Saachi Jain - AP Lang Key Terms
Conceit
- a figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similes or metaphors - a comparison between two very different things that points out their similarity -"Thou counterfeit'st a bark, a sea, a wind; For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea, Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is, Sailing in this salt flood; the winds, thy sighs; Who, raging with thy tears, and they with them, Without a sudden calm, will overset Thy tempest-tossed body" - Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Apostrophe
- a figure of speech sometimes represented by exclamation "O"; a writer or a speaker detaches himself from the reality and addresses an imaginary character in his speech - speaker talks to an imaginary character - "Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee! I have thee not, and yet I see thee still" - Shakespeare, Macbeth
Simile
- a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison, showing similarities between two different things - a comparison between different things - "I would have given anything for the power to soothe her frail soul, tormenting itself in its invincible ignorance like a small bird beating about the cruel wires of a cage" - Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim
Metaphor
- a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics - a similarity of two different objects is made based on a common characteristic (or characteristics) - "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players" - Shakespeare, As You Like It
Rhetorical Modes
- describe the variety, conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of language-based communication, particularly writing and speaking. - conventions for writing and speaking - Four of the most common rhetorical modes and their purpose are narration, description, exposition, and argumentation.
Wit
- elements in a literary work designed to make the audience laugh or feel amused - amusing elements in writing - "No, don't you worry; these country jakes won't ever think of that. Besides, you know, you'll be in costume, and that makes all the difference in the world; Juliet's in a balcony, enjoying the moonlight before she goes to bed, and she's got on her night- gown and her ruffled nightcap. Here are the costumes for the parts." -Huck Finn
Syllepsis
- employs the technique of using a single verb for more than one part in a sentence but where that single verb applies grammatically and logically to only one - using one verb for more then one part even if it is grammatically wrong - "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears." (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar)
Allegory
- figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures, and events - relating something to the greater picture based on the characters in the novel - Animal Farm by George Orwell: "All animals are equal but few are more equal than others."
Semantics
- the branch of linguistics that deals with different meanings of words, phrases, signs, or other symbols - the interpretation and meaning of different words - "O, be some other name! What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd" - Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Anaphora
- the deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect - repeating the first part of the sentence - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: "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, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."
Inverted syntax
- the normal order of words is reversed in order to achieve an effect of emphasis or meter - change the order of the words for a desire effect - "Here by the rose-tree they planted once of Love in Jeopardy an Italian bronze" - Humbert Wolfe, Love in Jeopardy
Synthesis
- to combine two or more elements to form a new whole. - to combine two thing to form something new
Imagery
- to use figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical sense - using words to create a visual in our minds - "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear" - Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Argument to the People
- a fallacious argument that concludes that a proposition is true because many or most people believe it - most people believe it so it must be true - "Man could alleviate his misery by marriage. This close companionship enhances the joys of one and mitigated the sorrow of the other, and anyone knew God always provided for married people." - Lee Emily Pearson
Begging the Question
- a fallacy in which the premises include the claim that the conclusion is true or (directly or indirectly) assume that the conclusion is true. - assuming a conclusion is true -Ex: Bill: "God must exist." Jill: "How do you know." Bill: "Because the Bible says so." Jill: "Why should I believe the Bible?" Bill: "Because the Bible was written by God."
Genetic Fallacy
- a fallacy of irrelevance where a conclusion is suggested based solely on someone's or something's history, origin, or source rather than its current meaning or context - This overlooks any difference to be found in the present situation, typically transferring the positive or negative esteem from the earlier context.
Zeugma
- a figure of speech in which a word that is usually a verb or adjective applies to more than one noun blending grammatically and logically different ideas - a word applies to multiple nouns - "[They] covered themselves with dust and glory" - Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Metonymy
- a figure of speech that replaces the name of the thing with the name of something else that it is closely associated to - substituting the name of something with something else that it's related to - "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears" - Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Rhetorical Question
- a question asked just for effect or to lay emphasis on some point discussed when no real answer is expected - a question asked to put attention on a topic - "What made you think of love and tears And birth and death and pain" - Hladia Porter Stewart, Creation
Narrative
- a report of related events that is presented to the audience in words that are in a logical sequence - a timeline of connected events - "Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life" - Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Antithesis
- a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect - two opposite ideas together in a sentence - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: "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, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."
Chiasmus
- a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures - grammatical structures are reversed - "But O, what damned minutes tells he o'er, Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves" - Shakespeare, Othello
Circumlocution
- a rhetorical device that is an ambiguous or paradoxical way of expressing things, ideas, or views - when a speaker says something with a double meaning because they don't want to say it directly - "Divorce me, untie or break that knot again; Take me to you, imprison me, for I, Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me" - John Donne, Holy Sonnet 14
Homily
- a sermon delivered by a priest or religious person before a group of people to offer them moral correction - a speech or discussion of a moral/religious topic - "It was pretty ornery preaching—all about brotherly love, and such-like tiresomeness; but everybody said it was a good sermon, and they all talked it over going home, and had such a powerful lot to say about faith and good works and free grace and preforeordestination" - Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Syntax
- a set of rules in language that dictates how words from different parts of speech are put together to convey a complete thought - the arrangement of words to create complete sentences - "What light from yonder window breaks?" - Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Thesis
- a statement about what the writer plans to support and prove - the author's argument - "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Aphorism
- a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner. The term is often applied to philosophical, moral and literary principles. - statement expressed in a witty manner - Shakespeare: "Having nothing, nothing can he lose."(Henry VI) "Life is a tale told by an idiot — full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." (Macbeth) "Lord, what fools these mortals be!"(A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Paradox
- a statement that appears self-contradictory but may include a latent truth - a statement that seems absurd or ridiculous, but actually has some element of truth - "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" - George Orwell, Animal Farm
Ad Hominem
- commenting on or against an opponent to undermine his instead of his arguments - attacking an opponent's character rather than their beliefs - "The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this courtroom is" - Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Genre
- the type of art, literature, or musics that is characterized by its form, style, and content - the categories in a type of art - "A glooming peace this morning with it brings; The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head: Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things: Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished: For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo" - Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Parallelism
- the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same or similar in their construction, sound, meaning, or meter - using similar constructs in a sentence - "To err is human; to forgive divine" - Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism
Appeal to Improper Authority
- Using an authority as evidence in your argument when the authority is not really an authority on the facts relevant to the argument. - As the audience, allowing an irrelevant authority to add credibility to the claim being made.
Appeal to Tradition
- Using historical preferences of the people (tradition), either in general or as specific as the historical preferences of a single individual, as evidence that the historical preference is correct - using past precedent to justify the present
Appeal to Force
- When force, coercion, or even a threat of force is used in place of a reason in an attempt to justify a conclusion - force is used to justify a conclusion - "When they had finished their confession, the dogs promptly tore their throats out, and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess." -Animal Farm
False Cause
- a category of informal fallacies in which a cause is incorrectly identified.
Extended metaphor
- a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem - a long comparison - "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts" - Shakespeare, As You Like It
Analogy
- a comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it. - aims at explaining that idea or thing by comparing it to something that is familiar - Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called," Juliet is indirectly saying that just like a rose that will always smell sweet by whichever name it is called; she will like Romeo even if he changes his name.
Polemic
- a controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine - argument refuting an opinion
Understatement
- a figure of speech used by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important - making something seem less important than it really is - "I have to have this operation. It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain" - Salinger, Catcher in the Rye
Personification
- a figure of speech where a thing, an idea, or an animal is given human attributes - nonhuman things are given human qualities - "The woods are getting ready to sleep—they are not yet asleep but they are disrobing and are having all sorts of little bed-time conferences and whisperings and good-nights" - L.M. Montgomery, The Green Gables Letters
Irony
- a figure of speech where the intended meaning of words is different from their actual meaning - using words to express the opposite of their meaning - "Go ask his name: if he be married. My grave is like to be my wedding bed" - Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Oxymoron
- a figure of speech where two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect - contradictory ideas occur together - "I find no peace, and all my war is done I fear and hope, I burn and freeze like ice, I flee above the wind, yet can I not arise" - Sir Thomas Wyatt, I Find no Peace
Prose
- a form of language that has no formal metrical structure - language in its ordinary form - "The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep" - Robert Frost, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Antimetabole
- a literary device that involves repeating a phrase in reverse order - repeating the same phrase in opposite order - "Fair is foul, and foul is fair Hover through the fog and filthy air" - Shakespeare, Macbeth
Repetition
- a literary device that repeats the same words or phrases a few times to make an idea clearer - repeating something that has already been said/written - "Because I do not hope to turn again Because I do not hope Because I do not hope to turn" - T.S. Eliot, Ash-Wednesday
Inference/infer
- a literary device where logical deductions are made based on premises assumed to be true - a conclusion based on reasoning - "It was after we started with Gatsby toward the house that the gardener saw Wilson's body a little way off in the grass, and the holocaust was complete" - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Concession
- a literary device where one acknowledges a point made by one's opponent - looking at different opinions - "She has committed no crime, she has merely broken a rigid and time-honored code of our society, a code so severe that whoever breaks it is hounded from our midst as unfit to live with. She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance, but I cannot pity her: she is white" - Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Mood
- a literary element that evokes feelings or vibes in readers - the atmosphere developed by the words - "The river, reflecting the clear blue of the sky, glistened and sparkled as it flowed noiselessly on" - Charles Dickens, Pickwick Papers
Sarcasm
- a literary or rhetorical device that is meant to mock with often satirical or ironic remarks with a purpose to amuse and hurt someone or some section of society simultaneously - mocking someone, part of society, or society itself - "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference" - Robert Frost, Road Not Taken
Juxtaposition
- a literary technique in which two or more ideas, places, or characters are placed side by side to develop comparisons and contrasts - putting two things next to each other to compare and contrast - "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear" - Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc
- a logical fallacy (of the questionable cause variety) that states "Since event Y followed event X, event Y must have been caused by event X." Post hoc is a particularly tempting error because temporal sequence appears to be integral to causality. The fallacy lies in coming to a conclusion based solely on the order of events, rather than taking into account other factors that might rule out the connection. - The rooster crows immediately before sunrise; therefore the rooster causes the sun to rise.
Circular Reasoning
- a logical fallacy in which the reasoner begins with what they are trying to end with - circle of reasoning; no direct answer - "A is true because B is true; B is true because A is true."
Theme
- a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly - the subject or topic of the writing - "Whatever our souls are made out of, his and mine are the same...If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger" - Emily Brontë, Wuthering Height
Connotation
- a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly - the suggested meaning or associations of a word - "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day" - Shakespeare, Sonnet 18
Appositive
- a noun or word is followed by another noun or phrase that renames or identifies it - word followed by another phrase that explains it - A Hanging by George Orwell: "We were waiting outside the condemned cells, a row of sheds fronted with double bars, like small animal cages"
Synecdoche
- a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part - a component of something is used to represent the entire thing - "O no! It is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken" - Shakespeare, Sonnet 116
Figure of Speech
- a phrase or word having different meanings than its literal meaning - an expression that compares one thing to something else - "My heart is like a singing bird Whose nest is in a water'd shoot; My heart is like an apple-tree My heart is like a rainbow shell" - Christina Rossetti, A Birthday
Pun
- a play on words in which a humorous effect is produced by using a word that has two or more meanings or similar sounding words with different meanings - a play on words - "Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes with nimble soles; I have a soul of lead" - Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Diction
- a style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer - the words a writer chooses - "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, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair" - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Asyndeton
- a stylistic device that intentionally eliminates conjunctions between the phrases and in the sentence, yet maintains the grammatical accuracy - a sentence without conjunctions that is still grammatically correct -"Call up her father. Rouse him. Make after him, Poison his delight, Proclaim him in the streets" - Shakespeare, Othello
Satire
- a technique that is used by writers to expose or criticize foolishness or corruption of an individual or society through humor, irony, ridicule, or exaggeration - exposing and criticizing people's foolishness or vices - "The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that's what an army is-a mob; they don't fight with courage that's born in them, but with courage that's borrowed from their mass, and from their officers. But a mob without any man at the head of it is beneath pitifulness" - Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Synesthesia
- a technique used to present ideas, characters, or places in a way that they appeal to more than one sense at the same time - one sense is described using words from another sense - "Tasting of Flora and the country green, Dance, and Provencal song, and sun burnt mirth!" - John Keats, Ode to a Nightingale
Atmosphere
- a type of feeling that readers get from a narrative based on details such as settings, background, objects, and foreshadowing - the feeling a reader develops based on the tone and mood - "The women raised her hands and stared at them; stared through them. Her voice was soft but tense. 'Blood on his hands.' Her own hands were clean and pale" - Dean Koontz, The Vision
Archetype
- a typical character, action, or situation that represents such universal patterns of human nature - a representation of humans - Animal Farm by George Orwell: Snowball is an example of the scapegoat archetype. He is blamed for everything bad that happens.
Malapropism
- a use of an incorrect word in place of a similar word that results in a nonsensical and humorous expression - the mistaken use of a word instead of a similar word, which has an amusing effect - "Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons" - Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
Absolute
- a word free from limitations or qualifications - a word without any exceptions - "best," "all," "unique," "perfect" - "There was no bus in sight and Julian, his hands still jammed in his pockets and his head thrust forward, scowled down the empty street." - Flannery O'Connor, "Everything That Rises Must Converge"
Onomatopoeia
- a word that imitates the natural sounds of a thing - a word whose sound is associated with its name - "Hark, hark! Bow-wow. The watch-dogs bark! Bow-wow. Hark, hark! I hear The strain of strutting chanticleer Cry, 'cock-a-diddle-dow!'" - Shakespeare, The Tempest
Ambiguity
- a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning - more that one meaning - Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare: Mercutio is dying from his wound, but he attempts to remain lighthearted. The word "grave" has an ambiguous meaning: "Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man"
Syllogism
- an argument with a reference to something general and from this creates a conclusion about something specific - a general argument that has a specific conclusion - "Flavius: Have you forgot me, sir? Timon: Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men; Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt a man, I have forgot thee" - Shakespeare, Timon of Athens
Fallacy
- an erroneous argument dependent upon an unsound or illogical contention - a mistaken belief or an unsound argument - "The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross-examination, but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant. The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this courtroom is" - Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Hyperbole
- an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis - exaggerating to create a desired effect - "Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand No. This my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red" - Shakespeare, Macbeth
Parody
- an imitation of a particular writer, artist, or genre that is exaggerated to produce a comic effect - an imitation that is humorous or amusing - "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damasked, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks" - Shakespeare, Sonnet 130
Dramatic irony
- an important stylistic plot device for creating situations where the audience knows more about the situations and the causes of conflicts and their resolutions before leading characters or actors - the audience knows more than the characters - "There's no art To find the mind's construction in the face: He was a gentleman on whom I built An absolute trust" - Shakespeare, Macbeth
Hasty Generalization
- an informal fallacy of faulty generalization by reaching an inductive generalization based on insufficient evidence—essentially making a hasty conclusion without considering all of the variables. - making a generalization without all the information - X is true for A. X is true for B. Therefore, X is true for C, D, etc.
Litotes
- an understatement that is expressed by using double negatives - a understatement that is positive because it cancels out its opposite expressions - "I am not unaware how the productions of the Grub Street brotherhood have of late years fallen under many prejudice" - Jonathan Swift, A Tale of a Tub
Allusion
- brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. - referencing a previous or common phrase or idea -Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: "...not be hit With Cupid's arrow. She hath Dian's wit."
Ethos
- credibility or an ethical appeal which involves persuasion by the character involved - trying to persuade others of your credibility - "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. 'Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,' he told me, 'just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.'" - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Deductive reasoning
- generalization at the initial stage, and then moves on toward the specific case - rationalization that goes from general to specific - "Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on.....Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger, But, oh, what damnèd minutes tells he o'er Who dotes, yet doubts— suspects, yet soundly loves...She did deceive her father, marrying you...She loved them most....I humbly do beseech you of your pardon For too much loving you" - Shakespeare, Othello
Denotation
- literal or dictionary meanings of a word - the main meaning of a word, not what the word implies - "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what" - Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Didactic
- literature that is meant to inform or instruct the reader, mainly in moral or political lessons, while providing pleasure or entertainment - teaching the audience in a way that they will find enjoyable - "All animals are equal but a few are more equal than others" - George Orwell, Animal Farm
Verbal irony
- occurs when a speaker speaks something contradictory to what he intends to. It is an intentional product of the speaker and is contradictory to his/her emotions and actions. - speaker says something contradictory than what he intends - "I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear it shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, rather than Paris." (Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare) Juliet does not like the decision of her father to marry with Paris, whom she dislikes and instead adores Romeo. Hence, she makes a decision to marry Romeo and tells her mother about it ironically that whenever she would marry, it would be Romeo whom she dislikes and not Paris, and thus makes her mother confused.
Situational Irony
- occurs when incongruity appears between expectations of something to happen, and what actually happens instead - entirely different happens from what audience may be expecting or the final outcome is opposite to what the audience is expecting - The whole story of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" presents a case of the situational irony. Dorothy moves to the wizard in order to find a way to go her home just to learn that she was capable of doing so persistently. Scarecrow wished to become intelligent, but he discovers himself a perfect genius. Woodsman considers himself as not capable of love; nevertheless he learns that he has a good heart. Lion appears as a coward and then turns out to be an extremely fearless and courageous. (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum)
Caricature
- particular aspects of a subject are exaggerated to create a silly or comic effect - an imitation of something that is exaggerated to produce a humorous effect - "Mr. Chadband is a large yellow man, with a fat smile, and a general appearance of having a good deal of train oil in his system. Mrs. Chadband is a stern, severe-looking, silent women. Mr. Chadband moves softly and cumbrously, not unlike a bear who has been taught to walk upright"
Euphemism
- polite, indirect expressions which replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite or which suggest something unpleasant - a way to express things politely - "It had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations" - George Orwell, Animal Farm
Bombast
- pretentious, inflated speech or writing - high-sounding language that is used to impress people - "I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go about t'expound this dream...The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man's hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream was" - Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
Consonance
- repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase - the repetition of the same sound close together - "Great, or good, or kind, or fair, I will ne'er the more despair; If she loves me, this believe, I will die ere she shall grieve" - George Wither, Shall I Wasting in Despair
Polysyndeton
- several coordinating conjunctions are used in succession to achieve an artistic effect - a sentence with several conjunctions - "Let the whitefolks have their money and power and segregation and sarcasm and big houses and schools and lawns like carpets, and books, and mostly-mostly-let them have their whiteness" - Maya Angelou, I Know Where the Caged Bird Sings
Invective
- speech or writing that attacks, insults, or denounces a person or topic - insulting and critical language - "A knave, a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave" - Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King Lear
Alliteration
- stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series - repeating letters close to each other - Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: "From forth the fatal loins of these two foes; A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life."
Point of view
- the angle of considering things, which shows us the opinions or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation - the position that a situation is observed from - "I have of late,—but wherefore I know not,—lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory" - Shakespeare, Hamlet
Tone
- the attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience - the author's point of view - "I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference" - Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken
Epistrophe
- the repetition of phrases or words at the end of the clauses or sentences - the same word ends the clause - "Where now? Who now? When now?" - Samuel Beckett, The Unnameable
Colloquial/Colloquialism
- the use of informal words, phrases, or slang - using ordinary, everyday words - "Don't let him pull you in—but—if the son-of-a-bitch socks you—let 'im have it" - John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
Euphony
- the use of words and phrases that are distinguished as having a wide range of noteworthy melody or loveliness in the sounds they create - using words that have a sense of pleasantness - Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines that round the thatch -eves run; To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core" - John Keats, Ode to Autumn
Cacophony
- the use of words with sharp, harsh, hissing, and unmelodious sounds primarily those of consonants to achieve desired results - using harsh words or sounds - "Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!" - Lewis Carroll, Jabberwocky
Style
- the way a writer writes and the technique the author uses - a way of using language - "A drop fell on the apple tree, Another on the roof, And made the gables laugh, The breezes brought dejected lutes, And bathed them in the glee; And signed the fete away" - Emily Dickinson, Summer Shower
Symbol
- use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense - use symbols for a greater meaning - We find symbolic value in Shakespeare's famous monologue in his play As you Like It: "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts," The above lines are symbolic of the fact that men and women, in course of their life perform different roles. "A stage" here symbolizes the world and "players" is a symbol for human beings.
Figurative Language
- using figures of speech to be more effective, persuasive, and impactful - making your writing more insightful through different tactics - "But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage Can seldom see through his bars of rage His wings are clipped and his feet are tied The caged bird sings with a fearful trill" - Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings
Rhetoric
- using language effectively and persuasively to convince, influence, or please an audience - effective or persuasive speaking - "Advise him of his happy state—Happiness in his power left free to will, Left to his own free will, his will though free Yet mutable" - John Milton, Paradise Lost
Assonance
- when two or more words close to another repeat the same vowel sound but start with different consonant sounds - the same vowel sound is repeated in most words - "A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze" - William Wordsworth, Daffodils
