Rhetorical terms

What is the term for a direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art? The reference can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical. Example: "Plan ahead: it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark" - Richard Cushing

• Allusion

• Metaphor

• Irony

• Hyperbole

What is the term for a similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them, often used to explain something unfamiliar by associating it with something more familiar?

• Analogy

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Irony

What is the term for a figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel structure, creating a definite and systematic relationship between ideas?

• Antithesis

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Euphemism

What is the term for a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects, displaying intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made?

• Conceit

• Euphemism

• Oxymoron

• Hyperbole

What is the term for a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept, often used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement? From the Greek for "good speech."

• Euphemism

• Oxymoron

• Hyperbole

• Metaphor

What is the term for a metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work?

• Extended metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

• Hyperbole

What is the term for writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid?

• Figurative language

• Literal language

• Technical writing

• Factual description

What is the term for a device used to produce figurative language, which may compare dissimilar things and includes apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement?

• Figure of speech

• Literal device

• Grammatical structure

• Phonetic tool

What is the term for when two words, phrases, images, or ideas are placed close together or side by side for comparison or contrast?

• Juxtaposition

• Alliteration

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

What is the term for a figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity?

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Hyperbole

• Personification