Rhetorical Devices

Question 1

Abstract

Answer 1

(noun) an abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research

Question 2

Ad Hominem

Answer 2

(logical fallacy) directed to or appealing to feelings or prejudices instead of to intellect or reason *attacks speaker, not what they’re saying

Question 3

Ambiguity

Answer 3

(noun) multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage

Question 4

Allegory

Answer 4

(noun) device of using character(s) and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction (addition to literal meaning)

Question 5

Alliteration

Answer 5

(noun) repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants in two or more neighboring words; reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply a musical sound

Question 6

Anecdote

Answer 6

(noun) very short tale told by a character in a literary novel

Question 7

Antecedent

Answer 7

(pronoun) word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun

Question 8

Anaphora

Answer 8

(noun) one of the devices of repetition, in which the same expression is repeated at the beginning or two or more lines, clauses, or sentences

Question 9

Asyndeton

Answer 9

(noun) consists of omitting conjunctions between word, phrases, or clauses

Question 10

Polysyndeton

Answer 10

(noun) stylistic device in which several conjunctions are used in order to achieve an artistic effect

Question 11

Antithesis

Answer 11

(noun) figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel structure; contrasting of opposing ideas in adjacent phrases, clauses, or sentences

Question 12

Testimony

Answer 12

(noun) formal written or spoken statement, especially given in a court of law; evidence or proof provided by the existence of appearance of something

Question 13

Deductive Reasoning

Answer 13

(noun) process of reasoning using strong premises/claims to reach a logical conclusion; if the premises are valid, then the reasoning will be valid

Question 14

Inductive Reasoning

Answer 14

(noun) reasoning that takes specific info and makes a broader generalization that is considered probable, allowing for the fact that the conclusion may not be accurate

Question 15

Euphemism

Answer 15

(noun) more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept

Question 16

Extended Metaphor

Answer 16

(noun) metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work

Question 17

Homily

Answer 17

(noun) literally “sermon” but informally or lecture involving moral/spiritual advice

Question 18

Atmosphere

Answer 18

(noun) emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author’s choice of objects that are described

Question 19

Diacope

Answer 19

(noun) repetition of a word/phrase after an intervening word/phrase

Question 20

Hypophora, Antipophora

Answer 20

(noun) where author asks a question and the answers it

Question 21

Litotes

Answer 21

(noun) figure of speech which employs an understatement by using double negatives

Question 22

Paradox

Answer 22

(noun) statement that appears to e self-contradicting but contains some truth

Question 23

Parallelism

Answer 23

(noun) grammatical/rhetorical framing of words/phrases/sentences/paragraphs to give some structural similarity

Question 24

Prose

Answer 24

(noun) non/fiction in which the printer determines the length of the line * generally in poetry

Question 25

Epistrophe

Answer 25

(noun) device of repetition in which the same expression is repeated at the end of two or more lines * opposite of anaphora

Question 26

Semantics

Answer 26

(noun) branch of linguistics that studies words (meanings, development, connotations, relation to one another)

Question 27

Metaphor

Answer 27

(noun) figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without the use of comparison words

Question 28

Implied Metaphor

Answer 28

(noun) does not state explicitly that the two terms of the comparison

Question 29

Dead Metaphor

Answer 29

(noun) overused metaphor that is no longer vivid

Question 30

Local Color

Answer 30

(noun) term applied to fiction or poetry which tends to place special emphasis on a particular setting, including its customs, clothing, dialect, and landscape