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Literary Terms ABRAHMS

The document explains three key concepts in language: rhetoric, prosody, and figures of speech. Rhetoric focuses on the art of persuasion through ethos, pathos, and logos; prosody examines the rhythmic and melodic aspects of language; and figures of speech enhance writing by adding creativity and depth. Together, these elements contribute to effective and engaging communication.

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26 views3 pages

Literary Terms ABRAHMS

The document explains three key concepts in language: rhetoric, prosody, and figures of speech. Rhetoric focuses on the art of persuasion through ethos, pathos, and logos; prosody examines the rhythmic and melodic aspects of language; and figures of speech enhance writing by adding creativity and depth. Together, these elements contribute to effective and engaging communication.

Uploaded by

AJAY BOLT
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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I.

Rhetoric
 Explanation: Rhetoric is the art of persuasion. It's about how we use language to
influence an audience, whether through speaking or writing. It's not just about what
you say, but how you say it. Rhetoric considers the audience, the purpose of
communication, and the most effective way to achieve that purpose. It involves
analyzing the elements of a text or speech to understand its persuasive power.
o Key aspects of rhetoric:

 Ethos: Appealing to credibility or authority. (e.g., "As a doctor, I


recommend...")
 Pathos: Appealing to emotions. (e.g., Using stories that evoke sadness
or joy)
 Logos: Appealing to logic and reason. (e.g., Using statistics or facts)
 Example: Imagine a lawyer arguing a case in court. They use rhetoric to persuade the
jury. They might present evidence (logos), appeal to the jury's sense of justice
(pathos), and emphasize their own expertise and reputation (ethos) to win the case.
II. Prosody
 Explanation: Prosody is the study of the rhythmic and melodic aspects of language.
It's how we organize sounds to create meaning and effect. This includes:
o Rhythm: The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

o Meter: A regular pattern of rhythm in poetry.

o Rhyme: The repetition of similar sounds, usually at the end of lines.

o Intonation: The rise and fall of the voice.

o Stress: The emphasis placed on certain syllables or words.

 Example: Read these lines from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" aloud:
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and
curious volume of forgotten lore—"
Notice the rhythm (mostly iambic tetrameter), the alliteration ("weak and weary"), and the
rhyme scheme (ABCBBB). These prosodic elements contribute to the poem's haunting and
melancholic tone.
III. Figures of Speech
Figures of speech are creative uses of language that go beyond the literal meaning of words.
They add color, depth, and impact to writing.
1. Alliteration
 Explanation: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words or
stressed syllables.
 Examples:
o "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

o "The slippery snake slithered silently."

o "Sally sells seashells by the seashore."

2. Antithesis
 Explanation: The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses.
 Examples:
o "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." (Charles Dickens)

o "Love is the antithesis of hate."

o "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your
country." (JFK)
3. Apostrophe
 Explanation: Addressing an absent person, an inanimate object, or an abstract
concept as if it were present and could understand.
 Examples:
o "O Death, where is thy sting?"

o "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are."

o "Oh, Liberty! What crimes are committed in thy name!"

4. Assonance
 Explanation: The repetition of vowel sounds within words or phrases.
 Examples:
o "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain."

o "Go slow over the road."

o "I like Ike."

5. Metaphor
 Explanation: A comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as." It
asserts that one thing is another.
 Examples:
o "He is a lion in battle."

o "The world is a stage." (Shakespeare)

o "Love is a battlefield."

6. Simile
 Explanation: A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as."
 Examples:
o "He is as brave as a lion."

o "She is as beautiful as a flower."

o "The snow fell like feathers."

7. Paradox
 Explanation: A statement that appears self-contradictory but contains a deeper truth.
 Examples:
o "The more you give, the more you receive."

o "I must be cruel only to be kind." (Shakespeare)

o "Less is more."

In summary: Rhetoric is the art of persuasion, prosody is the musicality of language, and
figures of speech are the creative tools that writers and speakers use to make their language
more effective and engaging.

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