Just a Few Common Rhetorical Devices Believe me… this list could go on for days….

So you may be asking, “What is Rhetoric?” Answer: The art of using language as a means to persuade Why might we be studying this now?

Logos The logic used to support a claim. Can also be the facts and statistics used to help support the argument.

Pathos The emotional appeals; vivid language, emotional language and numerous sensory details.

Ethos Convincing the audience/reader of the credibility of the speaker/writer. We tend to believe people whom we respect and trust.

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Imagery Language which describes something in detail using words to appeal to the five senses.

Irony Expression of something which is contrary to the intended meaning ; the words say one thing but mean another

Personification Giving inanimate or inhuman objects human characteristics

Alliteration Repetition of the same sound at the beginning of words or phrases. Ex: “Let us go forth to lead the land we love.” JFK Inaugural Address

Allusion A reference to a famous person, event, or piece of literature “Plan ahead: it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” - Richard Cushing

Analogy Compares two things to explain some unfamiliar idea by showing how it is similar to a familiar one Metaphor: a direct comparison Simile: comparison using “like” or “as”

Rhetorical Question Raising a question that does not require an answer. Usually the answer is obvious, or answered by the speaker. “For if we lose the ability to perceive our faults, what is the good of living on?” – Marcus Aurelius

Apostrophe Directly addresses a person or a thing, either present or absent. Its most common purpose is to display intense emotion which can no longer be held back. “Speak hands for me!” - Casca (JC)

Hyperbole Understatement Exaggerates for emphasis or effect I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. The opposite of hyperbole. Sometimes a form of sarcasm. After totaling your car, telling your parent, “I might have scratched the car a little.”

Repetition A specific word, phrase, or structure is repeated several times to emphasize an idea

Amplification Repeating a word or phrase while adding more detail to it or expanding /emphasizing it

Anaphora Repetition of the same word/words at the beginning of phrases Ex. We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields…We shall never surrender. Churchill.

Antistrophe Repetition of the same word/words at the end of phrases “In 1931, ten years ago, Japan invaded Manchukuo -- without warning. In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia -- without warning. In 1938, Hitler occupied Austria -- without warning. In 1939, Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia -- without warning. Later in 1939, Hitler invaded Poland -- without warning. And now Japan has attacked Malaya and Thailand -- and the United States --without warning. “ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Antanagoge Placing a good point next to a fault criticism in order to reduce the impact or significance of the negative point. True, he always forgets my birthday, but he buys me presents all year round!

Chiasmus Sequence of two phrases or clauses which are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the corresponding words. Ex. The years to come seemed waste of breath, A waste of breath the years behind. Ex.. Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country

Synechdoche A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole, or the whole is used to represent a part EX: All hands on deck. EX: Nice set of wheels. EX: Dallas won the football game.

Parallel Structure (also called parallelism) The repetition of words or phrases that have similar grammatical structures EX: “…government of the people, by the people, for the people”

Asyndeton When conjunctions are omitted to produce fast-paced and rapid writing EX: I came, I saw, I conquered. EX: We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.

Polysyndeton the repetition of conjunctions in a series of coordinate words, phrases, or clauses. I said, "Who killed him?" and he said, "I don't know who killed him but he's dead all right," and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights and windows broke and boats all up in the town and trees blown down and everything all blown and I got a skiff and went out and found my boat where I had her inside Mango Bay and she was all right only she was full of water. Hemingway, After the Storm