |
| personification | 1 (noun)the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form |
| persuasion | 1 (noun)the action or fact of persuading someone or of being persuaded to do or believe something; a belief or set of beliefs, especially religious or political ones |
| plot | 1 (noun)what happens in the story and the order it happens in 2 (verb)secretly make plans to carry out |
| point of view | 1 (noun)a particular attitude or way of considering a matter; the narrator's position in relation to the story being told |
| pun | 1 (noun)a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings 2 (verb)make a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word |
| reduction ad absurdum | 1 (noun)a mode of argumentation that seeks to establish a contention by deriving an absurdity from its denial |
| rhetoric | 1 (noun)the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques |
| rhetorical question | 1 (noun)a figure of speech in the form of a question that is asked in order to make a point |
| sarcasm | 1 (noun)the use of irony to mock or convey contempt |
| satire | 1 (noun)the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues |
| setting | 1 (noun)the place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place |
| simile | 1 (noun)a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid |
| stage directions | 1 (noun)instructions in the text of a play, especially one indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor, or the sound effects and lighting |
| stanza | 1 (noun)a group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem; a verse |
| structure | 1 (noun)the arrangement of and relations between the parts or elements of something complex 2 (verb)construct or arrange according to a plan; give a pattern or organization to |
| style | 1 (noun)a manner of doing something 2 (verb)design or make in a particular form |
| summary | 1 (noun)a brief statement or account of the main points of something 2 (adjective)dispensing with needless details or formalities; brief |
| syllogism | 1 (noun)deductive reasoning as distinct from induction |
| symbol | 1 (noun)something that represents something else: something that stands for or represents something else, especially an object representing an abstraction |
| synecdoche | 1 (noun)a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning “Cleveland's baseball team”) |
| syntax | 1 (noun)the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language |
| synthesis | 1 (noun)the combination of ideas to form a theory or system |
| theme | 1 (noun)the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic 2 (verb)give a particular setting or ambiance to (a venue or activity) |
| thesis | 1 (noun)a statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved |
| tone | 1 (noun)a musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength 2 (verb)give greater strength or firmness to (the body or a part of it) |
| transition | 1 (noun)the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another 2 (verb)undergo or cause to undergo a process or period of transition |
| understatement | 1 (noun)the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is |
| voice | 1 (noun)the condition or effectiveness of the voice for speaking or singing; something likened to speech as conveying impressions to the mind 2 (verb)to give utterance or expression to; declare; proclaim |
Created by:
KKelley
Popular English Vocabulary sets