Rhetorical Devices

Allusion An allusion is a reference to some fairly well known event, place, or person. The reference may appear in the form of a simile, metaphor, analogy, or it may not be within any other rhetorical device at all. Ever since the accident that killed her husband and son, the woman across the street has lived bitter and secluded like Miss Havisham. Slide 2 of 12

Anadiplosis/Conduplicatio Anadiplosis takes the last word or words of a sentence, phrase, or clause and repeats them near the beginning of the next sentence, phrase, or clause. In education we find the measure of our own ignorance; in ignorance we find the beginning of wisdom. In wisdom there is peace. Slide 3 of 10

Analogy The analogy is the somewhat more down-to-earth version of the simile and metaphor. They all compare two ideas for the sake of clarity or effect. One good deed witnessed can rejuvenate an entire society in the same way that a single bit of yeast makes the entire loaf of bread rise. Slide 2 of 7

Anaphora/Epistrophe/Symploce Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up… Slide 2 of 10

Anaphora/Epistrophe/Symploce Epistrophe is a close relative to anaphora; it is one in which the same word or phrase is repeated at the end of successive clauses or sentences When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child… Slide 5 of 10

Antithesis Antithesis makes use of a contrast in language to bring out a contrast in ideas. It is one of the most attractive and powerful tools in speech and writing. Some of the most famous lines in modern history are built on the antithesis: That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind... — Neil Armstrong, July 20, 1969 Slide 2 of 11

Asyndeton/Polysyndeton Asyndeton and polysyndeton are two devices that add stylistic force to your writing by handling conjunctions in non-standard ways. Asyndeton leaves out conjunctions in a list or between clauses: He was tall, dark, handsome, wealthy, well educated, intelligent. Polysyndeton puts a conjunction after every item but the last: He was tall and dark and handsome and wealthy and well educated and intelligent.

Juxtaposition the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

Hypophora A common technique is to start a speech with a hypophora, in which the speaker first asks a question and then answers it.

Hyperbole Slide 2 of 8 Hyperbole consists of exaggerating some part of your statement in order to give it emphasis or focus. It is never meant to be taken literally. There are more reasons for NASA to fund a trip to Jupiter than there are miles in the journey.

Parallelism/Chiasmus Slide 2 of 13 Parallelism is one of the most important organizational devices at a writer’s or speaker’s disposal. It is so important, that many writers and teachers consider it a convention or rule, instead of a device. It is the use of the same general structure and syntax for multiple parts of a sentence, or for multiple sentences: He smiled happily and laughed joyfully. Chiasmus is a special form of parallelism that reverses the original structure for effect. He smiled happily and joyfully laughed.

Rhetorical Question Slide 2 of 9 The rhetorical question is something of a cousin to hypophora. While a hypophora asks a question and then answers it immediately, a rhetorical question is one in which the answer is merely implied. Beware: Too often, a rhetorical question is used as an easy replacement for a strong introduction to a thought.

Situational Irony A contrast between what a reader or character expects to happen and what actually exists or happens. es/NJ-Piscataway-Holmes-Marshall jpg

Verbal Irony When someone knowingly exaggerates or says something and means another.