AP - Rhetorical Devices

the moment of realization

a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition

a reference to someone or something from religion, history, literature, art or music

a short & amusing story about a real incident or person

part of something represents the whole (or the whole may represent the part) - a.k.a. metonymy

repetition of sounds at the beginnings of words close together

the deliberate repetition of the first part of a phrase or sentence

category of artistic composition, characterized by similarities in form, style & subject

a figurative statement comparing two unlike things using "like," "as," or "than"

figure of speech giving human qualities to non-human things

insulting, abusive or highly critical language

similarity of structure in series of related words/phrases (not necessarily at beginnings)

meaning "reckoning together," this formal logic presents two premises leading to a conclusion

persuasive appeals to character/credibility of the speaker or his ethical values

replacing the name of a thing w/ the name of something closely associated w/ it (aka synedoche)

independent clause followed by a series of dependent clauses

author's attitude toward his material, audience or both

omission of the conjunctions that ordinarily join words/clauses - suggests a list is endless

a pithy observation that contains a general truth

perspective from which a story is told

the act of placing two or more words close together to emphasize similarities and differences

an exaggeration in literature

a conclusion/statement that doesn't logically follow from the previous argument

combination of contradictory words side by side

language used by writers to produce images and express ideas in fresh, imaginative ways

addresses some abstraction not physically present

expressing the same idea two or more times - sometimes in different words

a religious discourse/sermon intended to spiritually edify rather than logically inform

two or more clauses balance against each other by the reversal of their structure ("X")

a change in mood, tone or subject matter

writing that appeals to the five senses

verbal irony used to mock or convey contempt

a comparison of vastly different things and explains by comparing it to familiar things

the use of a word to govern two or more words, though it may be grammatically right with just 1

extended metaphor with a complex logic that governs a passage or entire excerpt

coordinating conjunctions used in succession to suggest a list is endless

the dictionary definition of a word

describes writing intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction

old or outdated

anything that represents something else (natural, conventional, literary)

contrast between the expectations of a situation and the reality of it

word/phrase not formal or literary, typically used in ordinary, familiar conversation

the omitting of one or more words not necessary for a phrase to be understood...

words spelled exactly as they sound

a kinder, gentler way of delivering a brutal truth

the sum of choices an author makes in diction, syntax & rhetorical devices

an individual or minute part - one that supports a greater good

the repeating of the same word or phrase to clarify an idea or emphasize points of interest

emotional appeal that pulls at the heart strings

a story, poem, or picture that reveals a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one

the movement of a literary piece from one point or section to another

the structure through which a writer joins words, phrases & clauses into sentences

the ironic minimalizing of fact, presenting something as less significant than it really is

a figure of speech comparing two things as one - either directly or indirectly

a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement that reveals insight

marked by suspended syntax, this is a long sentence not completed until the final word

appeals to logic and reason

intentional use of understatement that renders an ironic/sarcastic effect

describes words, phrases, tone that is overly scholarly, bookish or academic

word choice

a work that targets human vices or social institutions/conventions for ridicule or reform

repetition of words or phrases at the ends of sentences or clusters of ideas

harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

your own definition of a word - based on your experiences with it

imitation of a particular writer, artist, genre - exaggerating it deliberately to be funny

asked merely for effect with no answer expected

where the cool kids are

a.k.a. zeugma, this is where one word is understood differently in relation to 2 or more words

the obvious rhetorical contrast of ideas by using parallel arrangement of words/phrases

a logical fallacy that rejects an argument on the basis of irrelevant facts