These terms should be of use to you in answering the multiple-choice questions, analyzing prose passages, and composing your essays.

1. Abstract refers to language that describes concepts rather than concrete images (ideas and qualities rather than observable or specific things, people, or places). The observable or “physical” is usually described in concrete language.
2. Ad Hominem In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent’s ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning “against the man.”
3. Allegory an extended narrative in prose or verse in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface of the story; the underlying meaning may be moral, religious, political, social, or satiric.
4. Alliteration repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close to one another: Mickey Mouse; Donald Duck
5. Allusion a reference to a well-known person, place, or thing from literature, history, etc. Ex: Eden
6. Analogy Comparison of two similar but different things, usually to clarify an action or a relationship, such as comparing the work of a heart to that of a pump. An analogy is a comparison to a directly parallel case.
7. Anaphora Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer’s point more coherent. (Example: “There was the delight I caught in seeing long straight rows. There was the faint, cool kiss of sensuality. There was the vague sense of the infinite….”)
8. Anecdote a short, simple narrative of an incident; often used for humorous effect or to make a point.
9. Annotation Explanatory notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibliographical data.
10. Antithesis the presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs. “To be or not to be…” “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country….”
11. Aphorism a short, often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life: “Early bird gets the worm.”
12. Apostrophe usually in poetry but sometimes in prose; the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing, or personified abstraction
13. Argumentation writing that attempts to prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by presenting reasoned arguments; persuasive writing is a form of argumentation
14. Assonance repetition of vowel sounds between different consonants, such as in neigh/fade
15. Asyndeton Commas used (with no conjunction) to separate a series of words. The parts are emphasized equally when the conjunction is omitted; in addition, the use of commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence. Asyndeton takes the form of X, Y, Z as opposed to X, Y, and Z.
16. Cacophony harsh, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or prose; the opposite of euphony.
17. Caricature descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates or distorts, for comic effect, a person’s physical features or other characteristics.
18. Colloquialism a word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing (y’all, ain’t)
19. Coherence quality of a piece of writing in which all the parts contribute to the development of the central idea, theme, or organizing principle
20. Concrete Language Language that describes specific, observable things, people, or places, rather than ideas or qualities.
21. Connotation implied or suggested meaning of a word because of its association in the reader’s mind.
22. Consonance repetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity, as in boost/best; it can also be seen within several compound words, such as fulfill and ping-pong
23. Conundrum a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun; it may also be a paradox or difficult problem
24. Deduction the process of moving from a general rule to a specific example