Literary and Rhetorical Terms

English 10 Honors

Tropes

Figures of Thought

(meaning of words)

a Figure of Speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as "Simile." M-w.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simile>.

So I was like

Dumb Blonde. Digital image. Deviantart.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://howaboutarainbow.deviantart.com/art/Dumb-Blonde-160950911>.

Examples: You look like a squirrel. That house is as small as a shed

Metaphor a figure of speech which a word or phrase literally denoting

one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to

suggest a likeness or analogy between them “Metaphor." Def. 1. Http://www.merriam-

webster.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/metaphor>.

When Richard stood up to present, he froze in fear.

Metaphor. Digital

image. N.p., 31

May 2011. Web.

23 Aug. 2012.

<http://my.english

club.com/profiles/

blogs/metaphors-

and-

metaphorical>.

Personification

The giving of human characteristics to inanimate objects.

The tree waved its arms through the night sky.

The mountains looked over the city like a guardian.

SYNECDOCHE

Caroline Shippey

Definition:

“a figure of speech in which a

part is used for the whole or the

whole for a part, the special for

the general or the general for the

special, as in ten sail for ten

ships or a Croesus for a rich

man.”

"Synecdoche." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d.

Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/synecdoc

he>.

Examples:

•Their eyes were glued to the

TV.

-eyes = people watching

TV

•His new wheels were

awesome.

-wheels = car

•That group of white hairs

looks happy.

-white hairs = elderly

people

"Royalty Free Stock Photo: Success - Older People Giving Thumbs Up.

Image: 7766845." Dreamstime. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-success-older-

people-giving-thumbs-up-image7766845>.

"Absolute Tragedy: 90% of U.S. Babies Regularly Watch TV." -

Informationliberation. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=21886>

8/23/12

a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with

which it is associated

"Metonymy." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metonymy>.

Uncle Sam want’s you! – The US government wants you!

"Smaller Financial Advisor | DBJ Associates." Smaller Financial Advisor | DBJ Associates. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://www.dbjassociates.com/tag/smaller-financial-advisor/>.

{

Irony the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning

"Irony." Merium-Webster. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irony>.

Verbal Irony. Digital image. Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://verbal-irony-examples-literature-picture.gofunnyblog.no-ip.org/>.

Ironic Bird. Digital image. Types of Irony. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://grupo04andis.blogspot.com/2009/11/types-of-irony.html>.

“statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true” Webster, Merriam. "Paradox." Def. 2a. Merriam-Webster. N.d. Print.

“I must be cruel

to be kind” -- Hamlet

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...“ -- A Tale of Two

Cities

Paradox (noun)

Gibben, Mark. Liar Paradox. Digital image. Paradox. Mark Gibben, May 1997. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/Paradoxes.html>.

Oxymoron a figure of speech that

combines contradictory terms.

"Oxymoron Alert: “Ethical Cheating―." Ethics Alarms. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://ethicsalarms.com/2011/05/24/oxymoron-alert-ethical-cheating/>.

"Phocabulary." - Oxymoron. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://www.phocabulary.com/oxymoron>.

Examples: He has a cold sweat. The watch had a dull shine. She hated to love him.

"Romney and Hythe’s Little Understatement and Other Attractions." Romney

and Hythe’s Little Understatement and Other Attractions » The Cat's Blog.

N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://blog.thecatsdiary.com/2011/05/16/romney-and-hythes-little-

understatement-and-other-attractions/>.

Flickr. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://www.flickr.com/groups/mycountryroad/discuss/7215760

6654725973/>.

Understatement

Definition:

to represent as less than is

the case "Understate." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 23 Aug.

2012. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/understatement>.

Examples:

-Hurricane Katrina gave

the ground a little

moisture.

-The Grand Canyon is a

ditch.

Litotes An understatement, especially that in which an affirmative (agreement) is expressed by the negative of its contrary for rhetorical

effect.

• Examples: "How was that

AWESOME ride we just went on?"

"Not bad."

• "I just ran a marathon, no big deal"

"Litotes." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Litotes?s=t>.

Bandaged person in wheel chair. Digital image. Litotes. Shruti Chandra Gupta, 12 Oct. 2007. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://literaryzone.com/?p=143>.

“Overstatement or exaggeration for the sake of emphasis”

Examples: - I am so hungry I could eat a horse. -He is as skinny as a toothpick

Martin, Man. Man About to Eat Horse. Digital image. Beyond." A Wild Exaggeration Such as That Hoary Old Chestnut, "I'm so Hungry, I Could Eat a Horse.N.p., 17 Dec. 2011. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://manmartin.blogspot.com/2011/12/hyperbole-december-17-figures-of-speech.html#!/2011/12/hyperbole-december-17-figures-of-speech.html

Harris, W. "Literary Terms." Literary Terms. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://www.taylor.k12.ga.us/~wharris/literary_terms.html>.

Emma Schellpeper

Schemes

Figures of Speech

(order of words or phrases)

“The rhetorical contrast of ideas by

means of parallel arrangements of

words, clauses, or sentences” "Antithesis." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antithesis>.

Examples:

-Give me liberty or

give me death

-Man proposes God

disposes

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death. Digital image. Max Grace. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://maxgrace.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/235-years-ago-today-give-me-liberty-or-

give-me-death/>.

Emma Schellpeper

Chiasmus Noun. A reversal In the order of words in

similar phrases or clauses

Examples: "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail" -Ben Franklin

"You should eat to live not live to eat"

Chiasmus Book cover picture. Digital image. Best Life Quotes, Quotes About Life, Inspirational Quotes About Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://bestlifequotesblog.com/never-let-chiasmus-quotes-fool-you/>.

"Chiasmus." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Chiasmus?s=ts>.

"Best Life Quotes | Quotes About Life | Inspirational Quotes About Life." Never Let Chiasmus Quotes Fool You. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://bestlifequotesblog.com/never-let-chiasmus-quotes-fool-you/>.

Anaphora

It is the repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of several consecutive sentences or verses to emphasize an image or a

concept. The effect is to influence the person reading it. "WikiAnswers - What Is an Example of an Anaphora." WikiAnswers - The Q&A Wiki. Web. 26 Aug. 2010.

<http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_an_example_of_an_anaphora>.

Famous example is from

Winston Churchill: “We shall not flag or fail. We

shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on

the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence

and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island…”

"Meet the Multiples: Emily and Sophie Holding Charlotte and Olivia: Two Sets of Twins: Photo Gallery of Twins, Triplets and More Multiples." Twins - Multiples - Multiple Birth - Twin Pregnancy - Having Twins - Identical Twins - Triplets Quadruplets Quintuplets Sextuplets - Parenting Twins. Web. 26 Aug. 2010. <http://multiples.about.com/od/picturesphotos/ig/Photo-Gallery--Twins--Triplets/Multiple-Multiples-Gallery.htm>.

Anaphora The repetition of a word or phrase at the start of

successive clauses

Sally ate a grilled cheese sandwich. Sally ate barbeque potato chips next. Sally ate a Fuji apple lastly. Sally ate a delicious lunch today.

EXAMPLE:

Nordquist, By Richard. "Anaphora - Definition and Examples of Rhetorical Anaphora - Figure of Speech." Grammar and Composition - Homepage of About Grammar and Composition. Web. 25 Aug. 2010. <http://grammar.about.com/od/ab/g/anaphora.htm>.

"Girl Cheese Boy Cheese — LetsTalkMomTalk." Lets Have Fun Blogging about Our Mommy Experiences — LetsTalkMomTalk. Web. 26 Aug. 2010. <http://letstalkmomtalk.ca/?p=73>.

"Green Baby Guide | 2009 | March." Green Baby Guide | Earth Friendly, Budget Friendly. Web. 26 Aug. 2010. <http://greenbabyguide.com/2009/03/>.

"Apples | Our Products | B.C. Tree Fruits." B.C. Tree Fruits | Marketing Okanagan Fruit Since 1936. Web. 25 Aug. 2010. <http://www.bctree.com/products/apples/fuji.php>.

Abby Hylton

Apostrophe a form of address to an object or idea

Rhetorical Question a question asked merely for effect with no answer expected

“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”

Other Good Stuff to Know

Alliteration

"Alliteration Pictures." Alliteration Pictures. N.p., n.d.

Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://alliterationexample.blogspot.com/2010/03/alliter

ation-pictures.html>.

"What's Cooking in First Grade…." Alliteration in First Grade? N.p.,

n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://castlehillschool.com/sites/zlaket/tag/alliteration-in-

first-grade/>.

Definition:

the repetition of usually initial consonant

sounds in two or more neighboring words

or syllables

Examples:

-She sells sea-shells by the sea

shore

-Mary’s mother makes marvelous

macaroni.

"Alliteration." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alliteration?show=0>.

Assonance

A resemblance of sounds.

Also called vowel rhyme. A rhyme in which the same

vowel sounds are used with different consonants in

the stressed syllables of the rhyming words.

Example: Dead in the middle of

little Italy, little did we know

that we riddled two middle

men who didn't do diddily. "==." Ms. Henderson's English Wiki. N.p., n.d.

Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://hendyenglish.wikispaces.com/AP

Glossary>.

Onomatopoeia (noun)

“The naming of a thing or action by

a vocal imitation of the

sound associated with it” Webster, Merriam. "Onomatopoeia.“ Def. 1. Merriam-Webster. N.d. Print.

Examples: Hiss

Buzz

Splash

Click

Bridget Killilea

Bredin, Sheila. Dog Barking. Digital image. Find out Why Do Dogs Bark? N.p., 21 Feb. 2012. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://artsydog.com/blog/why-do-dogs-bark/>.

AN IMPLIED OR INDIRECT REFERENCE ESPECIALLY IN

LITERATURE; ALSO :THE USE OF SUCH REFERENCES

ALLUSION

"Allusion." Merium- Webster. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allusion>.

Book. Digital image. Graphics Fuel. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012 . <http://www.graphicsfuel.com/2010/10/psd-book-template-icons/>.

Open book. Digital image. Stand Fast Books. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://standfastbooks.net/ggissues.htm>.

Archetypes the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies

"Archetype." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archetype>.

"Http://blogs.suntimes.com/shinyobjects/gandalf.jpg." Http://blogs.suntimes.com/shinyobjects/gandalf.jpg. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://blogs.suntimes.com/shinyobjects/assets_c/2009/10/gandalf-12643.html>.

Gandalf shows Frodo the way to destroy the ring, the wise old wizards always know what has to be done.

Definition Example

“style of speaking or writing as

dependent upon choice of words”

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this…”

-Exert from Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettyburg Address.”

Diction

“Diciton." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/synecdoche>.

Words. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.teamtriad.org/home/2012/4/2/abusing-your-words.html>.

“The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln." The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm>.

Caroline Shippey 8/23/12

Denotation to serve as an indication of

"Denote." Def. 1.

Http://www.merriam-webster.com.

N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/denote>.

The lack of color in the grass denotes that there has been a

drought.

Digital image. N.p., 2 May

2011. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.

<http://publicintelligence.net/ala

bama-virginia-tornado-

destruction-photos/>.

CONNOTATION An idea or feeling that a word invokes in a person

despite its

literal or figurative meaning.

The car's engine was very

greasy.

The home shone warmly in

the distance.

the way in which linguistic elements (as words) are put

together to form constituents (as phrases or clauses)

Source: Clip art

Examples:

The young man carries the lady.

The lady carries the young man.

"Syntax." M-w.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Aug. 2012. <http://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/syntax>.

Syntax, Basic Sentence Structure. Digital image. Pdfcast.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 23

Aug. 2012. <http://pdfcast.org/pdf/english-syntax-basic-sentence-structure>.