Rhetoric Terms

Bathos

Definition: A descent in literature in which a poet / writer tries too hard to be passionate, and falls into stupid and trivial imagery.

Example:

Syllogism (ˈsiləˌjizəm)Starts an argument with a reference to something general and

from this it conclusion about something more specific“All men are mortal” is a major statement or premise which stands as

a general fact. “John is a man” is minor statement or premise that is specific and “John is mortal”

Syllepsis (səˈlepsis)Two terms are commonly used interchangeably to refer to a

figure of speech in which the same word is applied to two others in different senses.I finally told Ross, late in the summer, that I was losing weight, my frip, and possibly my mind.

Symploce (sim’plo,see) A repetition of words or phrases at both the beginning and end

of successive clauses"Who is here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him I have offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended." William Shakespeare’s, Julius Caesar

Synecdoche (siˈnekdəkē) A whole is represented by a single part or a part is represented

by the whole“The White House declared a state of

emergency.”

Synesthesia (ˌsinəsˈTHēZHə)Characters or ideas appeal to and link multiple senses (smell,

sight, hearing, taste, touch) at once“Back to the region where the sun is silent”-Dante, The Divine Comedy

Attitude

Definition: A writers manner / disposition toward his subject matter, revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization.

Example: "Truth be told, we have replaced problem with issue in our vocabulary. And issue is a euphemism." (Allison Amend)

BomphiologiaDefinition: Example:A technique where the speaker brags excessively in a self-aggrandizingmanner.

Brachyology

Definition: A concise, condensed, or abridged expression in speech, such as the omission of understood words or parts of phrases.

Example: The omission of “good” from “good morning” to get just “morning”.

Allegory● (n) A poem, play, picture, etc. in

which the apparent meaning of the characters and events is used to symbolize a deeper moral or spiritual meaning

● Ex: There is plenty of allegory that is also great Literature

● Syn: fable, emblem, parable

Antiphrasis ● Definition: (n.) the usually ironic or humorous use of words in

senses opposite to the generally accepted meaning.● Ex: The chihuahua was named Goliath.

Antimetabole● Definition: (n.) a figure in which the same words or ideas are

repeated in transposed order.● Ex: “Eat to live, not live to eat” - Socrates

Antanaclasis● Definition: (n.) a type of verbal play in which one word is

used in two contrasting senses.● Ex: “people on the go….go for coke” (Coca Cola ad.)

Aphorism (n)• Definition: an observation that contains a

general truth; a short statement with scientific principle, typically by classical authors

• Example: “less is more”

Ceasura

Definition: A break or interruption in the middle of a line or verse for the purpose of stopping the flow of sound or creating a dramatic pause with a strong impact. Can be marked by double lines: ||.

Example: Mozart || oh how your music makes me soar!

CatachresisDefinition: -the misapplication of a word or phraseExamples: -calling corpses in a graveyard “inhabitants”-calling Brian a “man”

ConsonanceRepetition of sounds from consonants. This is

normally in poetry. ‘T was later when the summer wentThan when the cricket came,And yet we knew that gentle clockMeant nought but going home.‘T was sooner when the cricket wentThan when the winter came,Yet that pathetic pendulumKeeps esoteric time.

DenotationThe strict, literal, dictionary definition

of a word, devoid of any emotion attitude, or color

Synonyms: definition, implication, meaning

Deus Ex MachinaThe term is Latin for “god out of the

machine.” It refers to the circumstance where an implausible concept for a divine character is introduced into a storyline for the purpose of resolving its conflict and procuring an interesting outcome.

Synonyms: divine intervention, contrivance

DictionRelated to style, diction refers to the

writer’s word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.

Synonyms: phrasing, turn of phrase, wording, language, usage,vocabulary, terminology, expressions, idioms

Example: In “Ode to the Grecian Urn” formal diction is used to achieve a certain effect.

“Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter: therefore, ye soft pipes, play on”

The formal “ye” is used instead of informal “you”. The formal diction here is due to the respect for the urn.

Elegy• Noun

– A reflection typically as a lament for the deceased– Syn: lament, requiem, threnody– Ant: celebration, enjoyment, praise

Epanalepsis• Repetition of initial and ending of a word or

words of a sentence or a clause.• Syn: Repetition

Epigraph• Noun

– A short quotation or saying that suggests the theme of the book or the chapter

– Syn: Thesis

ExpositionExample: “A long time ago, in a

galaxy far, far away…” Definition: Used to introduce

background information about events, settings, characters etc, to the audience.

Synonym: introduction

FableDefinition: A concise and brief

story intended to provide a moral lesson at the end.

Synonym: tale or parable

Example: Animal Farm by George Orwell

FarceDefinition: A form of lowly

comedy designed to provoke laughter through highly exaggerated caricatures of people in impossible or silly situations

Synonym: mockery, travesty, absurdity, sham, joke

Example: physical bustle (slapstick), sexual misunderstandings and mix-ups, broad verbal humor (puns)

FreABe verseDefinition: Poetry that does not

rhyme or have a regular meter

Synonyms: vers libre

Example: Sunshine by The Poet Keri

Invective• an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or

attach using strong, abusive language.• “I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives

to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.”

• -Jonathan Swift (Gulliver’s Travels)

Logical fallacy

• an error in reasoning which renders an argument invalid

• Ex: I figured that you couldn’t possibly get it right, so I ignored your comment.

• Ex: When the fuel light goes on in my car, I soon run out of gas; therefore, the fuel light causes my car to run out of gas.

In medias res● Definition: In or into the middle of a narrative or plot

● Example: There was a hint of nervous throat-clearing as Neal Ascherson's unobtrusive script began in medias res. INDEPENDENT (1998)

Sentential AdverbsSentential adverbs are single words or short phrases, usually

interrupting normal syntax, used to lend emphasis to the words near the adverb.

“All truth is not, indeed, of equal importance; but if little violations are allowed, every violation will in time be thought little.” - Samuel Johnson

SententiaSententia are popular proverbs, adages, aphorisms, maxims, or

apophthegms often quoted without context.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” -Abraham Lincoln

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hyperbaton● Definition:� � An inversion of the normal order of words,

especially for the sake of emphasis

● Example: This I must see (instead of I must see this).

Conceitdef. A figure of speech in

which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similes or metaphors.

If they be two, they are two soAs stiff twin compasses are two;Thy soul, the fix'd foot, makes no showTo move, but doth, if th' other do.

And though it in the centre sit,Yet, when the other far doth roam,It leans, and hearkens after it,And grows erect, as that comes home.

Such wilt thou be to me, who must,Like th' other foot, obliquely run;Thy firmness makes my circle just,And makes me end where I begun.

- John Donne, “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning”

Epigramdef. A terse, sage, or

witty and often paradoxical saying.

“Remember that time is money.” - Benjamin Franklin

Jargondef. Specific phrases

and words used in a particular situation, profession, or trade.

Examples: “The 9-to-5,” “10-4,” “AWOL,” “POTUS,” and others.

Juxtapositiondef. A literary technique in which two or

more ideas, places, characters, and their actions are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness…” - Charles Dickens, “A Tale of Two Cities”

MeterIn poetry, the arrangement of syllables in a line

into repeated patterns, known as feet.Syn: Rhythm, cadence, beatEx: “That time of year thou mayst in me behold”That time | of year | thou mayst | in me |

behold

Reductio ad Absurdumdef. a manner of arguing

something through demonstration of the absurdity of an opponent’s argument.

"Another example of reductio ad absurdum is furnished by the reply to the arguments which attempt to prove by means of an alleged cipher that Bacon wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare. All the arguments adduced in favor of this proposition may, as its opponents contend, be used to prove that anybody wrote anything."

(Adams Sherman Hill, The Principles of Rhetoric, rev. edition. American Book Company, 1895)