Ap English Glossary Terms

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ad hominem

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appealing to feelings/prejudices instead of intellect/reason

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adage

Back 2

saying containing truth based on experience (metaphorical language)

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allegory

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story w/ second meaning beneath surface

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allusion

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reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea

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anachronism

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person, scene, event, or element that fails to correspond w/ appropriate time or era
(Columbus sails to United States)

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analogy

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comparison that points out similarities b/w two dissimilar things

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anecdote

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brief narrative used to illustrate an idea or make a point

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antecedent

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a word to which a pronoun refers

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antithesis

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rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas w/ grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, sentences

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aphorism

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short, pithy statement of generally accepted truth/sentiment

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arch

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characterized by clever/sly humor, often saucy, playful, somewhat irreverent.

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archetype

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abstract/ideal conception of a type, a perfectly typical example, an original model or form

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assonance

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repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words in prose or poetry

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bombast

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inflated, pretentious language

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burlesque

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work of literature meant to ridicule a subject, a grotesque imitation

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canon

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works considered most important in a national literature or period, works widely read and studied

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caricature

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grotesque likeness of striking qualities in person and things

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cacophony

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grating, inharmonious sounds

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circumlocution

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"talking around" a subject, discourse that avoids direct reference to a subject

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clause

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structural element of sentence, consisting of grammatical subject and predicate. independent can be sentence. dependent incomplete

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conceit

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witty or ingenious thought, a diverting or highly fanciful idea (figurative language)

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connotation

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suggested/implied meaning of a word or phrase

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consonance

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repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a unit of speech/writing

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alliteration

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repetition of one or more initial consonants in group of words of poem

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critique

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analysis/assessment of thing or situation for purpose of determining nature/limitations and conformity to set of standards

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deductive reasoning

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method of reasoning w/ specific definitions, conclusions, theorems drawn from general principles.

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denotation

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dictionary definition of a word

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denouement

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resolution that occurs at end of narrative or drama, real or imagined

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deus ex machina

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in literature, use of artificial device or gimmick to solve problem

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diction

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choice words in oral and written discourse

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didactic

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having instructive purpose, intending to convey information or teach a lesson, usually in dry/pompous manner

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dramatic irony

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circumstance in which audience or reader knows more about a situation than a character

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elegy

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poem/prose that laments/meditates on passing or death of someone/something of value

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epigram

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concise but ingenious, witty, thoughtful statement

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epithet

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adjective/phrase expressing striking quality of a person or thing "sun-bright topaz"

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euphemism

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mild or less negative usage for harsh or blunt term
"pass away" instead of "die"

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ellipsis

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(...) indication of omissions of words in thought/quote

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elliptical construction

Back 38

sentence w/ deliberate omission of words "may was hot and june the same" was omitted from second clause

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empathy

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feeling of association/identification w/ object/person

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euphony

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pleasing, harmonious sounds

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exegesis

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detailed analysis/interpretation of work of prose/poetry

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expose

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piece of writing revealing weaknesses/faults/shortcomings

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explication

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interpretation/analysis of text

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extended metaphor

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series of comparison b/w two unlike objects

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fallacy, fallacious reasoning

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incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, false information

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farce

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comedy w/ extravagant/nonsensical disregard of seriousness, though may have serious, scornful purpose

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frame

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structure that provides premise/setting for narrative/other discourse.

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homily

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lecture or sermon on religious/moral theme meant to guide human behavior

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indirect quotation

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actualy words not stated but only approximated or paraphrased

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inductive reasoning

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method of reasoning in which a number of specific facts/examples used to make generalization

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inference

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conclusion/proposition arrived at by considering facts, observations, other data

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invective

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direct verbal assualt, denunciation, casting blame on someone or something

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irony

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mode of expressiong where intended meaning is opposity of what is stated, implying ridicule/light sarcasm, event reverse of what was expected

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lampoon

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mocking, satirical assault on person/situation

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litotes

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form of understatement where negative of contrary used to achieve emphasis/intensity
"he is not a bad dancer"

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loose sentence

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follows customary word order (subject-verb-object), main idea first then other subordinate clauses

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malapropism

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confused use of words where appropriate word replaced by one w/ similar sound but inappropriate meaning

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maxim

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saying/proverb expressing common wisdom or truth

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melodrama

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literary form where events exaggerated in order to create extreme emotional response

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metonymy

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figure of speech uses name of one thing to represent something else it is associated w/ "the white house..."

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montage

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quick succession of images/impressions used to express an idea

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motif

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phrase, idea, event through repetition serves to unify/convey theme in essay or other

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non sequitur

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statement/idea fails to follow logically from one before

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oxymoron

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term w/ contradictory elements, juxtaposed for paradoxical effect "loud silence"

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parable

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story w/ events from which a moral/spiritual truth may be derived

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paradox

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statement that seems self-contradictory but is true

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parallel structure

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structure required for expressing two/more grammatical elements of = rank. good records, good interests, they should earn high scores--wrong

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parody

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imitation of work meant to ridicule style and subject

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pathetic fallacy

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faulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature/nonhuman objects

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pathos

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element in literature that stimulates pity/sorrow

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pedantic

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narrowly academic instead of broad and humane, excessively petty and meticulous

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periodic sentence

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departs from usual word order by expressing main thought only at end. support first, then idea

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persona

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role/facade that character assumes/depicts to reader/audience

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point of view

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relation in which narrator/speaker stands to a subject of discourse. matter discussed in first person (internal), observer (external)

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proverb

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short pithy statement of general truth, one that condenses common experience into memorable form

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pseudonym

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false name or alias used by writers

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pun

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humorous play on words, using similar sounding/ identical words to suggest different meanings

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rebuttal, refutation

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part of discourse where opposing arguments are anticipated/answered

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reiteration

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repetition of idea using different words, often for emphasis/other effect

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retraction

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withdrawal of previously stated idea/opinion

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rhetoric

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language of work and style, words, often highly emotional, used to convince/sway an audience

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rhetorical mode

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general term identifies discourse according to chief purpose. exposition, argumentation, description, narration

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rhetorical stance

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language conveys speaker's attitude/opinion w/ regard to particular subject

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satire

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literary style used to poke fun at, attack, ridicule idea, vice, foible, often for purpose of inducing change

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stream consciousness

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style writing where author tries to reproduce random flow of thoughts in human mind

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stylistic devices

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general term referring to diction, syntax, tone, figurative language, other elements contributing to style or manner of given piece

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subtext

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implied meaning underlying main meaning of essay or other work

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syllogism

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form of deductive reasoning where given certain ideas/facts, other ideas/facts must follow. "all men are mortal, mike is a man, therfore mike is mortal"

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synecdoche

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figure of speech where part signifies the wole or whole signifies part. or when name of material stands for thing itself.

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syntax

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organization of language into meaningful structure, every sentence has particular pattern of words

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verisimilitude

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similar to truth, quality of realism in work persuading readers that they are getting vision of life as it is

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voice

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real, assumed personality used by writer/speaker. grammar- active expresses action performed by subject. passive is action performed on subject

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whimsy

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object, device, creation that is fanciful or rooted in unreality

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apotheosis

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occurs when character/thing elevated to high status, appearing godlike

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appositive

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word/phrase follows noun/pronoun for emphasis/clarity (set off by commas)

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asyndeton

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occurs when conjunctions that would normally connect string of words are omitted from sentence

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ethos

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characteristic spirit or ideal that informs a work.

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juxtaposition

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two contrasting things are placed next to each other for comparison.

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logos

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use of reason as controlling principle in argument.

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pacing

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speed of story's action, dialogue, narration

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rhetorical (narrative) strategy

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way an author organizes words, sentences , and overall argument in order to achieve particular purpose.

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rhetorical (stylistic) devices

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specific language tools that author uses to carry out rhetorical strategy and achieve purpose for writing

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tension

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feeling of excitement and expectation the reader/audience feels b/c of conflict, mood, or atmosphere.

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texture

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way elements of work of prose/poetry joined together, suggesting association w/ style of author (rough or smooth)

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zeugma

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particular breech of sense in sentence. word used w/ two adjacent words in same construction, but only makes literal sense w/ one of them.