alliteration
repetition of initial consonant sounds
allusion
a breif, usually indirect reference to a person, place, or event--real or fictional
analogy
reasoning or arguing from parallel cases.
anaphora
the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses
aphorism
(1) A tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion. (2) A brief statement of a principle.
apostrophe
a rhetorical term for breaking off discourse to address some absent person or thing.
assonance
the identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighboring words.
climax
mounting by degrees through words or sentences of increasing weight and in parallel construction with an emphasis on the high point or culmination of a series of events
colloquial
characteristic of writing that seeks the effect of informal spoken language as distinct from formal literary english
comparison
a rhetorical strategy in which a writer examines similarities and/or differences between two people, places, ideas, or objects.
conjunction
the part of speech (or word class) that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.
connotation
The emotional implications and associations that a word may carry.
Denotation
The direct or dictionary meaning of a word, in contrast to its figurative or associated meanings.
dialect
A regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, and/or vocabulary.
diction
the choice and use of words in speech or writing
didactic
Intended or inclined to teach or instruct, often excessively.
ethos
A persuasive appeal based on the projected character of the speaker or narrator.
Euphemism
substitution of an inoffensive term for one that is offensive
extended metaphor
A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem.
figurative language
Language in which figures of speech (such as metaphors, similes, and hyperbole) freely occur.
figures of speech
The various uses of language that depart from customary construction, order, or significance.
Flashback
A shift in a narrative to an earlier event that interrupts the normal chronological development of a story.
Genre
a category of artistic composition as in film or literature marked by a distinctive style, form, or context
Hyperbole
a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect
Idiom
a figure of speech whose meaning is culturally defined but cannot be directly translated
Imagery
Vivid descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the senses.
invective
Denunciatory or abusive language; discourse that casts blame on somebody or something.
Irony
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning. a statement or situation where the meaning is directly contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea
Jargon
the specialized language idea professional occupational of other group often meaningless to outsiders
Juxtaposition
Placing dissimilar items, descriptions, or ideas close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.
Logos
employs logical reasoning, combing a clear idea with well thought out and appropriate examples and details. these supports are logically presented and rationally reach the writers conclusion
Metaphor
a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something important in common
mood
(1) The quality of a verb that conveys the writer's attitude toward a subject. (2) The emotion evoked by a text.
Onomatopoeia
formation or use of words that imitate sounds of the actions they refer to
Oxymoron
a figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side
Paradox
a statement thay appears to contradict itself
Parallesim
similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses
Parody
A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule.
Pathos
The means of persuasion that appeals to the audience's emotions.
Personification
a figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities
Point of View (POV)
the perspective from which a speaker or writer tells a story or presents information
Prose
ordinary writing as distinguished from verse
pun
a word employed in two senses or a word used in a context that suggest a second term sounding like it
Refutation
The part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.
Repetition
An instance of using a word, phrase, or clause more than once in a short passage--dwelling on a point.
Rhetoric
the study and practice or effective persuasion in speaking or writing
rhetorical question
A question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer
Sarcasm
A mocking, often ironic or satirical remark.
Satire
A text or performance that uses irony, derision, or wit to expose or attack human vice, foolishness, or stupidity.
Simile
a figure of speech in which two fundamentally unlike things are explicitly compared usually in a phrase introduced by like or as
Style
Narrowly interpreted as those figures that ornament speech or writing; broadly, as representing a manifestation of the person speaking or writing.
Symbol
a person, place, action or thing that (by association, resemblance, or conversation) represents something other than itself
Syntax
(1) the study of rules that govern the way words combine to form phrases, clauses, and sentences (2) the arrangement of words in a sentence
tone
writer's attitude toward the subject and audience. tone is primarily cinbaued through diction, pov, syntax and level of formality
Understatement
a figure if speech in which a writer deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is
voice
(1) The quality of a verb that indicates whether its subject acts (active voice) or is acted upon (passive voice). (2) The distinctive style or manner of expression of an author or narrator.