English Literature Terms

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Term Definition Method of
Organization/
Development
Rhetorical
Strategy
Rhetorical
Device
Rhetorical Purpose Example in a Sentence
Active Voice the subject of the sentence is performing the action
(verb)
Syntax gives the subject autonomy and control
Alliteration the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of
words in close proximity
Syntax/Diction creates rhythm; makes repeated words more
memorable
Allusion
a reference, direct or indirect, to something the speaker
expects the audience to know
Comparison establish credibility; make a connection/comparison
Analogy a comparison between two things based on similarities Comparison make a connection between something the audience
knows and something the speaker is trying to explain
Anaphora repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of two
or more clauses or sentences
Syntax/Diction stresses the importance of the word or phrase
Anecdote brief telling of an incident or event of relevance Syntax/Diction makes a connection between one incident/event and
the speaker's argument
Antithesis 1. direct opposite (followed by of or to); 2. placing a
clause or part of it against another to form a contrast
Syntax/Diction highlight the differences
Asyndeton intentional omission of conjunctions example makes a list sound longer and more arduous
Audience the person/people the speaker is addressing
Cause and effect relationship in which one event created a result X x show that one thing could not have happened if
something else didn't happen first
Classification and division putting terms into categories and breaking up a whole
into parts
x x creates order and shows relationship between whole
and parts
Cliché an overused word, phrase, or clause that has lost
meaning due to overuse
Syntax/Diction to make a connection with the audience OR highlight
overuse or lack of meaning
Compare and contrast identify similarities and/or differences between two or
more things
x x to build connections or establish division
Concede to acknowledge an opposition's validity x to show audience/opposition that the speaker can
compromise; helps establish ethos
Connotation emotional or cultural associations of a word x creates tone and style; highlights an emotional
association with a word
Counterargument an opposing view to an argument x noting a counterargument shows the speaker is aware
that not everyone holds the same view; after defining
the counterargument, the speaker should either
concede to or dispute its validity
Deductive reasoning reasoning from a generalization to specific examples
that support it
x x shows how examples give validity to the speaker's
claim
Definition tells what a term means and how it compares to others x x by controlling the definition of a term, the speaker
controls the limits of the argument
Denotation the dictionary definition of a word the speaker may be highlighting the difference
between a word's meaning and impact on audience
Description identifies the physical characteristics of a noun x x utilizes imagery to help the audience build a positive or
negative emotional connection to the thing being
described
Diction word choice when discussing a speaker's diction, you must
describe it using a tone adjective (harsh diction, gentle
diction, formal diction, etc.)
Ellipsis three periods (…) used to show omission Syntax allows a writer to omit what is believed to be irrelevant
to put the focus on what is relevant
Epigram a short, witty, insightful statement that can be sarcastic often indicates a paradox or universal truth
Ethos character and credibility x shows why the audience should trust the speaker and
thus the message

Eulogy a work that highly praises someone or something that
has died
x may be literal or metaphorical; praise may be sarcastic
Euphemism a word or expression used in place of one that may be
too harsh or blunt
Diction the use of one impacts tone
Exemplification using one or more examples to explain a point that
may be abstract
x x look for the use of deductive or inductive reasoning to
connect the example(s) to a claim
Exigence that which causes or prompts someone to write or
speak on a topic
part of the rhetorical situation; could be an issue,
problem or situation that made to speaker decide to
say something
Fallacy a mistaken belief based on faulty logic x a speaker may take advantage of the audience's
ignorance using a fallacy that seems logical but is not
Hyperbole an obvious and often extreme exaggeration x x creates a more significant effect on the audience than
the simple truth to overly stress a point
Hypophora when the writer identifies a question and then
immediately answers it
x lets the speaker direct the audience to a preferred
answer
Idiom expression not meant to be taken literally x often used for imagery
Imagery description that appeals to any or all of the audience's
5 senses
x makes the audience feel like they are emotionally
immersed through the connotation of the diction used
Inductive reasoning reasoning from specific examples to a generalization
supported by those examples
x x shows how a claim is supported by evidence
Irony contrast between expectation and reality
Juxtaposition placing two things close together to show a contrast x x x often highlights the significance of the difference
between two things
Kairos the appropriate time and/or place to say or do
something
part of the rhetorical situation; think about why the
moment the speaker chose to speak is the right time to
do so
Logos appeal to the audience's sense of logic and reasoning provides evidence in the form of facts, examples,
anecdotes, etc.
Message what the speaker wants the audience to accept distinct from purpose (ex. Purpose: convince audience
to vote for candidate Y; Message: X candidate will ruin
the economy if elected
Metaphor comparison between two things that is not literally true
to highlight a common feature via the use of a linking
verb
x identifies and emphasizes a characteristic both items
share
Narration telling a story in a logical order x x may be all or part of an essay; utilizes anecdotes and
imagery; can be personal which may establish ethos
or as an example to support a claim (logos)
Occasion the time in which a speaker relays a message to the
audience
part of the rhetorical situation; encompasses Kairos
and exigence
Onomatopoeia words that imitate the sounds they make x often used to in description and imagery
Oxymoron two words that seem to contradict one another x often used to show confusion or highlight irony
Paradox statement that seems to contradict itself x x bring attention to something or to make the audience
think of something in a different way than normal
Parallelism repetition of a syntactical pattern utilizing repeated
select diction
x emphasis on the connection between the parallel
ideas
Passive Voice subject of the sentence receives action instead of
performing action
x intentionally omits responsibility of the actor of the verb
Pathos appeal to the audience's emotions to provoke an
emotional reaction
x creates an emotional connection between the
audience and the message and/or speaker
Personification applying human characteristics to nonhuman things x used to create imagery; shows autonomy (or lack
thereof) of the thing
Polysyndeton use of multiple conjunctions in succession x impacts rhythm and can show excitement or depth
Premise statement that is intended to justify a conclusion

Problem and Solution method of organization in which the speaker identifies
an issue and methods to control said issue
x x used when the speaker is trying to solve or explain
how something was solved
Process the steps gone through in order to achieve a desired
end
x x told in chronological order using steps from beginning
to end
Purpose why the speaker is speaking; what the speaker is trying
to accomplish
part of the rhetorical situation; not to be confused with
message
Rhetorical Device any tool a speaker uses when applying a rhetorical
strategy
in terms of building a house, devices would be akin to
the hammers, drills, nails, etc. used to build the house
Rhetorical Strategy the plan or organization a speaker uses to convey a
message and accomplish a purpose
in terms of building a house, strategies would be the
blue prints or plans
Rhetorical Triangle consists of the speaker, audience, and message to
show how they connect to one another
used to illustrate the connection between the aspects
of an argument
Satire use of irony, hyperbole, or humor to criticize someone
or something
x
highlights someone/thing's stupidity and ridiculousness
to evoke change; frequently used in the context of
politics or social issues
Simile comparison between two things using like or as x highlights a connection between two seemingly
different things
Speaker the one who is attempting to convey a message with a
specific purpose
Style how a speaker expresses a message through the use
of syntactical patterns and specific diction
creates tone
Symbolism the use of something concrete to represent something
abstract
x makes a connection between the object and the idea it
represents to facilitate a better understanding of the
abstract idea
Syllogysm A use of deductive reasoning.
Syntax the way words are organized to form a sentence or
thought
Theme a speaker's opinion expressed as the central idea in a
work of literature
typically used in discussing fiction; cannot be
expressed in one word
Tone the speaker's attitude as expressed through the
connotation of the speaker's diction
Understatement showing something to be smaller and less significant
than it actually is
x opposite of hyperbole; minimizes; may create humor
or be ironic