1
Q
accusatory
A
charging of wrong doing
2
Q
apathetic
A
indifferent due to lack of concern
3
Q
bitter
A
exhibiting animosity
4
Q
cynical
A
questions the goodness of people
5
Q
condescension/condescending
A
feeling of superiority
6
Q
callous
A
unfeeling
7
Q
choleric
A
hot-tempered
8
Q
contemptuous
A
feeling that something is worthless
9
Q
caustic
A
intense us of sarcasm
10
Q
disdainful
A
scornful
11
Q
didactic
A
author educates reader
12
Q
derisive
A
mocking
13
Q
indignant
A
anger aroused by injustice
14
Q
mocking
A
treating with ridicule
15
Q
malicious
A
purposely hurtful
16
Q
pessimistic
A
seeing the worst side of things
17
Q
quizzical
A
odd
18
Q
ribald
A
offensive
19
Q
reverent
A
treating with honor and respect
20
Q
ridiculing
A
making fun of
21
Q
sarcastic
A
sneering
22
Q
sardonic
A
bitterly sarcastic
23
Q
satiric
A
ridiculing to show weakness
24
Q
sincere
A
genuine
25
solemn
deeply earnest
26
ambiguity
the multiple meanings of a word/phrase/passage
27
analogy
a comparison of two different things or the relationship between them, explaining something unfamiliar by associating it with something else
28
antecedent
the word referred to by a pronoun
| ex. "all truth" = "it"
29
antithesis
the opposition of ideas
30
caricature
exaggeration for comic effect
31
colloquial/colloquialism
the use of slang in speech or writing
32
dialect
distinct variety of a language that differs from the standard language
33
connotation
the implied or suggested meaning of a word
34
denotation
the literal dictionary definition of a word
35
hyperbole
speech using deliberate exaggeration; overstatement
36
litotes
making an affirmative point by denying the opposite
| ex. "not many"
37
paradox
statement that appears contradictory but is actually true
| ex. The beginning of the end
38
syllogism
two ideas that lead to a sound conclusion
| ex. Men are mortal. Bill is a man. Therefore, Bill is mortal.
39
syntax
the way the author chooses to join words into sentences; syntax=groups of words, diction=the words
40
understatement
the ironic minimalizing of fact
41
wit
intellectually amusing language that surprises the audience
42
metonymy
where the name of one object is substituted for one of close relation
ex. "the White House passed a law..." vs. "the US government passed a law..."
43
synecdoche
when part of something is used to represent the whole, or where the whole is used to represent the part
ex. to refer to the car as "wheels"
44
semantics
branch of linguistics that studies the meanings, connotations, and relations of words
45
synesthesia
associating two or more different senses in the same image
46
periodic sentence
sentence where grammatical units are first, followed by main idea
ex. After a long, bumpy flight/ I arrived at San Diego airport
47
loose sentence/ non-periodic sentence
sentence where the main idea is first, followed by grammatical units
ex. I arrived at San Diego airport/ after a long, bumpy ride and multiple delays.
48
rhetorical modes
conventions and purposes of major kinds of writing
49
exposition (rhetorical mode)
explains and analyzes information
50
argumentation (rhetorical mode)
proves the validity of an idea through reasoning
51
description (rhetorical mode)
presents a person/place/event/action
52
narration (rhetorical mode)
to narrate a series of events
53
allegory
using character/story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning
54
allusion
a reference to something commonly known
55
aphorism
a memorable summation of an unknown author's point
56
atmosphere
mood created by the entirety of a literary work
57
conceit
fanciful expression in the form of an analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects
58
diction
part of the author's style; refers to word choice
59
generic conventions
traditions of a genre
60
homily
speech involving moral advice
61
imagery
sensory details used to describe something
62
inference/infer
to draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented
63
parallelism
framing of words to give structural similarity via repetition of verbal phrase
64
prose
fiction and nonfiction; where the printer determines the length of the line
65
anaphora
the exact repetition of words or phrases
| ex. I Have a Dream speech
66
point of view
the perspective from which a story is told; first second and third person
67
style
1. evaluation of the sum of choices an author makes
| 2. classifying authors to a group or comparing authors to other authors
68
Awe
Solemn wonder
69
Contemplative
Studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue
70
Conventional
Lacking spontaneity, originality and individuality
71
Earnest
Intense, a sincere state of mind
72
Erudite
Learned, polished, scholarly
73
Fanciful
Using the imagination
74
Forthright
Directly frank without hesitation
75
Gloomy
Darkness, sadness, rejection
76
Haughty
Proud and vain to the point of arrogance
77
Intimate
Very familiar
78
jovial
happy
79
lyrical
Emotional, song like
80
pedantic
showing off knowledge obnoxiously
81
Morose
gloomy
82
Objective
Un biased view
83
Obsequious
Polite in order to gain something
84
Patronizing
Condescending
85
Reflective
Illustrating inner thoughts and emotions
86
Sanguineous
Optimistic or cheerful
87
Whimsical
Fantastic or odd
