Rhetorical Devices

Understatement

a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is. Ex: Whatever his faults, Sir Isaac Newton did have a fairly good mind for science.

Simile

a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things. Unlike a metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with the help of the words "like" or "as". Ex: Our soldiers are as brave as lions. Her cheeks are red like a rose.

Metonymy

a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated Ex. Let me give you a hand. (Hand means help.) The suits were at meeting. (The suits stand for business people.)

Metaphor

a figure of speech which makes a hidden comparison between two things or objects that are apart from each other but have some characteristics common between them. Basically, comparing like a simile but without like or as. Ex. The assignment was a breeze. (This implies that the assignment was not difficult.) My brother was boiling mad. (This implies he was too angry.) Her voice is music to his ears. (This implies that her voice makes him feel happy)

Rhetorical Question

a question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer. Ex: Do cats meow?

Allusion

a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize. Ex: "I was surprised his nose didnt grew when he lied" This refers to the story of Pinocchio.

Anaphora

repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses. Ex: Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.

Epistrophe

repetition of the same word or phrase at the ends of successive clauses. Ex: If you had known the virtue of the ring, Or half her worthiness that gave the ring, Or your own honor to contain the ring, You would not then have parted with the ring.

Enumeratio

the act of supplying a list of details about something. Used to structurally expand on a central idea, lending force to that idea by enumerating its many different facets. Ex:Original: I went to the mall, the park, the river, the salon, and, finally, home.

Chiasmus

the figure of speech in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures in order to make a larger point Ex: He smiled happily and joyfully laughed.

Climax

the highest or most intense point in the development or resolution of something; the way of organizing ideas in your writing so that they proceed from the least to the most important Ex: Curiosity leads to discovery, leads to knowledge, leads wisdom

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. Ex: In education we find the measure of our own ignorance; in ignorance we find the beginning of wisdom.

Polysyndeton

the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural. Ex: He ran and jumped and laughed for joy. See how the conjunction "and" has been used in quick succession to join all the items given in this text

Distinctio

Rhetorical form in which the writer elaborates on the definition of a word, to make sure there is no misunderstanding. Ex: At this point, we have a short time left-a short time being less than fifty years.

Conduplicatio

Takes an important word from anywhere in one sentence or phrase and repeats it at the beginning of the next sentence or phrase. Ex: This law destroys the fruits of thirty years of struggle, bringing us back to a less enlightened time. Law should be evolutionary, building up rather than tearing down.

Apostrophe

Talking to someone or something that cannot reply back to you. (Talking to the dead/ Non living thing) "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are."

Hypophora

The technique of asking a question, then proceeding to answer it. Ex: Why am I for putting more officers on the streets? Their presence prevents crime.

Antithesis

Two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. Ex: "Setting foot on the moon may be a small step for a man, but a giant step for mankind."

Parallelism

Using the same general structure for multiple parts of a sentences, or for multiple sentences, in order to link them all. Ex: The manor-designed for beauty and graces, built for durability and strength, and located for privacy and safety-was the ideal home for those three children.

Analogy

a comparison of two different things that are similar in some way. There are plenty of fish in the sea. Unless you really are a fish, this encourages you to move on and find another potential mate.

Asyndeton

a construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions. (Basically saying words without actually forming a sentence) Ex: They sat under one roof, princes, dukes, barons, earls, kings.

Aporia

a device a writer will use to express doubt about an idea. Ex: I am unsure whether to be in favor of harsher penalties or opposed to them, as the arguments on both sides seem very strong.

Zeugma

A device in which unexpected items in a sentence are linked together by a shared word. Ex: The runner lost the race and his scholarship.

Hyperbaton

A device in which you arrange the words in your sentence in an unexpected order. Ex: The forest burned with a fire unquenchable-unquenchable except by the helicopter that finally arrived.

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 you can move on to a new point. 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.

Parataxis

A rhetorical term that involves listing a series of clauses with no conjunctions. Ex:I came, I saw, I conquered.

Antanagoge

A way of ordering points to downplay negative points so that the reader feels less strongly about them. Ex: She can be quick to anger, but when you're in need, she'll always be there.

Litotes

Emphasizes its point y using a word opposite to the condition. Ex: The trip was no easy journey.

Hyperbole

intentional exaggeration to create an effect. Ex: I have a million things to do.

Epithet

Involves attaching a descriptive adjective to a noun to bring a scene to life or evoke a particular idea or emotion. Ex: The clear-eyed pilot safely landed the plane.

Personification

endowing non-human objects or creatures with human qualities or characteristics. Ex: The stars 'danced' playfully in the moonlit sky.

Amplification

Making a sentence more detailed in order to increase its worth and understand-ability. Original sentence- The thesis paper was difficult. After amplification- The thesis paper was difficult: it required extensive research, data collection, sample surveys, interviews and a lot of fieldwork.

Procatalepsis

Relative of the hypophora. Deals specifically with objections, and usually does so without even asking the question. Ex: Many experts want to classify Sanskrit as an extinct language, but I do not.

Synecdoche

when a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part. The captain shouted, "All hands on deck!"