Summer Terms Flashcards
To study the rhetorical terms included with the summer assignment. (153 cards)
1
Q
abstract
A
a summary of a text, speech, or document
2
Q
active voice
A
a verb voice where the subject is acting, rather than being acted upon
3
Q
adage
A
a traditional saying or proverb
4
Q
ad hominem
A
rhetoric device that attacks character; appeals to prejudice rather than reason
5
Q
agnomination
A
alliteration
6
Q
allegory
A
a symbol of an abstract or spiritual concept expressed through a concrete or material form
7
Q
alliteration
A
when multiple words in sequence start with the same consonant sound
8
Q
allusion
A
a reference to another well known work or element of pop culture
9
Q
ambiguity
A
lack of concrete stated meaning
10
Q
anachronism
A
an error in chronology
11
Q
analogy
A
comparing the features of two things, used to emphasize similarity or difference
12
Q
analysis
A
the separating of any material or abstract entity into its constituent elements; this process as a method of studying the nature of something or of determining its essential features and their relations
13
Q
anaphora
A
intentional repeptition
14
Q
anecdote
A
a short narrative
15
Q
annotate
A
to make notes on a piece of media
16
Q
antagonist
A
the “villain” or source of conflict to the protagonist
17
Q
antanaclasis
A
a play on words that repeats key words in contrary ways
18
Q
antiprosopoeia
A
the representation of people of inanimate objects; the opposite of personification.
19
Q
antihero
A
a protagonist who lacks the attributes that make a heroic figure
20
Q
antithesis
A
opposition or direct contrast; in rhetoric, placing identical parts of a sentence together to form a balanced contrast of ideas.
21
Q
apophasis
A
denial of intention to speak of a subject that is implied through the denial.
22
Q
aphorism
A
a blunt statement of general truth or observation
23
Q
apostrophe
A
indicates omission of one or more letters in a word. ‘ looks like that.
24
Q
appeal to tradition
A
a reference to established or practiced ideals in order to discourage from a newer course of action
25
archaism
a word or expression that is outdated (archaic) and most likely offensive
26
archetype
a pattern or model for an object or theme
27
argument
presentation of one's own supported views against an opposing side
28
assonance
resemblance and repetition of vowel patterns and sounds
29
asyndeton
omission of conjunctions
30
audience
intended receivers of media; target demographic
31
bandwagon
a party, cause, movement, etc., that by its mass appeal or strength readily attracts many followers
32
canon
an event established to have happened within the scope of the media it relates to
33
caricature
portrayal of a person or idea in a way that negatively emphasises certain parts and simplifies or omits others
34
cataloguing
a way of organising information in which notes are taken and then put into a sequence
35
characterisation
description of character traits, actions, etc
36
chiasmus
a rhetoric device in which there is a reversal or wording in two otherwise parallel phrases
37
climax
the point of highest tension in a narrative
38
closure
complete solution to conflicts; tying up loose ends etc
39
colloquialism
language or expression that has adopted a different meaning when used informally due to semantic change
40
concrete
completely unambiguous or stated outright
41
conflict
problem; source of tension or motivation in the narrative.
42
connotation
additional meaning associated with something outside of its definitive nature or definition
43
context
additional details that clarify or explain broader ideas or events
44
contradiction
inconsistency or opposition
45
contrast
startling difference between two things
46
conventional
conforming or adhering to accepted standards, as of conduct or taste
47
deduction
assumption based on facts or clues
48
denotation
set meaning of things (especially words)
49
denouement
final resolution
50
diatribe
extended criticisms or anecdotes
51
diction
one's way of thinking or speaking
52
digression
foray into something unrelated from the current topic; see also anecdote and diatribe
53
either/or fallacy
a rhetoric device that connects two unrelated things and presents only two related options
54
elegy
"lamentations", sorrowful poems
55
ellipsis
"..."; symbolises a pause or omission
56
epic
a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style
57
epigraph
an apposite quotation at the beginning of a book, chapter, etc.
58
ephiphany
sudden realisation or paradigm shift
59
epistrophe
repetition of words at the end or verses or clauses
60
ethos
ethical appeal
61
euphemism
an innuendo or substitution for something thought to be offensive
62
evidence
concrete facts or proof that go towards the truth of the matter asserted
63
exposition
the first part of a narrative that introduces the characters, setting, and conflict.
64
fallacy
a deceptive or false belief or statement; in rhetoric, erroneous argument that draws question to the rest of the reasoning
65
faulty causality
drawing connection to two events that are unrelated outside of chronology
66
flashback
a device in the narrative of a motion picture, novel, etc., by which an event or scene taking place before the present time in the narrative is inserted into the chronological structure of the work.
67
foil
a character or event provided as a contrast for a different character or event (such as protagonist/antagonist)
68
foreshadow
suggestion of an event or symbol before it occurs
69
genre
category of media with common qualities or motifs
70
hero
character of distinguished quality or ability, usually the protagonist
71
hubris
fatal, excessive pride
72
hyperbole
extreme exxageration
73
iambic pentametre
a metre with ten syllables per line, five stressed and five unstressed, commonly used by Shakespeare.
74
imagery
descriptive writing that is meant to form a mental image
75
induction
bringing about or causing
76
inductive error
drawing similarities based on one circumstance; making assumptions about a whole
77
inversion
turning something in on itself to reveal its true or opposite nature
78
dramatic irony
irony understood by the audience but not the characters; when the audience is aware of key details the characters are not
79
situational irony
actions have the opposite effect of what was intended
80
verbal irony
saying one thing and meaning another; sarcasm
81
jargon
unintelligible words or vocabulary usually related to a particular technical trade or profession
82
juxtaposition
placing two things together to draw a stark contrast
83
logos
logical appeal
84
loose sentence
a sentence that does not end with the completion of its main clause, but continues with one or more subordinate clauses or other modifiers.
85
metaphor
comparison of two unrelated things; symbolism
86
metre
rhythm of poetry based on syllables and stresses
87
metonymy
figure of speech in which the name of one concept is exchanged for a similar one
88
monologue
dramatic or lengthy speech from a single character
89
mood
overall feeling of a piece
90
motif
recurring idea or symbol
91
narrative
a story or account; can be told through a variety of media
92
narrator vs speaker
whoever is telling or narrating. Often used interchangeably.
93
neologism
new word, meaning, usage, or phrase
94
non-sequitur
an illogical conclusion; latin for "does not follow"
95
onomatopoeia
words that sound like what they mean or do
96
oversimplification
reduction of a complex issue to error, distortion, or misinterpretation
97
oxymoron
contradiction, usually seen in colloquial phrases
98
panegyric
lofty praise or oration on someone (usually a dead guy)
99
paradox
any person, thing, or situation exhibiting an apparently contradictory nature.
100
paralellism
relation or similarity between two things
101
parody
mocking imitation
102
passive voice
subject is acted on by the verb
103
pathos
emotional appeal
104
periodic sentence
produces suspense by leaving completion of clause until the end
105
periphrasis
round-about expression
106
persona
perceived or evident personality
107
personification
granting living characteristics to non-living things
108
perspective
view; way of regarding facts, things, and ideas as presented by the narrator or judged by the audience
109
persuasion
attempt to change one's point of view; to get one to believe or do something
110
plaigarism
claiming ownership of work or ideas that are not one's own
111
plot
the events of a narrative
112
polemic
controversial argument
113
polysyndeton
using excessive conjunctions for stylistic emphasis
114
premise
general idea or situation of a narrative
115
prose
the ordinary form of spoken or written language
116
protagonist
the main character of a narrative. Frequently a white male.
117
pun
play on words
118
quatrain
poem comprised of two couplets
119
repetition
repeating things for effect
120
rhetoric
effective use of language
121
rhetorical question
used to draw attention to something, not to be answered
122
rhyme
repetition of sounds
123
satire
subtle farce meant to expose flaws of a prevalent system, such as the bourgeois.
124
scheme
rhyme pattern
125
sermon
any serious speech or discourse, but usually religious
126
setting
the time, location, and climate where a narrative takes place
127
simile
comparison of two unrelated things
128
slippery slope
fallacy that warns of disastrous consequences should one not take the desired course of action
129
soliloquy
in theatre, a monologue that conveys the character's thoughts
130
sonnet
a poem with fourteen lines and a strict rhyme scheme
131
stanza
grouping of lines in a poem
132
stream of conciousness
writing that conveys an interior monologue; thoughts, events, and sensory details as they happen
133
style
the unique way something is written or conveyed
134
subplot
events that take place but have less precedence than the primary plot of a narrative
135
syllogism
deductive reasoning
136
symbol
something representing a theme, concept, or abstract idea
137
synecdoche
a part is used as replacement for a whole, and vice versa
138
syntax
grammar and usage
139
theme
recurring idea or message of a piece
140
thesis statement
a statement that summarises the main point or claim of a work
141
tone
how word choice conveys mood
142
transition
movement, passage, or change from one position to another
143
tricolon
sentence with three clearly defined parts
144
tropes
rhetorical devices that use words outside the literal sense. Also, campy recurring events or ideas throughout popular media (i.e. 'the chosen one' trope or the horror movie trope)
145
understatement
a statement that doesn't convey the full effect or essence of an event or issue
146
utopia
a 'perfect' society
147
dystopia
a defunct utopia, meant to draw parallels to current events
148
blank/free verse
verse with no definite metre or scheme
149
voice
distinct style of the narrator
150
1st person point of view
told by a narrator who experienced the events, using personal pronouns
151
2nd person point of view
told as if the reader is experiencing the events, using the pronoun 'you'
152
3rd person limited
told by a narrator who is not part of the events, and limited to only one character's experience.
153
3rd person omniscient
told by a narrator outside of the story who is all-knowing
