Rhetorical Devices

Zeugma

A device in which unexpected items in a sentence are linked together by a shared word EX: The man ran a hundred miles, but out of time.

Personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes EX: The flower danced under the sunlight.

Allusion

A reference to some fair well-known event, place, or person. EX: He held the trophy aloft like Perseus holding the Gorgon's head

Apostrophe

A rhetorical device in which the writer breaks out of the flow of the writing to directly address a person or personified object. EX: So the sun set over Paris- Paris, my first love, sultry and secretive, how I wanted to hold you forever as the sun went down that summer day.

Analogy

Comparison of two things; makes use of something already well known to explain something that is less well known. EX: As the endless waves wash eternally upon the shore, so does true love overwhelm the soul.

Exemplum

Providing the reader with an example to illustrate the point EX: The US government gives its citizens freedom; one illustration of this is that we have the right to criticize our leaders.

Hypophora

Raising a question then proceeding to answer it. EX: What then of the future? Let come what may, and we shall meet it without fear.

Anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause EX: In education we find the measure of our own ignorance; in ignorance we find the beginning of wisdom.

Climax

Slowly building the reader up to a state of excitement, then deliver the crowning statements. Is often made up of parallelism to show progression EX: Curiosity leads to discovery, leads to knowledge, leads to wisdom

Epistrophe

The repetition of a group of words at the end of successive clauses EX: We all question love, we all seek love, we all need love.

Parallelism

Usage of the same general structure for multiple parts of a sentence in order to link them all EX: The inherit vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessing; the inherit virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.

Understatement

When the force of a descriptive statement is less than what one would normally expect EX: The Middle East is currently having some political squabbles.

Parenthesis

a device that is used to insert an aside or additional information into the main flow of your writing EX: This continued for many years-some would say far longer than it should have-before a new brand of politician put an end to it.

Metabasis

a device used to sum up a body of work that has come before, so that readers can move on to a new point Purpose: to remind readers of the most crucial areas already covered before moving on to new but related ideas EX: I have discussed cars and factories, and how these relate to global warming, but we have still to look at long-term atmospheric trends.

Metaphor

a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity EX: Dr. King was truly a king among men.

Simile

a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as') EX: The night is gentle and quiet; so, too, is my love for her.

Hyperbole

a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor EX: My neighborhood is so quiet that when a cat walks across the street, it draws a crowd.

Eponym

a reference to specific famous person to link his or her attributes with someone else. EX: A modern day Moses, he led his nation to a new beginning

Chiasmus

a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed EX: Susan walked in, and out rushed Mary

Antithesis

a statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced EX: War is not fought to achieve joy, but rather to avoid pain.

Rhetorical Question

a statement that is formulated as a question but that is not supposed to be answered EX: How can we expect a man to give more than we ourselves are willing to give?

Litotes

a type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite EX: A cup of coffee would not be unwelcome.

Antanagoge

a way of ordering points to downplay the negatives so that readers feels less strongly about them Purpose: to suggest the benefits more than outweigh the costs of the subject EX: She can be quick to anger, but when you're in need, she'll always be there.

Distinctio

an explicit reference to a particular meaning or to the various meanings of a word, in order to remove or prevent ambiguity EX: At this point, we have a short time left-a short time being less than fifty years.

Procatalepsis

by anticipating an objection and answering it, permits an argument to continue moving forward while taking into account points or reasons opposing either the train of thought or its final conclusions EX: Some people, even in this era of modern thought, believe that UFOs are visiting our planet everyday, but without tangible evidence, mere belief is not proof.

Parataxis

involves listing a series of clauses with no conjunctions Purpose: to imply a sense of immediacy, or to indicate multiple things happening at once, even though that may not be the case EX: There were no rooms at the inn. We drove farther until we found a hotel. It was raining heavily and we got soaked on the way to the door. Our socks stank of mildew. We ate dinner there and talked little.

Amplification

involves repeating a word or expression while adding more details to it, in order to emphasize what might otherwise be passed over EX: This is a crisis. A large crisis. In fact, if you've got a moment, it's a twelve-story crisis with a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour portage, and an enormous sign on the roof, saying 'This Is a Large Crisis.'

Asyndeton

lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses or words EX: They sat under one roof, princes, dukes, barons, earls, kings.

Hyperbaton

purposefully arranging words in a sentence in a unexpected order Purpose: to tweak the normal order of a sentence, making certain parts stand out or making the entire sentence jump off the page EX: She wouldn't, for any reason whatsoever, to that smelly, foul, unlikable man, be married.

Sententia

quoting a maxim or wise saying to apply a general truth to the situation; concluding or summing foregoing material by offering a single, pithy statement of general wisdom EX: We would do well to remember, however, that all is fair in love and war.

Metonymy

refer to something closely related to the actual object EX: The pen is mightier than the sword.

Enumeratio

refers to the act of supplying a list of details about something Purpose: used structurally to expand on a central idea, lending force to that idea by enumerating its many facets EX:This is actually a multi-step process: Thank of an example, write in down, turn it in, and get a good grade.

Anaphora

repetition of a word or phrase as the beginning of successive clauses EX: I need water, I need food, I need love, I need you.

Symploce

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning and another at the end of successive clauses, i.e., simultaneous use of anaphora and epistrophe EX: Against yourself you are calling him, against the law you are calling him, against the democratic situation you are calling him.

Conduplicatio

resembles anadiplosis in the repetition of a preceding word, but it repeats a key word (not just the last word) from a preceding phrase, clause, or sentence, at the beginning of the next. EX: Did you not weep when the boms rained down? Did you not weep?

Synecdoche

using a part of something to represent the whole EX: The captain shouted, 'All hands on deck.'

Polysyndeton

using several conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted EX: He ran and jumped and laughed for joy.

Epithet

word or phrase characteristically used to describe a person or thing; descriptive phrase to characterize a person EX: A healing wind blew through the diseased hospital.