Rhetorical Analysis Vocab

The simple repeating of a word, within a short space of words, with no particular placement of the words to secure emphasis.

a piece of content intended to induce a viewer, reader, or listener to perform a specific act, typically taking the form of an instruction or directive

a story in which things and people represent something entirely other—an idea or a philosophy. Allegories typically contain within a moral or lesson.

a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past.

a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different. “There doesn't need to be a dichotomy between religion and science.”

Where the speaker deliberately portrays the situation as less serious or important than it really is. "It's just a flesh wound." (Black Knight, after having both arms cut off, in Monty Python’s the Holy Grail)

a seemingly contradictory assertion that may have some truth in it. Ex. “What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young” (George Bernard Shaw). Ex. War is peace; Freedom is slavery; Ignorance is strength. (George Orwell, 1984)

Obvious and intentional exaggeration—for rhetoric

an indirect reference to something outside the text—usually another work of art. “Don't be a scrooge.” (Notice there's no mention of Charles Dickens or the title, A Christmas Carol? An allusion is an indirect reference.)

comparison not using like or as. Or, a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, esp. something abstract

comparison using like or as

an act or instance of placing things/words/concepts close together or side by side for comparison or contrast. A horrible troll holding a beautiful orchid, for example.

a descriptive word, phrase or title: ex. “Frederick the Great,” It can also mean name calling.

using a more polite term for a coarse or unpleasant term

an extended metaphor—often the basis for an entire poem. “Love is a rose... blush as petals...steadfast as the stem...spiteful as thorns...enduring as roots....”

a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another with which it is associated (“The white house said today”—meaning, the press secretary of the current administration said); The use of a part of something to represent the whole.(“Ten sails crossed the sea” –meaning, ten ships crossed the ocean). Note: The College Board has announced that Synecdoche and metonymy are the same thing.

repetition of initial sounds

the use of a word whose sound imitates the act or thing it names. The “buzzing” of a bee, for example, or the sound, “boom.”

an overused statement or idea.

deliberately dramatic or theatrical.

A pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain't broke, don't fix it.” (almost synonymous with epigram—but not paradoxical or necessarily poetic)

repetition of the initial word or phrase in a series of clauses or phrases for emphasis and rhythm. “War is the enemy. War is the murder of children. War is the ravager of marriages. War is the destroyer of culture.”

The repetition of the same word or words at the end of successive phrases or clauses. This is the counterpart to anaphora.

the original pattern or model of a character or idea that is frequently copied or repeated. Merlin, Gandolf, Dumbledore, obi wan kenobi: same guy, different names—Archetype.

the secondary, implied, or suggested meaning of a word. The word “weasel” suggests negativity—a tendency to lie or cheat or steal.

the actual, literal meaning of the word. Weasel simply means a slender, carnivorous mammal.

(word choice) a writer or speaker’s choice of words. Synonymous with style. Choosing the words “lied about” rather than “mistakenly stated” is a choice in diction.

The grammatical order in which words are placed. It might be broken for effect: find examples of this for the organizer.

The attitude the writer takes towards her subject, or in her writing. When describing tone, we use adjectives: angry, sarcastic, solemn, playful, timid, etc.

Directly stated. Leaving no question about the meaning.

Implied, but not directly stated. Hinted at.

similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases or clauses. “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.”

Opposition or contrast of words or ideas within a balanced sentence. “Many are called, but few are chosen.” These words much be truly opposites: night/day, hot/cold, life/death, etc.

a comparison of similar things—usually using something familiar to explain something unfamiliar. Water pipes for electrical circuits.

A restriction in meaning or application. “Subject A’s premise would work very well under a totalitarian government, but in a democratic government, the premise seems unlikely to succeed.”

A rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form. EX.“Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds.” EX. “Pleasure’s a sin, and sometimes sin’s a pleasure” (Byron). EX. “He was wise and compassionate as a counselor, but as a teacher inefficient and ineffectual.” EX. "It's not the men in my life, it's the life in my men" (Mae West).

a logical argument in which one proposition (the conclusion) is inferred from two others (the premises). It’s a form of deductive reasoning. It goes like this: (1)All dogs are mammals. (2) Mingo is a dog. (3) Therefore, Mingo is a mammal