Rhetorical Terms

Question 1

Clause

Answer 1

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb

Question 2

Aphorism

Answer 2

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle

Question 3

Connotation

Answer 3

Nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied suggestive meaning

Question 4

Atmosphere

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Colloquial

Answer 5

Use of slang or in formalities in speech and writing in a conversational familiar tone

Question 6

Apostrophe

Answer 6

A figure of speech that directly address an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction

Question 7

Allegory

Answer 7

The device of character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to literal meaning

Question 8

Anaphora

Answer 8

A device of repetition, in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses or sentences

Question 9

Anecdote

Answer 9

A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event which is usually an incident in the life of a person

Question 10

Antecedent

Answer 10

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun

Question 11

Antithesis

Answer 11

A figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed l, usually through parallel structure

Question 12

Ambiguity

Answer 12

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence or passage

Question 13

Chiasmus

Answer 13

A figure of speech in which two successive phrases or clauses are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the analogous words

Question 14

Allusion

Answer 14

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, myth, place or work of art

Question 15

Alliteration

Answer 15

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants in two or more neighboring words

Question 16

Analogy

Answer 16

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them

Question 17

Asyndeton

Answer 17

Consists of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases or clauses

Question 18

Conceit

Answer 18

A fanciful expression, usually in the forms of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects

Question 19

Coherence

Answer 19

A principle demanding that parts of any completion be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible

Question 20

Genre

Answer 20

The major category into which a literary work fits

Question 21

Denotation

Answer 21

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word

Question 22

Expletive

Answer 22

Figure of emphasis on which a single word or short phrase, usually interrupting normal speech, is used to lend emphasis

Question 23

Didactic

Answer 23

Literary teaching

Question 24

Exposition

Answer 24

A type of essay that explains something

Question 25

Homily

Answer 25

Literally means "sermon" but can be used for any serious talk or speech

Question 26

Imagery

Answer 26

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe or represent abstractions

Question 27

Hyperbole

Answer 27

An exaggeration

Question 28

Hypophora

Answer 28

A figure of speech in which one or more questions are raised and then answered, often at length

Question 29

Generic Conventions

Answer 29

Describes traditions for each genre

Question 30

Figure of speech

Answer 30

A device used to produce figurative language and may compare similar things and uses apostrophe, hyperbole, and irony

Question 31

Diacope

Answer 31

"You can do this, I know you can, you can do this" is an example

Question 32

Diction

Answer 32

Related to word choices in regard to clarity or correctness

Question 33

Enumeratio

Answer 33

A figure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details

Question 34

Extended metaphor

Answer 34

Developed at great length and occurs frequently or throughout the work as in "The Wasteland" or "The Pilgrims Progress"

Question 35

Figurative Language

Answer 35

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning

Question 36

Inference/infer

Answer 36

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented

Question 37

Invective

Answer 37

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attach using strong, abusive language

Question 38

Irony/Ironic

Answer 38

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. 3 major types of irony used in language: verbal, situational, and dramatic

Question 39

Juxtaposition

Answer 39

When two words, phrases, images, ideas are placed close together or side by side for comparison or contrast

Question 40

Litotes

Answer 40

(From the Greek word "simple" or "plain") A figure of thought in which a point is affirmed by negating it's opposite. It is a special form of understatement, where the surface denial serves, through ironic contrast, to reinforce the underlying assertion

Question 41

Loose sentence

Answer 41

A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) come first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. A work containing many loose sentences Oren seems informal, relaxed, and conversational. Lose sentences create loose style

Question 42

Metaphor

Answer 42

Figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.

Question 43

Metonymy

Answer 43

(From the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name") Figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it

Question 44

Mood

Answer 44

Has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. First meaning is grammatical and walls with verbal units and a speaker's attitude. The second meaning of mood is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. (I hope this is good)

Question 45

Narrative

Answer 45

The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events

Question 46

Onomatopoeia

Answer 46

Figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex. Buzz, hiss, hum, crack

Question 47

Oxymoron

Answer 47

(Greek for "pointedly foolish") figure of speech where the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Ex. "Jumbo shrimp"

Question 48

Paradox

Answer 48

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity

Question 49

Parallelism

Answer 49

(Comes from Greek roots meaning "beside one another") refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity