Utopia
An imaginary place of ideal perfection. Usually used to
describe a society.
Antonym: dystopia
Pedantic
A term used to describe writing that borders on lecturing.
It is scholarly and academic and often overly difficult
Spoonerism
The shuffling of the first letters of words to make different
words and therefore change the actual meaning of the
sentence, or else produce a humorous, non-sensical sound.
Ex: Rather than "I have to blow my nose", "I have to nose my
blows".
Def: PART of an
object represents
the WHOLE
I GOT NEW WHEELS 
I GOT A NEW CAR
Palindrome
A word, sentence, or verse that reads the same way
backward or foreword. Certain words in English naturally
function as palindromes.
Example:
Words: civic, rotor, race car, radar, level.
Phrases: A man, a plan, a canal – Panama.
Malapropism
Malapropism is an act or habit of misusing words
ridiculously, esp. by the confusion of words that are
similar in sound.
Synesthesia
When one sensory experience is described in
terms of another sensory experience (to create an
effective yet mixed combination of senses)
Example: "I Heard a Fly Buzz-When I Died“ by
Emily Dickinson, the use of a color to describe a
sound, the buzz of a fly
"with blue, uncertain stumbling buzz.“
Motif
A recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary
work. This can be a recurrent symbol, theme, or element.
Motifs can be present within literary works or within
literary genres.
The Book Thief: colors, death
Young Adult Literature: dystopian themes, coming of age
Parallelism
The technique of arranging words, phrases, clauses,
or larger structures by placing them side by side and
making them similar in form.
Examples:
Words: He tried to make the law clear, precise, and
equitable.
Phrases/Clauses: A government for the people, by
the people and of the people.
Sentences: Our petitions have been slighted; our
remonstrances have produced additional violence
and insult; our supplications have been disregarded.
Types of Parallelism
• Anaphora - Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or
more sentences or clauses in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and
helps make the writer's point more coherent. “I came, I saw, I conquered.”
• Chiasmus – When the same words are used twice in succession, but the second
time, the order of the words is reversed. “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” “When the
going gets tough, the tough get going.” Also called antimetabole.
• Antithesis - Two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses, or even
ideas, with parallel structure. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”
• Zuegma (Syllepsis) - When a single word governs or modifies two or more other
words, and the meaning of the first word must change for each of the other
words it governs or modifies. “The butler killed the lights, and then the mistress.”
“I quickly dressed myself and the salad.”
Juxtaposition
Placing of two items side by side to
create a certain effect, reveal an attitude,
or accomplish some other purpose.
Persona
A voice or mask that an author, speaker, or performer assumes
for a particular purpose.
• EXAMPLE: A person who is trying to find a spouse may create a
fun and flirty profile on an online dating website, being sure to
use positive language and emphasize his or her good attributes.
The person is creating a positive public persona of someone it
would be fun to date or join in a relationship.
• EXAMPLE: Someone goes on a job interview for a job that he is
not 100 percent sure he is qualified for. He dresses really
professionally, does a lot of research on the company to prepare
for the interview and creates a really polished resume. He is
trying to create a persona of a professional who is competent
and capable of doing the job.
Syllogism
A form of reasoning in which two statements are
made and a conclusion is drawn from them. A
syllogism is the format of a formal argument
that consists of a major premise, a minor
premise, and a conclusion.
Major Premise: All tragedies end unhappily.
Minor Premise: Hamlet is a tragedy.
Conclusion: Therefore, Hamlet ends unhappily.
Major premise: All men are mortal.
Minor premise: Socrates is a man.
Conclusion: Socrates is mortal.
Invective
The use of angry and insulting language in
satirical writing.
Can be used as a noun as in a speech that is
especially harsh and insulting or an adjective
to describe tone.
Paradox
A seemingly contradictory situation which is actually true.
Example: “You can't get a job without experience, and you
can't get experience without getting a job.”
Jargon
The diction used by a group
which practices a similar
profession or activity.