Rhetorical Terms

refers to language that describes concepts rather than concrete images ( ideas and qualities rather than observable or specific things, people, or places). The observable or “physical” is usually described in concrete language.

In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent’s ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning “against the man.”

an extended narrative in prose or verse in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface of the story; the underlying meaning may be moral, religious, political, social, or satiric. Examples: John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress (Temptations of Christians) , Orwell’s Animal Farm (Russian Revolution), and Arthur Miller’s Crucible (“Red Scare”)

repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close to one another: Mickey Mouse; Donald Duck; Daffy Duck; Suzy Sells Seashells …

a reference to a well-known person, place, or thing from literature, history, etc. Example: Eden, Scrooge, Prodigal Son, Catch-22, Judas, Don Quixote, Mother Theresa

Comparison of two similar but different things, usually to clarify an action or a relationship, such as comparing the work of a heart to that of a pump. An analogy is a comparison to a directly parallel case.
Examples:
Shells were to ancient cultures as dollar bills are to modern American culture.
Running a business is like managing an orchestra. The heart is like a pump.

Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer’s point more coherent.

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

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

the presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs. Examples:“To be or not to be…” Shakespeare’s Hamlet

a short, often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life. Examples:
“Early bird gets the worm.”

usually in poetry but sometimes in prose; the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing, or personified abstraction

writing that attempts to prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by presenting reasoned arguments; persuasive writing is a form of argumentation

repetition of vowel sounds between different consonants, such as in neigh/fade.

Commas used (with no conjunction) to separate a series of words. The parts are emphasized equally when the conjunction is omitted; in addition, the use of commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence. Asyndeton takes the form of X, Y, Z as opposed to X, Y, and Z.

harsh, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or prose; the opposite of euphony.

descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a person’s appearance or a facet of personality.

a word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing (y’all, ain’t)

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

Language that describes specific, observable things, people, or places, rather than ideas or qualities.

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

repetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity, as in boost/best; it can also be seen within several compound words, such as fulfill and ping-pong

a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun; it may also be a paradox or difficult problem

the process of moving from a general rule to a specific example

literal meaning of a word as defined

the picturing in words of something or someone through detailed observation of color, motion, sound, taste, smell, and touch; one of the four modes of discourse

word choice, an element of style; it creates tone, attitude, and style, as well as meaning. Different types and arrangements of words have significant effects on meaning. An essay written in academic ______ would be much less colorful, but perhaps more precise than street slang.

writing whose purpose is to instruct or to teach. The work is usually formal and focuses on moral or ethical concerns. This type of writing may be fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.

spoken or written language, including literary works; the four traditionally classified modes of ____________ are description, exposition, narration, and persuasion.

harsh or grating sounds that do not go together