Allegory
a narrative in which the characters, behavior, and even the setting demonstrate multiple levels of meaning and significance
Alliteration
the sequential repetition of a similar initial sound, usually applied to consonants, usually in closely proximate stressed syllables
Anaphora
the regular repetition of the same words or phrases at the beginning of successive phrases of clauses.
Antithesis
the juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel words, phrases, or grammatical structure, or ideas
Aphorism
a concise statement designed to make a point or illustrate a commonly held belief
Appeal to authority (ethos)
rhetorical (persuasive) argument in which the speaker or a representative of the speaker claims to be an authority or expert in the field. Sometimes a logical fallacy.
Appeal to emotion (pathos)
rhetorical (persuasive) argument in which the speaker attempts to play upon the emotions of the audience
Appeal to logic (logos)
rhetorical argument in which the speaker appeals to the audience's reason by providing facts or other evidence
Assonance:
the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds, usually in successive or proximate words
Asyndeton
a syntactical structure in which conjunctions are omitted in a series, usually producing more rapid prose
Attitude
the sense expressed by the tone of voice or the mood of a piece of writing; the author's feelings towards his or her subject
Cannon
that which has been accepted as authentic, such as in cannon law, or the literary cannon
Chiasmus
a figure of speech and generally a syntactical structure wherein the order of the terms in the first half of a parallel clause is reversed in the second.
Colloquial
a term identifying the diction of the common, ordinary folks, especially in a specific region or area
Connotation
the implied, suggested, or underlying meaning of a word or phrase. It is opposite of denotation which is the "dictionary definition" of the word.
Deductive reasoning (deduction):
the method of argument in which specific statements and conclusions are drawn from established, general principals.
Elegy
a poem or prose work that laments, or meditates upon the death of a person or persons.
Epistrophe
in rhetoric, the repetition of a phrase at the end of successive sentences
Epitaph
writing in praise of a dead person, most often inscribed upon a headstone.
Euphemism
an indirect, kinder, or less harsh or hurtful way of expressing unpleasant information
Exposition
the interpretation of analysis of a text. Also, in writing, prose that shares information with the reader
Eulogy
a speech or written passage in praise of a person; an oration in hor of a deceased person
Hyperbole
overstatement characterized by exaggerated language, usually to make a point or draw attention
Inductive reasoning (induction)
the method of reasoning or argument in which general statements and conclusions are drawn from specific principals and date: movement from the specific to the general. In other words, a general conclusion is made after investigating several specific insta
Isocolon
parallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure, but also in length.
Jargon
specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group.
Litotes
figure of speech that emphasizes its subject by conscious understatement
Metonymy
figure of speech in which the attribute or commonly associated feature is used to name the whole
Synecdoche
figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole, such as "fifty masts" representing fifty ships or "100 head of steer had to moved to their grazing land.
Zeugma
grammatically correct construction in which a word, usually a verb or adjective, is applied to two or more nouns without being repeated. Often used to comic effect.