Rhetorical Terms

Question 0

Ad hominem

Answer 0

Attack on the person rather than on the opponent’s ideas

Question 1

Abstract

Answer 1

Language that describes concepts rather than concrete images

Question 2

Allegory

Answer 2

Writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface of the story(may be a moral)

Question 3

Alliteration

Answer 3

Repetition of constant sounds at the beginning of words.

Question 4

Allusion

Answer 4

Reference to a well known person, place, or thing from literature/history.

Question 5

Analogy

Answer 5

Comparison of two similar but different things, to clarify and action or a relationship.

Question 6

Anaphora

Answer 6

Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row.

Question 7

Anecdote

Answer 7

Short, simple narrative of an incident; often used for humorous effect or to make a point.

Question 8

Annotation

Answer 8

Notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibliographical data.

Question 9

Antithesis

Answer 9

Presentation of two contrasting images. Ideas are based by word, phrase.

Question 10

Aphorism

Answer 10

Short witty statement of a principle or a truth about life.

Question 11

Apostrophe

Answer 11

The device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing (usually in poetry)

Question 12

Argumentation

Answer 12

To prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by presenting reasoned arguments.

Question 13

Assonance

Answer 13

Repetition of vowel sounds between different consonants

Question 14

Asyndeton

Answer 14

Commas used (with no conjunction) to separate a series of words

Question 15

Cacophony

Answer 15

Harsh, awkward, or dissonant sounds used in poetry/prose

Question 16

Caricature

Answer 16

Writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a person’s appearance.

Question 17

Colloquialism

Answer 17

Word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation

Question 18

Coherence

Answer 18

Piece of writing in which all parts contribute to the development of the central idea, theme, or organizing principle

Question 19

Concrete language

Answer 19

Describes specific, observable things, people, or places, rather than ideas or qualities.

Question 20

Connotation

Answer 20

Implied or suggested meaning of a word because of its association in the reader’s mind

Question 21

Consonance

Answer 21

Repetition of identical constant sounds w/in 2 or more words in close proximity

Question 22

Conundrum

Answer 22

A riddle whose answer is or involves a pun

Question 23

Deduction

Answer 23

Process of moving from a general rule to a specific example

Question 24

Denotation

Answer 24

Literal meaning of a word

Question 25

Description

Answer 25

The picturing of words of something or someone through detailed (four modes of discourse)

Question 26

Diction

Answer 26

Word choice, an element of style, creates tone, attitude or style.

Question 27

Didactic

Answer 27

Purpose to instruct or to teach

Question 28

Discourse

Answer 28

Spoken or written language, including literary works

Question 29

Dissonance

Answer 29

Harsh or grating sounds that do not go together to make

Question 30

Dramatic irony

Answer 30

When the reader is aware of inconsistency b/w a character's perception of a situation or truth.

Question 31

Dynamic character

Answer 31

A character who changes significantly during the course of a story.

Question 32

Emotional appeal

Answer 32

When writer appeals to readers emotions. (Often through pathos)

Question 33

Epigraph

Answer 33

Use of quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme.

Question 34

Ethical appeal

Answer 34

When writer tries to persuade the audience to respect or believe him based on a presentation of image of self through text.

Question 35

Euphemism

Answer 35

More pleasant way of saying something

Question 36

Euphony

Answer 36

Harmonious sounds used In poetry, opposite or cacophony.

Question 37

Example

Answer 37

An individual instance taken to be representative or general pattern.

Question 38

Explication

Answer 38

Art of interpreting or discovering meaning of a text, involved close reading or special attention to text

Question 39

Exposition

Answer 39

Immediate revelation to the audience of the setting and other background. (One of 4 modes of discourse)

Question 40

Extended metaphor

Answer 40

A sustained comparison, often referred to as a conceit

Question 41

False analogy

Answer 41

When two cases are not sufficiently parallel to lead leaders to accept a claim of of connection through them.

Question 42

Figurative language

Answer 42

Language that contains figures of speech such as similes or metaphors

Question 43

Figures of speech

Answer 43

Expressions such as metaphors , similes and personification that make imaginative.

Question 44

Foil

Answer 44

Character who points out qualities or characteristics of another character

Question 45

Foreshadowing

Answer 45

The use of a hint or clue to suggest a larger event that occurs late in the work

Question 46

Freight train

Answer 46

Sentence consisting of three or more very short independent clauses joined by conjunctions.

Question 47

Generalization

Answer 47

When writer bases a claim upon an isolated example or asserts that the claim is certain rather than probable.

Question 48

Genre

Answer 48

Type of literary work such as a novel or poem

Question 49

Hubris

Answer 49

The excessive pride of ambition that leads a tragic hero to disregard warnings of impending doom.

Question 50

Humor

Answer 50

Anything that causes laughter or amusement

Question 51

Induction

Answer 51

The process that moves from a given series of specifics to a generalization.

Question 52

Influence

Answer 52

A conclusion one can draw from presented details

Question 53

Interior monologue

Answer 53

Writing that records the conversation inside character's head

Question 54

Invective

Answer 54

A verbally abusive attack

Question 55

Inversion

Answer 55

The order of elements in a sentence or phrase

Question 56

Jargon

Answer 56

The specific language of a profession or group

Question 57

Polysyndeton

Answer 57

Sentence which uses and or another another conjunction( with no commas) to separate the items In a series

Question 58

Red herring

Answer 58

When a writer raises an irrelevant issue to draw attention away from the real issue.

Question 59

Rhetoric

Answer 59

The art of effective communication, especially persuasive discourse

Question 60

Satire

Answer 60

A work that reveals critical attitude towards some elements of human behavior by portraying it in an extreme way.

Question 61

Stactic character

Answer 61

Character who does not change significantly throughout the course of the story

Question 62

Straw man

Answer 62

Writer argues against a claim that nobody actually holds or is universally considered weak

Question 63

Subjectivity

Answer 63

A personal presentation of events and characters influenced by the authors opinions

Question 64

Syllogism

Answer 64

Form of reasoning in which two statements are made and a conclusion is made