Vocabulary Words

Front 1

Language describing ideas and qualities rather than observable or specific things, people, or places.

Back 1

Abstract Language

Hint 1

Ideas and qualities

Front 2

Latin for "against the man." When a writer personally attacks his or her opponents instead of their arugments

Back 2

Ad hominem

Hint 2

Personally attacks

Front 3

A story, fictional or nonfictional, in which characters, things, and events represent qualities or concepts. The interaction of these characters, things, and events is meant to reveal an abstraction or a truth. These characters, etc. may be symbolic of the ideas referred to.

Back 3

Allegory

Hint 3

Representation of qualities or concepts

Front 4

The repetition of initial identical consonant sounds. Or, vowel sounds in successive words or syllables that repeat.

Back 4

Alliteration

Hint 4

Initial identical consonant sounds

Front 5

An indirect reference to something (usually a literary text) with which the readers is supposed to be familiar. It is often used with humorous intent, to establish a connection between writer and reader, or to make a subtle point.

Back 5

Allusion

Hint 5

Indirect reference

Front 6

An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way. Also, the manner of expression of such an event or situation may be such. Artful language may be this. When it is unintentional, it is usually vague.

Back 6

Ambiguity

Hint 6

Pegasus, vagueness

Front 7

A comparison to a directly parallel case. When a writer uses this, he or she argues that a claim reasonable for one case is reasonable for this case.

Back 7

Analogy

Hint 7

Comparison to a directly parallel case

Front 8

A brief recounting of a relevant episode. They are often inserted into fictional or nonfictional texts as a way of developing a point or injecting humor.

Back 8

Anecdote

Hint 8

Weird Al, recounting of relevant episode

Front 9

Explanatory notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibliographical data.

Back 9

Annotation

Hint 9

Explanatory notes

Front 10

Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity.

Back 10

Assonance

Front 11

A balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.

Back 11

Antithesis

Hint 11

Balancing

Front 12

Often called circular reasoning, it occurs when the believability of the evidence depends on the believability of the claim.

Back 12

Begging the Question

Hint 12

Circular reasoning

Front 13

Arrangement of repeated thoughts in the pattern of X Y Y X. They often are short and summarize the main idea.

Back 13

Chiasmus

Hint 13

Repeated thoughts

Front 14

Describes specific, observable things, people or places, rather than ideas or qualities.

Back 14

Concrete Language

Hint 14

Specific observable things

Front 15

Rather than the dictionary definition, the associations suggested by a word. Implied meaning rather than literal meaning or denotation.

Back 15

Connotation

Hint 15

Implied meaning

Front 16

Repetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.

Back 16

Consonance

Hint 16

Consonant sound

Front 17

Word choice, particularly as an element of style. Different types and arrangements of words have significant effects on meaning.

Back 17

Diction

Hint 17

Word choice

Front 18

A term used to describe fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking

Back 18

Didactic

Hint 18

Teaching specific lesson or moral

Front 19

When the reader is aware of an inconsistency between a ficitonal or nonfictional character's perception of a situation and the truth of that situation.

Back 19

Dramatic Irony

Hint 19

Reader aware of inconsistency

Front 20

A quotation or aphorism at the beginning of a literary work suggestive of theme.

Back 20

Epigraph

Hint 20

Quotation

Front 21

When a writer uses the same term in two different senses in an argument.

Back 21

Equivocation

Hint 21

Same term in two different senses

Front 22

Background information provided by a writer to enhance a reader's understanding of the context of a fictional or nonfictional story.

Back 22

Exposition

Hint 22

Background information

Front 23

A word or words that are inaccurate literally, but describe by calling to mind sensations or responses that the thing described evokes. It may be in the form of metaphors or similies, both non-literal comparison.

Back 23

Figuartive Language

Hint 23

Metaphors or similies

Front 24

Conscious exaggeration used to heighten effect. Not intended literaly, it is often humorous.

Back 24

Hyperbole

Hint 24

Exaggeration

Front 25

The use of images, especially in a pattern of related images, often figurative, to create a strong, unified snesory impression.

Back 25

Imagery

Hint 25

Images

Front 26

When a reader is aware of a reality that differs from a character's pereception of reality.

Back 26

Irony

Hint 26

Aware of reality

Front 27

Comparison of two things, often unrelated. A figurative verbal equation results where both "parts" illuminate one another.

Back 27

Metaphor

Hint 27

Unrelated comparisons

Front 28

An atmosphere created by a writer's diction and the details selected. Syntax is also used.

Back 28

Mood

Hint 28

Atmosphere

Front 29

Latin for "it does not follow." When one statement isn't logically connected to another.

Back 29

Non-sequitur

Hint 29

Not logically connected

Front 30

A writer's attempt to remove him/herself from any subjective, personal involvement in a story.

Back 30

Objectivity

Hint 30

Removal of personal involvement

Front 31

The use of a word whose pronunciation suggests its meaning. "Buzz," "hiss," etc.

Back 31

Onomatopoeia

Hint 31

"Buzz," "hiss"

Front 32

A rhetorical antithesis. Juxtaposing two contraditory terms, like "wise fool" or "eloquent silence."

Back 32

Oxymoron

Hint 32

Rhetorical antithesis

Front 33

A seemingly contradictory statement which is actually true. It is often used for emphasis or simply to attract attention.

Back 33

Paradox

Hint 33

Seemingly contradictory statement

Front 34

Sentence construction which places in close proximity two or more equal grammatical constructions. It may be as simple as listing two ore three modifiers in a row to describe the same noun or verb; it may take the form of two or more of the same type of phrases that modify the same noun or verb; it may also take the form of two or more subordinate clauses that modify the same noun or verb.

Back 34

Parallelism

Hint 34

Two or more equal grammatical constructions

Front 35

An exaggerated imitation of a serious work for humorous purposes. The writer of a parody uses the quirks of style of imitated piece in extreme or ridiculous ways

Back 35

Parody

Hint 35

Imitation of serious work

Front 36

Qualities of fictional or nonfictional work that evoke sorrow or pity.

Back 36

Pathos

Hint 36

Sorrow or pity

Front 37

Figurative language in which inanimate objects, animals, ideas, or abstractions are endowed with human traits or human form.

Back 37

Personification

Hint 37

Human traits

Front 38

The perspecitve from which a fictional or nonfictional story is told. First-person, third-person, or omniscient points of view are commonly used.

Back 38

Point of View

Hint 38

Perspective

Front 39

When a writer raises an irrelevant issue to draw attention away form the real issue

Back 39

Red Herring

Hint 39

Irrelevant issue

Front 40

When a writer musters relevant opposing arguemnts.

Back 40

Refutation

Hint 40

Relevant opposing arguments