Rhetorical devices Flashcards
(24 cards)
Allusion
A little nudge
A figure of speech where an author makes a reference to a person, place, thing, event, or other literary work that the reader is most likely familiar with. An allusion is typically brief, and it is up to the reader to make a connection to the subject that is being mentioned.
Anaphora
Again and again at the beginning
It is a rhetorical device that features repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, phrases, or clauses.
“Be bold. Be Brief. Be Gone”
Anecdote
a little “note”
It is a short and interesting story, or amusing event added into the writing. It can include an extensive range of tales and stories. Anecdotes are short, and funny, amusing, or interesting.
Asyndeton
aStop using conjunctions
The practice where the author purposefully leaves out conjunctions in a sentence while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of a phrase.
“Read, Write, Learn.”
Imagery
Imagery= trying to make an image
The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.
Paradox
“Youth is wasted on the young”
A statement that appears to be contradictory at first, but then makes sense upon reflection.
Symbolism
The things you see and what the bigger idea is
A literary device that contains several layers of meaning. The deeper meanings are not always noticeable at first sight, but symbols represent many aspects, concepts, and traits.
“Four leaf clover” (symbolizes good luck)
Tone
A literary device that reflects the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter or audience of a piece of writing. Tone portrays emotions and feelings around certain parts of a literary work.
Diction
Diction= Dictionary (both all about words)
“Their diction came from the dictionary”
refers to the linguistic choices made by a writer to convey an idea or point of view, or tell a story, in an effective way.
Hyperbole
“Hyperbole is HYPE”
“Hyperboles not true, it just exaggerates for you!”
Hyperbole is a figure of speech and literary device that creates heightened effect through deliberate exaggeration
Hypophora
A Q and A with your self. you pop to the answer.
Hypophora is a figure of speech in which a writer raises a question, and then immediately provides an answer to that question.
Juxtaposition
You “just position” two things next to each other.
a literary device that implies comparison or contrast. Writers create juxtaposition by placing two entities side by side to create dramatic or ironic contrast.
Mood
Mood =my mood
refers to the emotional response that the writer wishes to evoke in the reader through a story.
Onomatopoeia
“Boing”
It also sounds like a noise
a word which mimics the sound it represents.
Personification
Person-ification= making it like a person.
a figure of speech in which an idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human.
Polysyndeton
Polysyndeton: drags on, lots of ands.
a stylistic device in which several coordinating conjunctions are used in succession in order to achieve an artistic effect.
Alliteration
Alliteration=all litters line up
All alliterations are awesome
“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes/ A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life”
lliteration is a literary device that reflects repetition in two or more nearby words of initial consonant sounds.
Apostrophe
A post card to someone who is not there.
directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.
Analogy
A is to B as C is to D
a logic bridge
creates a comparison by showing how two seemingly different entities are alike, along with illustrating a larger point due to their commonalities.
Antithesis
Anti thesis= anti contrast
refers to the juxtaposition of two opposing elements through parallel grammatical structure. The word antithesis means absolute opposite.
Parallelism
Parallelism= parallel lines.
They mirror each other
the repetition of grammatical elements in writing and speaking.
Repetition
intentionally using a word or phrase for effect, two or more times in a speech or written work.
Rhetorical Question
Rhetorical= ready answer
no real answer is expected. A rhetorical question is asked just for effect, or to lay emphasis on some point being discussed when no real answer is expected.
Understatement
Understatement=undersell
a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is.
