Rhetorical Terms
1. Abstract language: Qualities or characteristics that we conceive of mentally but cannot see, touch, or hear.
Writers must illustrate terms with examples to clarify for readers. Bravery, laziness, perseverance.
2. Active Voice: The opposite of passive voice, the active voice is essentially any sentence with an active verb.
Johnny Appleseed planted his seeds in the garden. The active verb is “planted.” Active voice is usually
preferred in writing because it expresses more energy and command of the essay than does the passive voice.
3. Ad hominem argument: Attacking another person’s argument by attacking the person rather than the
issue. Seen as a common fallacy in an argument.
4. Allegory: A story or visual image with a second distinct meaning partially hidden behind its literal or visible
meaning. An allegory may be conceived as a metaphor that is extended into a structured system. In written
narrative, allegory involves a continuous parallel between two (or more) levels of meaning in a story, so that
its persons and events correspond to their equivalents in a system of ideas or chain of events external to the
tale. Each character and episode in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678), for example, embodies an
idea within a pre-existing Puritan doctrine of salvation.
5. Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds.
“Freak of fancy in my friend.” Edgar Allan Poe
6. Allusion: An indirect or passing reference to some event, person, place, or artistic work, the nature and
relevance of which is not explained by the writer but relies on the reader’s familiarity with what is thus
mentioned. “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss.” Patrick Henry
7. Ambiguity: Openness to different interpretations; or an instance in which some use of language may be
understood in diverse ways. Critic William Empson in Seven Types of Ambiguity (1930) defended it as a
source of poetic richness. Ambiguities in everyday speech are usually r esolved by their context, but some
statements (they are hunting dogs) or book titles (Scouting for Boys) or newspaper headlines (Generals Fly
Back to Front) can remain ambiguous. The verbal compression and uncertain context of much poetry often
produce ambiguity.
“Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness.” John Keats
“Still” might mean “even yet” or immobile,” or both. On a larger scale, a character or entire work may
display ambiguity (Hamlet).
8. Analogy: Illustration of an idea by means of a more fami liar idea that is similar or parallel to it in some
significant features. “As the caterpillar chooses the fairest leaves to lay her eggs on, so the priest lays his curse
on the fairest joys.” William Blake
9. Anaphora: A rhetorical figure of repetition in which the same word or phrase is repeated in (and usually at
the beginning of) successive lines, clauses, or sentences—seen often in political speeches. “Last night,
Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night, Japanese forces attached Guam. Last night, Japanese forces
attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt
Additionally, anaphora is a common poetic technique.
Mine-by the Right of White Election!
Mine-by the Royal Seal!
Mine-by the Sign in the Scarlet prison!
Bars-cannot conceal!
-Emily Dickinson
10. Anecdote: A brief story used to illustrate a point.
11. Antithesis: An observation or claim that is in opposition to an author’s claim or a statement in which direct
opposites are contrasted in the same sentence. It may involve a contrast of ideas expressed in a
grammatically balanced statement. “A man desires the satisfaction of his desires; a woman desires the
condition of desiring.” Pam Houston
12. Aphorism: A statement of some general principle, expressed memorably by condensing much wisdom into
few words. “Give a man a mask and he will tell you the truth.” Oscar Wilde
