Rhetorical/Literary Terms Review

Like a stained glass window, this device sheds light and color on a piece of writing.

The ironic minimalizing of fact; it presents something as less significant than it is.

The author’s attitude toward the subject, the audience, or both.

When the words state the opposite of the writer’s (or speaker’s) meaning

The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color

The opposite of what is expected to happen

The implied, suggested, or underlying meaning of a word or phrase; not literal.

A short account or brief story to illustrate a point.

A work that targets human vices or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule.

using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other

A syntactical structure in which conjunctions are omitted in a series; speeds things up

"Buckingham Palace announced today" or "The White House released a statement..."

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.

The repetition of the same words or phrases at the beginning of successive phrases of clauses.

appears to not make sense but actually does when viewed from a different perspective

Mode of discourse proving a point with sound reasoning and evidence.

Parallelism with several coordinating conjunctions used in succession in order; slows down

"Wheels" instead of "car"; "I asked for her hand in marriage"; put on my "threads"

Term for principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

The language/speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group

The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel structure

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.

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

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.

Specialized or technical language used by a group or who perform a specific trade.

A long sentence that starts with an independent clause, followed by several dependent clauses

Presenting inanimate objects with human qualities or emotions

Direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known to make a point

Using bitter, caustic language to hurt or ridicule; can be witty or cruel

Anything that represents something larger than itself

The repetition of a phrase at the end of successive sentences

The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life.

Directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction

Mode of discourse using vivid images to create pictures, emotions, etc. for the reader

When the second clause starts with the same word from the end of the previous clause.

When facts or events are unknown to a character in a work, but known to the reader

NOT a loose/cumulative sentence: presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end

A figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses.

Explaining something unfamiliar by pointing out its similarity to something more familiar.

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

Major category into which a literary work fits: i.e. poetry, drama, fiction etc.

The diction/language of common, ordinary folks

Has the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially moral or ethical principles.

Play on words which brings to mind two sound alike words or two incongruous meanings of a word

Characters/story symbolically represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning

It cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought; also called a dependent clause.

The specific word choice an author uses to convey meaning

Work that closely imitates another with the aim of comedy or ridicule; spoof, lampoon