English Final (2025) Flashcards
(28 cards)
Parallelism (parallel structure)
a rhetorical and stylistic device where parts of a sentence, or two or more sentences, are structured in a similar way to create a pattern of repetition and balance.
Anaphora
the deliberate repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or lines.
ex: “I have a dream..” MLK
Metaphor
makes an implied comparison between two unlike things, stating that one thing is another.
Allusion
an implied or indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of another text.
Irony (Verbal)
a speaker says something that contrasts with what they actually mean.
Logos
the use of logic, reason, and evidence to persuade an audience.
Pathos
refers to the appeal to emotion in persuasion.
Ethos
an appeal to the audience’s sense of morality or ethics.
Denotation
refers to a word’s literal or dictionary meaning, distinct from its connotative or implied meaning.
Connotation
the implied meaning or emotional association of a word, in addition to its literal or dictionary definition (denotation).
Tone
the author’s or narrator’s attitude towards the subject matter, audience, or characters
Oxymoron
a figure of speech that combines seemingly contradictory words or ideas to create a new meaning or effect.
Euphemism
a mild or indirect word or phrase used in place of another that is considered too harsh, blunt, or offensive.
Personification
a figure of speech where human qualities, characteristics, or behaviors are attributed to something non-human, like an animal, object, or abstract idea.
Simile
a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”.
Hyperbole
a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
Paradox
a statement or situation that seems self-contradictory or absurd on the surface but, upon closer examination, reveals a deeper truth or meaning.
Thesis
a concise sentence or paragraph that presents the main argument or point of view of a piece of writing, such as an essay or literary analysis.
Evidence
the specific details, examples, and quotations from a text that are used to support an argument or interpretation about that text.
Reasoning
the logical sequence of claims and ideas that support a writer’s thesis or main argument.
Fallacies
a flaw or error in reasoning or logic, often within a character’s actions, beliefs, or the overall narrative.
Personal attack
a type of argument that attacks the character or personal attributes of the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself.
Slippery slope
a course of action is rejected because, with little or no evidence, one insists that it will lead to a chain reaction resulting in an undesirable end or ends.
Either/Or
a situation or choice presented with only two alternatives, implying an exclusive or unavoidable choice between them.
