Rhetorical Devices Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is an anecdote?

A brief story or tale

What is an allusion?

A brief reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object that the audience should be familiar with

What is an analogy?

Comparison of two things that are alike in some respects

What is a thesis (claim)?

Focus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based Signup and view all the answers

What is a metaphor or extended metaphor?

A comparison between two unlike things, where the comparison extends for an extended time Signup and view all the answers

What is pathos?

Emotional appeal Signup and view all the answers

What is logos?

Logical appeal Signup and view all the answers

What is ethos?

Appeal to authority or ethics Signup and view all the answers

What is imagery?

Sensory details in a work; use of figurative language to evoke a feeling Signup and view all the answers

Who is the audience in writing?

The person(s) reached by a piece of writing Signup and view all the answers

What is connotation?

What is implied by a word or the feelings associated with a word Signup and view all the answers

What are rhetorical devices?

Techniques writers use for argumentative/persuasive writing and speaking Signup and view all the answers

What is alliteration?

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent words Signup and view all the answers

What is a simile?

A comparison using 'like' or 'as' Signup and view all the answers

What is hyperbole?

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally Signup and view all the answers

What is parallelism?

Use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same Signup and view all the answers

What is a rhetorical question?

A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected Signup and view all the answers

What is a metaphor?

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable Signup and view all the answers

What is repetition?

The action of repeating something that has already been said or written Signup and view all the answers

What is anaphora?

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses Signup and view all the answers

What is epistrophe?

Ending a series of lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences with the same word Signup and view all the answers

What is personification?

The attribution of human characteristics to nonhuman objects or abstract qualities Signup and view all the answers

What is synecdoche?

A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole Signup and view all the answers

What is onomatopoeia?

A word that imitates the sound it represents Signup and view all the answers

What is an author's purpose?

The reason the author has for writing (inform, persuade, express, & entertain) Signup and view all the answers

What is tone in writing?

Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character Signup and view all the answers

What is mood?

Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader Signup and view all the answers

What is a theme?

A unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work Signup and view all the answers

What is restatement?

Expressing the same idea in different words to clarify and stress key points Signup and view all the answers

What is diction?

A writer's or speaker's choice of words Signup and view all the answers

What is syntax?

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences Signup and view all the answers

What is metonymy?

A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Rhetorical Devices Overview

Anecdote: A short story used to illustrate a point or inject humor.
Allusion: References to historical or literary figures/events that enhance understanding.
Analogy: Draws comparisons between similar aspects of two different things; includes metaphors and similes.
Thesis (Claim): Central argument of an essay that guides the writer's point of view.
Metaphor/Extended Metaphor: Direct comparison between unlike things; extended metaphors unfold throughout a text.

Persuasive Appeals

Pathos: Engages emotional responses from the audience to persuade them.
Logos: Utilizes logical arguments and reason to convince an audience.
Ethos: Establishes credibility, authority, or ethics to gain audience trust.

Descriptive Techniques

Imagery: Incorporates sensory details to create vivid pictures, engaging any of the five senses.
Connotation: Implied meanings and emotional associations related to words.
Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words for emphasis.

Figurative Language

Simile: Compares two different things using "like" or "as."
Hyperbole: Deliberate exaggerations for emphasis or effect.
Personification: Attributes human traits to non-human entities or abstract concepts.
Synecdoche: Uses a part to represent the whole or vice versa.

Rhetorical Structures

Parallelism: Similar grammatical structure across parts of a sentence for rhythm and clarity.
Rhetorical Question: A question posed for effect, not requiring an answer.
Repetition: Emphasizes key ideas through repeating phrases or words.
Anaphora: Repeats a word/phrase at the beginning of successive clauses for emphasis.
Epistrophe: Repeats a word/phrase at the end of successive clauses to create rhythm.

Additional Elements

Onomatopoeia: Words that mimic sounds related to their meaning.
Author's Purpose: The intent behind writing, such as to inform, persuade, express, or entertain.
Tone: The writer's attitude towards the subject, audience, or character conveyed through diction.
Mood: The overall feeling or atmosphere evoked in the reader by the text.
Theme: Recurring ideas or unifying concepts within a literary work.
Restatement: Rephrasing of ideas for clarity and emphasis.
Diction: The specific word choices made by a writer or speaker.
Syntax: The arrangement of words to form well-constructed sentences.
Metonymy: Refers to something by using a related term to suggest it, such as "the crown" for monarchy.

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Description

Test your knowledge of rhetorical devices with these flashcards. Each card provides a term along with its definition, helping you to understand and remember key concepts. Ideal for students studying literature and rhetoric.