Allusion A direct or indirect reference to something religious, literary, historical or mythical WHY USE IT? Allusions engage the reader and will often help the reader remember the message or theme of the passage. Allusions allow the writer to give an example or get a point across without going into a lengthy discourse. Allusions are contingent on the reader knowing about the story or event that is referenced. http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples/examples-of-allusion.html

Anaphora The definition of anaphora is using the same word or words to start two or more sentences or paragraphs that follow one another. It is a type of repetition. WHY USE IT? Emphasis… to drive a point home Examples "I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I needed a vacation, I needed a home in the country. What I had was a coat, a hat and a gun." (Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely, 1940) "I don't like you sucking around, bothering our citizens, Lebowski. I don't like your jerk-off name. I don't like your jerk-off face. I don't like your jerk-off behavior, and I don't like you, jerk-off." (Policeman in The Big Lebowski, 1998) "It rained on his lousy tombstone, and it rained on the grass on his stomach. It rained all over the place." (Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, 1951) http://grammar.about.com/od/ab/g/anaphora.htm

Antithesis opposite opinions placed in one line. This is called antithesis - a figure of speech which contrasts ideas, words and concepts in one sentence. However, contrasting words like bittersweet, dark-light, etc. aren't antithesis. To be an antithesis, a sentence should have contradicting words positioned in a balanced way in a phrase or a clause WHY USE IT? To draw attention to the contrast and make an idea more memorable. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities) http://fos.iloveindia.com/antithesis-examples.html

Metaphor Definition: Why writers use it?

Metonymy When the name of an object replaces another object that is closely associated with it. The Greek word means “change of name.” Why use it? It can often allow writers and speakers to refer to complicated concepts or large groups of people with a single word. It also helps to create a quick mental image by using teverything that the metonym evokes. For example, it was easier for President Obama to say, “We cannot only have a plan for Wall Street…We must also help Main Street. http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples/examples-of-metonymy.html

Hyperbole Purposeful exaggeration or overstatement to make a point. In Greek it means to overshoot. WHY USE IT? It creates emphasis, often makes something sound funny. http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-hyperboles.html

Parallelism Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses within the sentence. From the Greek meaning side by side. Examples parallelism of words: She tried to make her pastry fluffy, sweet, and delicate. parallelism of phrases: Singing a song or writing a poem is joyous. parallelism of clauses: Perch are inexpensive; cod are cheap; trout are abundant; but salmon are best WHY USE IS? To make sentences flow better and emphasize ideas. This technique adds symmetry, effectiveness and balance to the written piece.

Personification When an author gives objects, concepts, or animals human characteristics, emotions, or abilities. WHY USE IT? Makes ideas more relatable or more vivid. Emphasis of a point. http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-personification.html

Rhetorical Question question without a direct answer The author / speaker raises a question, but doesn't answer it directly as he/she sees the answer (usually Yes or No) as obvious. WHY USE IT? Rhetorical questions are used to provoke, emphasise or argue. Makes the audience think about what is being said. Examples: When public money brings windfalls to a few, why should the state not take a share? (6) But was the best way to win them over to threaten to ignore them altogether? Like so many things this week, the adminitstration's diplomacy needs a smoother touch. (6) (Note that the sentence following the question is not an answer to it.) http://grammar.about.com/od/rs/g/rhetquesterm.htm

Simile Definition: WHY USE IT?