Rhetorical Devices - Semester 1 final

Question 1

Concrete

Answer 1

Concrete nouns are nouns that have physical, tangible properties: Fence, Desk, Chair, etc.

Question 2

Abstract

Answer 2

Abstract nouns are nouns that are conceptual. They are ideas. They have no physical properties to measure: Love, Truth, Beauty, Evil, etc

Question 3

Rhetoric

Answer 3

The technique of using language effectively and persuasively in speaking or writing

Question 4

Voice

Answer 4

Unique personality of a text. A writer’s word choices and style will combine to form what is known as Voice. You can often characterize voice as a peek of the writer’s personality coming through the words off the page.

Question 5

Thesis/claim

Answer 5

A statement in a work that a writer intends to support or prove. A thesis or claim should specify the point being argued, and should provide a warrant which should identify a universal truth of how the world works to justify the claim.

Question 6

Extended metaphor

Answer 6

A figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics. An extended metaphor is one that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph, longer piece, or lines in a poem

Question 7

Denotation

Answer 7

Strict dictionary definitions are denotation

Question 8

Connotation

Answer 8

Subtle degrees of meaning - positive vs negative implications

Question 9

Conflict

Answer 9

A struggle between two opposing forces in text. The result of competing desires or the presence of obstacles that need to be overcome. Conflict is necessary to propel a story forward. The absence of conflict amounts to the absence of story

Question 10

Propaganda

Answer 10

The spreading of rumors, false or correct information, or an idea in order to influence the opinion of society. Any information that is purely pathos without ethos or logos can be considered propaganda

Question 11

Aristotleian triangle

Answer 11

A term that emblemizes Aristotle’s idea that all communication is essentially trilateral, with relationships between the speaker, the subject, and the audience. Embodies Ethos, logos, and pathos. Can be called the rhetorical situation

Question 12

Audience

Answer 12

One of the three elements of the aristotleian triangle along with subject and speaker
When writing or delivering a speech the speaker/writer must consider the audience in order to be effective. Many choices in writing will and should be influenced by the makeup of the audience

Question 13

Speaker

Answer 13

This is one third of the rhetorical triangle. It is also in literature and poetry, the created voice of the narration. The speaker is closely related with ethos

Question 14

Analogy

Answer 14

A comparison in which an idea or thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it. It aims to explain the idea by comparing it to somehting that is more familiar to the audience/reader. Metaphors and similes are often used in analogies

Question 15

Point of view

Answer 15

The mode of narration an author uses to let the readers hear and see what takes place in a story, poem, etc
first person - we/I
second person - you
third person - he/she

Question 16

Anecdote

Answer 16

A short and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point. They are often intended to make readers and listeners laugh.

Question 17

Mood/atmosphere

Answer 17

An element of text that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions. NOT synonymous with tone.

Question 18

Persona

Answer 18

A voice or assumed role of a speaker through which the writer wants his or her words to be presented. Persona is to writer how role is to actor

Question 19

Allegory

Answer 19

A figure of speech in which abstract ideas or principles are describes in terms of characters, figures, and events

Question 20

Ambiguity

Answer 20

A word, phrase, or statement that has more than one meaning or interpretation. Two types rhetorical and grammatical

Question 21

Prose

Answer 21

Type of writing that is closest to everyday speech patterns and languages i.e. normal speech

Question 22

Ad Hominem

Answer 22

“Against the man” When an argument attacks the opponent rather than his or her argument.

Question 23

Polemic

Answer 23

A strong verbal or written attack on someone or someting

Question 24

Allusion

Answer 24

A brief or indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or personal significance. Writer doesn’t explain significance but expects that readers will know it

Question 25

Archetype

Answer 25

A typical character, action or situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature

Question 26

Paradox

Answer 26

Statement that appears to be self-contractionary but may include a latent truth. It is often used to make the reader think of an idea in an unexpected way

Question 27

Hyperbole

Answer 27

An exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis

Question 28

Exposition

Answer 28

A literary device used to introduce background information about events, characters, or setting to the audience

Question 29

Juxtaposition

Answer 29

A literary technique in which two or more words, ideas, places, characters, or actions are place side by side for the purpose of comparing and contrasting

Question 30

Synecdoche

Answer 30

A literary device in which a part of something represents the whole

Question 31

Motif

Answer 31

An object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work. Not theme: motif is a recurrent image, idea or symbol that develops or explains a theme while a theme is a central idea or message

Question 32

Oxymoron

Answer 32

A figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. The common oxymoron phrase is a combination of an adjective proceeded by a noun with contrasting meanings

Question 33

Onomatopoeia

Answer 33

A word that imitates the natural sound of a thing

Question 34

Trope

Answer 34

Any word used in a figurative sense or a reoccurring theme or device in a work of literature. The first definition of trope can refer to numerous types of figures of speech. The second definition of trope can be slightly derogatory in that a reoccurring theme can become cliche.

Question 35

Conceit

Answer 35

A figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similes or metaphors. Conceit develops a comparison which is exceedingly unlikely but is intellectually imaginative.

Question 36

Invective

Answer 36

The term invective denotes speech or writing that attacks, insults, or denounces a person, topic, or institution. Involves the use of abusive and negative language. Employed in both poetry and prose to reiterate the significance of the deeply felt emotions of the writer.

Is made of polemic

Question 37

Sarcasm

Answer 37

The literal meaning is different that what the speaker intends to say through sarcasm. A literary and rhtorical device that is meant to mock with often saterical or ironic remarks with a purpose to amuse and hurt someone

Question 38

Satire

Answer 38

A technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or society by using humor, exaggeration, irony, or ridicule. Aim of satire is to make improvements in society by exposing its foibles and flaws

Question 39

Euphemism

Answer 39

The term euphemism refers to polite, indirect expressions which replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite or which suggests something unpleasant. Idiomatic expression that loses its literal meanings and refers to something else in order to hide its unpleasantness.

Question 40

Parody

Answer 40

An imitation of a particular writer, artists or genre, exaggerating it deliberately to produce a comic effect. The humorous effect in parody is achieved by imitating and overstressing noticeable features

Question 41

Dramatic irony

Answer 41

Characters within a story are unaware of a situation, but the audience is aware.

Question 42

Situational Irony

Answer 42

Generally when something happens to someone that is contradictory to expectations. Type of irony occurs when, for instance, someone is laughing at the misfortune of another, but then the same thing happens to him.

Question 43

Verbal irony

Answer 43

Irony in which what is said is the opposite of what one means. Often employed as sarcasm.

Question 44

Stereotype

Answer 44

A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing

Question 45

Regionalism

Answer 45

A linguistic feature specific to a particular region and not part of the standard language of a country.

Question 46

Hamartia

Answer 46

A personal error in a protagonist’s personality that brings about his downfall in a tragedy. This defect in a hero’s personality is also known as a tragic flaw

Question 47

Asyndeton

Answer 47

Stylistic device used in literature and poetry to intentionally eliminate conjunctions between phrases and in the sentence yet maintain the grammatical accuracy. This literary tool helps in reducing the indirect meaning of the phrase and presents it in a concise form

Question 48

Polysyndeton

Answer 48

Refers to the process of using conjunctions or connecting words frequently in a sentence, placed very close to one another. Opposed to the usual norm of using them sparsely, only where thye are technically needed. Primarily for adding dramatic effect as they have a strong rhetorical presence

Question 49

Apostrophe

Answer 49

A rhetorical device in which a writer or a speaker detaches himself from the reality and addresses an imaginary character in his speech

Question 50

Parallelism

Answer 50

Use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; similar in their construction, sound, meaning, or meter. Allows writer to maintain consistency within thier work and create a balanced flow of ideas. Can be employed as a tool for persuasion as well because of repetition

Question 51

Parable

Answer 51

Figure of speech which present a short story typically with a moral lesson at the end. A succinct narrative or a universal truth that uses symbolism, simile, and metaphor to demonstate the moral lesson intended to be taught

Question 52

Rhetorical question

Answer 52

Asked just for the effect or to lay emphasis on some point discussed when no real answer is expected. May have an obvious answer, but the questioner asks rhetorical questions to lay emphasis to the point. Self-evidence and used for style as an impressive persuasive device

Question 53

In media res

Answer 53

Practice of beginning an epic or other narrative by plunging into a crucial situation that is part of a related chain of events; the situation is an extension of previous events and will be developed in later action.

Question 54

Expletive

Answer 54

Grammatical construction that starts with the words like it, here, and there. Usually interrupts the normal speech and lays emphasis on the words. It’s like curses - unnecessaries additions.

Question 55

Jargon

Answer 55

Litarary term that is defined as a use of specific phrases and words by writers in a particular situation, profession or trade . Used to convey hidden meaning accepted and understood in that field.

Question 56

Epigraph

Answer 56

Literary device in the form of a poem, quotation or sentence usually placed at the beginning of a document or simple piece having a few sentences but which belongs to another writer.

Question 57

Epitaph

Answer 57

Inscription written on a grave. Brief composition, having figurative sense in a verse or a prose form, written to pay tribute to a deceased person, or to remember a pst event.

Question 58

Inversion

Answer 58

Literary technique in which the normal order of words is reversed in order to achieve a particular effect of emphasis or meter

Question 59

Explication

Answer 59

Process of making something clearer. When you carefully explain your performance art piece to your mystified parents, you can describe what you’re doing as an explication.

Question 60

Oversimplification

Answer 60

Explanation that excludes important information for the sake of brevity, or of making the explanation or presentation easy to understand. To simplify to such an extent as to bring about distortion, misunderstanding or error

Question 61

Generalization

Answer 61

A general statement or concept obtained by inference from specific cases

Question 62

Understatement

Answer 62

An understatement is a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than in really is

Question 63

Zeugma

Answer 63

Figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas

Question 64

Isocolon

Answer 64

Rhetorical device that involves a succession of sentences, phrases and clauses of grammatically equal length. A sentence has a parallel structure that is made up of words, clauses, or phrases of equal length, sound, meter, and rhythm

Question 65

Anadiplosis

Answer 65

Repetition of a word or words in successive clauses in such a way that the second clause starts with the same word which marks the end of the previos clause

Question 66

Chiasmus

Answer 66

Rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of the structures in order to produce an artistic effect - doesn’t have to reverse the exact order of the words, just general meaning

Question 67

Antimetabole

Answer 67

Involves repeating a phrase in exact reverse order.

Question 68

Metonymy

Answer 68

Figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it closely associated

Has to be a part of the object

Question 69

Straw man

Answer 69

A common form of argument and is an informal fallacy based on giving the impression of refuting an opponent’s argument, while actually refuting an argument that was not advanced by that opponent.

Question 70

Antithesis

Answer 70

Two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect

Question 71

Eulogy

Answer 71

Literary device that is a laudatory expression in a speech or a written tribute to a person deceased recently

Question 72

Syllogism

Answer 72

Rhetorical device that starts an argument with a reference to something general and from this it draws conclusion about something more specific

Question 73

Litotes

Answer 73

Figure of speech which employs an understatement by using double negatives or in other words positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite expressions

Question 74

Inference

Answer 74

Literary device used commonly in literature and in daily life where logical deductions are made based on premises assumed to be true. Rational but non-logical which means that through observation of facts presented in a particular patter one ulitmately sees different or new interpratations and perspectives

Question 75

Begging the question

Answer 75

Logical fallacy in which the writer or speaker assumes the statement under examination to be true. In other words, begging the question involves using a premise to support itself

Question 76

Anaphora

Answer 76

The deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect

Question 77

Epistrophe

Answer 77

Indicates the same word returns at the end of each sentence. Stylistic device that can be defined as the repetition of phrases or words at the end of the clauses or sentences.

Question 78

Induction

Answer 78

Conclusions reached through reasoning. Inductive statement is derived using facts and instances which lead to the formation of a general opinion. Through all the facts upon which the conclusion is based are ture, there is still a chance of the conclusion reached being false. This type of reasongin goes from specific facts to gereral statement - probably

Question 79

Deduction

Answer 79

Conclusion research through reasoning. Deductive conclusion is derived using general premises or statement which lead to a logically certain result. Goes from generalities to a factual statement - certain

Question 80

Apotheosis

Answer 80

Highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax

Question 81

Anagram

Answer 81

Direct word switch or word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once for examples the word anagram can be rearranged into nag-ram

Question 82

Double entendre

Answer 82

A figure of speech or a particular way of wording that is deised to be understood in either of two ways, having a doble meaning.

Question 83

Enumeratio

Answer 83

Rhetorical term for the listing of details.

Question 84

Epanalepsis

Answer 84

Repetition of the initial part of a clause or sentence at the end of the same clause or sentence. Special attention of emphasis is placed on the phrase by its repetition in both places

Question 85

Metalepsis

Answer 85

Figure of speech in which one thing refers to another thing that is only slightly related to it. There are two ways to make this association. One is through shoing casual relationship to seemingly unrelated things. THe other is thorugh indirect intermediate replaceent of terms