Upward Bound Pre Flashcard Lit Terms Summer 2025

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Situational Irony

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A situation in which the outcome is significantly different from what was expected, often with a twist that is humorous or poignant.

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Dramatic Irony

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A literary device where the audience knows more about a situation than the characters do, creating tension or humor.

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Logos

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A rhetorical appeal to logic and reason, using facts and evidence to persuade an audience.

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Allusion

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A reference to a well-known person, place, thing, or idea of significance, often used to enhance meaning.

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Tone

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The author's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice and style.

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Ethos

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A rhetorical appeal to credibility and ethics, establishing the speaker's authority on a subject.

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Pathos

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A rhetorical appeal to emotion, aiming to persuade an audience by eliciting feelings.

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Euphemism

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A mild or indirect word or expression used in place of one that may be considered harsh or blunt.

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Theme

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The central idea or message in a literary work, often reflecting on human experience.

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Understatement

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A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.