Literary Terms & Rhetorical Devices
Literary Terms and Rhetorical Devices
Allusion
An expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference
Generally a figure of speech making reference to a known place, event, literary work
Example: an allusion to Shakespeare, “He was a real Romeo with the ladies.”
Synonyms: hint, reference, innuendo, insinuation
Cliché
A worn out expression that takes place of an original thought; a phrase or expression that is overused or used out of context, so that its original impact and meaning are lost
Repeated regularly without thought or originality, “ready-made phrases”
Example: to make a long story short, be-all and the end-all
Synonyms: stereotype, platitude (obvious remark)
Deduction
A method of reasoning from the general to the specific; or from cause to effect
A kind of logic that accepts a general principal as true, then uses it to explain a specific case or cases
Example: “You’d like to think that, wouldn’t you? You’ve beaten my giant, which means you’re exceptionally strong, so you could’ve put the poison in your own goblet, trusting on your strength to save you, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But, you’ve also bested my Spaniard, which means you must have studied, and in studying you must have learned that man is mortal, so you would have put the poison as far from yourself as possible, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.” (Vizzini, The Princess Bride)
Synonyms: inference, conclusion
Induction
A method of reasoning that moves from specific instances to a general conclusion
A kind of logic that derives a general principle from a specific example
Example: I lent Brad $25 and he hasn’t paid me back. I shouldn’t lend my friends money because they’ll never pay me back.
Synonyms: rationalization, logical reasoning
Anecdote
A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person
Always presented as based on a real
Allusion
An expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference
Generally a figure of speech making reference to a known place, event, literary work
Example: an allusion to Shakespeare, “He was a real Romeo with the ladies.”
Synonyms: hint, reference, innuendo, insinuation
Cliché
A worn out expression that takes place of an original thought; a phrase or expression that is overused or used out of context, so that its original impact and meaning are lost
Repeated regularly without thought or originality, “ready-made phrases”
Example: to make a long story short, be-all and the end-all
Synonyms: stereotype, platitude (obvious remark)
Deduction
A method of reasoning from the general to the specific; or from cause to effect
A kind of logic that accepts a general principal as true, then uses it to explain a specific case or cases
Example: “You’d like to think that, wouldn’t you? You’ve beaten my giant, which means you’re exceptionally strong, so you could’ve put the poison in your own goblet, trusting on your strength to save you, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But, you’ve also bested my Spaniard, which means you must have studied, and in studying you must have learned that man is mortal, so you would have put the poison as far from yourself as possible, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.” (Vizzini, The Princess Bride)
Synonyms: inference, conclusion
Induction
A method of reasoning that moves from specific instances to a general conclusion
A kind of logic that derives a general principle from a specific example
Example: I lent Brad $25 and he hasn’t paid me back. I shouldn’t lend my friends money because they’ll never pay me back.
Synonyms: rationalization, logical reasoning
Anecdote
A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person
Always presented as based on a real