topoi
Recurring literary themes
Topoi is the plural of topos, a Greek-derived term for recurring themes, motifs, or conventional literary devices.
In rhetoric and literary criticism, topoi are commonplaces—standard arguments, images, or narrative patterns that appear across different works: the topoi of pastoral poetry, classical topoi of praise and blame.
The singular topos appears more often in academic writing.
Unremarkable and frequent
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
- ethosCollective moral character
- pathosPity-evoking quality
- logosBrand identification symbols
invention · dialectic · forensic · deliberative · stasis · proof · refutation · amplification
Central recurring concept
- motifRecurring thematic element
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- tropeRecurring narrative device
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
narrative · symbolism · recurrence · genre · leitmotif · allegory · imagery · figure
Position or location
- locationPosition in space
- locusParticular position or place
- siteDesignated location
- regionIndefinite bounded area
territory · landscape · geography · mapping · memory palace · mnemonic · mental map · localization
commonplace
Unremarkable and frequent
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
- ethosCollective moral character
- pathosPity-evoking quality
logos · invention · dialectic · forensic · deliberative · stasis · proof · refutation · amplification · arrangement
theme
Central recurring concept
- motifRecurring thematic element
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- tropeRecurring narrative device
archetype · narrative · symbolism · recurrence · genre · leitmotif · allegory · imagery · figure · stock
place
Position or location
region · territory · landscape · geography · mapping · memory palace · mnemonic · mental map · localization · positioning
topoiinnovations
New methods or devices
creative breakthroughs · original compositions · inventions · neologisms
topoiempirical evidence
Proof from measurable observation
primary sources · raw data · firsthand accounts · direct observation · logical proofs
- off topicUnrelated to discussion
- hot topicWidely debated current subject
- on topicRelated to subject discussed
- topical steroidsSurface-applied anti-inflammatory medications
- trending topicsCurrently popular discussion subjects
- topical medicationExternal therapeutic application
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