Rhetorical Devices

Erotesis

A question that is asked without expecting an answer because the answer is strongly implied; a rhetorical question.

Allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing to which it refers. It is just a passing comment and the writer expects the reader to possess enough knowledge to spot the allusion and grasp its importance in a text.

Assonance

A device that takes place when two or more words close to one another repeat the same vowel sound but start with different consonant sounds.

Litotes

A figurative device in which a point is affirmed by negating its opposite. It is a special form of understatement, where the surface denial serves, through ironic contrast, to reinforce the underlying assertion.

Catachresis

A figurative device in which writers use mixed metaphors in an inappropriate way to create rhetorical effect. Often, it is used intentionally to create a unique expression.

Metaphor

A figurative of speech which involves an implied comparison between two relatively unlike things using a form of be.

Hypophora

A figure of reasoning in which one or more questions is/are asked and then answered, often at length, by the same speaker; raising and responding to one's own question (s).

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special.

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept.

Chiasmus

A figure of speech in which two or more clauses are related through a reversal of structures in order to make a larger point; that is, the clauses display inverted parallelism.

Antanaclasis

A form of speech in which a key word is repeated and used in a different, and sometimes contrary, way for a play on words. It is a common type of pun, and is often found in slogans.

Pun

A generic name for those devices which make a play on words.

Antimetabole

A literary term or device that involves repeating a phrase in reverse order.

Euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. A euphemism may be used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement.

Allegory

A representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another. It's objective is generally to preach some kind of a moral lesson. "To speak so as to imply something else."

Anastrophe

A rhetorical device in which a language's usual word order is inverted. Anastrophe occurs whenever normal syntactical arrangement is violated for emphasis.

Antithesis

A rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. Antithesis emphasizes the idea of contrast by parallel structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses.

Anaphora

A rhetorical device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginning of neighboring clauses, thereby lending them emphasis.

Climax

A rhetorical device which words, phrases, or clauses are arranged in order of increasing importance. Climax is sometimes used with anadiplosis, which uses the repetition of a word or phrase in successive clauses.

Paradox

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.

Asyndeton

A stylistic scheme in which conjunctions are deliberately omitted from a series of related clauses. It use can have the effect of speeding up the rhythm of a passage and making a single idea more memorable.

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the natural sounds of a thing. It creates a sound effect that mimics the thing described, making the description more expressive and interesting.

Oxymoron

The yoking of 2 terms that are ordinarily contradictory. By combing contradictions, writers produce a startling effect.

Paranomasis

The use of words alike in sound but different in meaning. It is another form of pun.

Apposition

In rhetorical form. The placement, in immediately succeeding order, of two or more coordinate elements, the latter of which is an explanation, qualification, or modification of the first. (Often set off by a colon)

Personification

Investing abstractions or inanimate objects with human qualities of abilities. The way in which this trope gives its subject human qualities allows it to lend itself to an emotional appeal.

Zeugma

It is like syllepsis, except that where as in syllepsis the single word is grammatically and idiomatically compatible with both of the other words that it governs, in a zeugma the single word does not fit grammatically or idiomatically with one member of the pair. While it is not consider a form of pun it can be an impressive display of wit if skillfully managed.

Alliteration

Repeated consonant sounds occurring at the beginning of words or within words. It is used to create melody, establish mood, call attention to important words, and point out similarities and contrasts.

Ellipsis

The deliberate omission of a word (or words) which are readily implied by the context.

Irony

The discrepancy (difference) between what is said and what is meant (verbal irony), what is expected and what happens (situational irony), or what is meant or said and what others understand or know (dramatic irony)

Understatement

The ironic minimizing of fact. Understatement presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can be frequently be humorous and emphatic.

Juxtaposition

The placement of thing (usually concepts, though they can be physical objects) close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

Anadiplosis

The repetition of a word or words in successive clauses in such a way that the second clause starts with the same word which marks the end of the previous clause.

Epistrophe

The repetition of phrases or words at the end of the clauses or sentences. The opposite of anaphora. Epistrophe = epiphora

Epanalepsis

The repetition of the initial word (or words) of a clause or sentence at the end of that same clause or sentence. The beginning and end are the two positions of strong emphasis in a sentence; so, by having the same phrase.

Apostrophe

The rhetorical address of an absent person or a personified abstraction. It imbues its subject with an emotional charge as personification does.

Polyptoton

The rhetorical repetition of the same root word. However, each time the word is repeated in a different way.

Periphrasis

The substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name or of a proper name for a quality associated with the name.

Anthimeria

The substitution of one part of speech for another. While dozens of examples are found in Shakespeare's plays, writers today must use anthimeria

Syllepsis

The use of a word understood differently in relation to two or more other words, which it modifies or governs. It is also another form of pun.

Parallelism

The use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same, or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter. Parallelism adds balance and rhythm to sentences giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be persuasive because of the repetition it employs.

Hyperbole

The use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect.

Isocolon

The use of parallel elements similar not only in structure, as in parallelism, but in length. (That is, the same number of words or even syllables) The addition of symmetry of length to similarity of structure contributes to the rhythm of sentences.

Polysyndeton

The use of several conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted. Polysyndeton is opposite of asyndeton.

Sarcasm

The use of witty language to express insults or scorn. The literal meaning is different than what the speaker intends to say. A device meant to mock in order to amuse and hurt someone or some section of society simultaneously.