Rhetorical Devices

Alliteration Repetition of the initial consonant sounds beginning several words in sequence. Repetition of the initial consonant sounds beginning several words in sequence. "....we shall not falter, we shall not fail." (President G.W. Bush Address to Congress following Terrorist Attacks.) "....we shall not falter, we shall not fail." (President G.W. Bush Address to Congress following Terrorist Attacks.) "Let us go forth to lead the land we love.“ "Let us go forth to lead the land we love.“ (President J. F. Kennedy, Inaugural 1961) (President J. F. Kennedy, Inaugural 1961) "Veni, vidi, vici.“ "Veni, vidi, vici.“ (Julius Caesar - “I came, I saw, I conquered”) (Julius Caesar - “I came, I saw, I conquered”)

Anaphora The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines. The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines. "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 and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender." "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 and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender." (British Prime Minister Winston Churchill)

Antithesis Opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction. Opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction. "Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." (Barry Goldwater - Republican Candidate for President 1964) "Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." (Barry Goldwater - Republican Candidate for President 1964) "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more". (Brutus in: " Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare) "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more". (Brutus in: " Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare)

Apostrophe A turn from the general audience to address a specific group or person or personified abstraction absent or present. A turn from the general audience to address a specific group or person or personified abstraction absent or present. "For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel. Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him". (Mark Antony in Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare) "For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel. Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him". (Mark Antony in Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare)

Asyndeton Lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words. Lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words. "We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." (J. F. Kennedy, Inaugural) "We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." (J. F. Kennedy, Inaugural) "But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.“ "But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.“ (President Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address) (President Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address)

Cacophony Harsh joining of sounds Harsh joining of sounds "We want no parlay with you and your grisly gang who work your wicked will." (British Prime Minister Winston Churchill -referring to Hitler.) "We want no parlay with you and your grisly gang who work your wicked will." (British Prime Minister Winston Churchill -referring to Hitler.) “A toad the power mower caught, Chewed and clipped of a leg, with a hobbling hop has got” “A toad the power mower caught, Chewed and clipped of a leg, with a hobbling hop has got” ("The Death of a Toad" by Richard Wilbur) ("The Death of a Toad" by Richard Wilbur)

Chiasmus Two corresponding pairs arranged not in parallels (A-B-A-B) but in inverted order (A-B-B-A); from shape of the Greek letter chi (X). Two corresponding pairs arranged not in parallels (A-B-A-B) but in inverted order (A-B-B-A); from shape of the Greek letter chi (X). "Those gallant men will remain often in my thoughts and in my prayers always." (General Douglas MacArthur) "Those gallant men will remain often in my thoughts and in my prayers always." (General Douglas MacArthur) "Renown'd for conquest, and in council skill'd." (Marcus Tullius Cicero) "Renown'd for conquest, and in council skill'd." (Marcus Tullius Cicero)

Climax Arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of ascending power. Often the last emphatic word in one phrase or clause is repeated as the first emphatic word of the next. Arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of ascending power. Often the last emphatic word in one phrase or clause is repeated as the first emphatic word of the next. "One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." (Tennyson, " Ulysses") "One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." (Tennyson, " Ulysses")

Euphemism Euphemism: substitution of an agreeable or at least non-offensive expression for one whose plainer meaning might be harsh or unpleasant. Euphemism: substitution of an agreeable or at least non-offensive expression for one whose plainer meaning might be harsh or unpleasant. Euphemism Examples: Euphemisms for " stupid" A few fries short of a Happy Meal. A few beers short of a six-pack. One Fruit Loop shy of a full bowl. All foam, no beer. The cheese slid off his cracker.

Hyperbole Exaggeration for emphasis or for rhetorical effect. Exaggeration for emphasis or for rhetorical effect. "If you call me that name again, I'm going to explode!" "If you call me that name again, I'm going to explode!" “I nearly died laughing.” “I nearly died laughing.”

(Verbal) Irony Expression of something which is contrary to the intended meaning; the words say one thing but mean another. Expression of something which is contrary to the intended meaning; the words say one thing but mean another. “Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. “ (Shakespeare's Mark Antony in Julius Caesar) “Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. “ (Shakespeare's Mark Antony in Julius Caesar)

Metaphor Implied comparison achieved through a figurative use of words; the word is used not in its literal sense, but in one analogous to it. Implied comparison achieved through a figurative use of words; the word is used not in its literal sense, but in one analogous to it. *Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player, *Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage. " (Shakespeare, Macbeth ) “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.” “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.” (W. Churchill) (W. Churchill)

Oxymoron Apparent paradox achieved by the juxtaposition of words which seem to contradict one another. Apparent paradox achieved by the juxtaposition of words which seem to contradict one another. “I must be cruel only to be kind.“ “I must be cruel only to be kind.“ (Shakespeare, Hamlet) "Hurts so good…“ "Hurts so good…“ (John Cougar Melancamp) “Jumbo Shrimp” “Jumbo Shrimp”

Paradox An assertion seemingly opposed to common sense, but that may yet have some truth in it. An assertion seemingly opposed to common sense, but that may yet have some truth in it. “What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young." “What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young." (George Bernard Shaw)

Personification Attribution of personality to an impersonal thing. Attribution of personality to an impersonal thing. “England expects every man to do his duty." “England expects every man to do his duty." (Lord Nelson) The rose was a soft as a baby's skin The rose was a soft as a baby's skin "Rise up and defend the Motherland" (Line from "Enemy at the Gates“) "Rise up and defend the Motherland" (Line from "Enemy at the Gates“)

Simile An explicit comparison between two things using 'like' or 'as'. An explicit comparison between two things using 'like' or 'as'. “My love is as a fever, longing still For that which longer nurseth the disease" “My love is as a fever, longing still For that which longer nurseth the disease" (Shakespeare, Sonnet CXLVII) (Shakespeare, Sonnet CXLVII) “Reason is to faith as the eye to the telescope" “Reason is to faith as the eye to the telescope" (D. Hume) (D. Hume) “Let us go then, you and I, While the evening is spread out against the sky, Like a patient etherized upon a table" “Let us go then, you and I, While the evening is spread out against the sky, Like a patient etherized upon a table" (T.S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”) (T.S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”)

Aphorisms A concise statement that expresses succinctly a general truth or idea, often using rhyme or balance A concise statement that expresses succinctly a general truth or idea, often using rhyme or balance Ex: Jerome Kern's famous aphorism "Irving Berlin has no place in American music - he is American music" Ex: Jerome Kern's famous aphorism "Irving Berlin has no place in American music - he is American music"

Puns a humorous use of words that involves a word or phrase that has more than one possible meaning a humorous use of words that involves a word or phrase that has more than one possible meaning Ex: She had a photographic memory but never developed it. Ex: She had a photographic memory but never developed it.

Absolutes A word free from limitations or qualifications (“best,” “all,” “unique,” “perfect”) A word free from limitations or qualifications (“best,” “all,” “unique,” “perfect”)

Anachronisms something from a different period of time something from a different period of time Ex: a modern idea or invention wrongly placed in a historical setting in fiction or drama Ex: a modern idea or invention wrongly placed in a historical setting in fiction or drama

Rhetorical question A question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer A question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer Ex: Ex: “The actors played the roles well. Didn’t they?”

Litotes A type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite (describing a particularly horrific scene by saying, “It was not a pretty picture.”) A type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite (describing a particularly horrific scene by saying, “It was not a pretty picture.”)

Imperative Used for giving orders Used for giving orders describes the mood or a form of a verb that expresses a command or request describes the mood or a form of a verb that expresses a command or request Ex: the verb form "come" in "Come here!" Ex: the verb form "come" in "Come here!"

Ethos How the speaker establishes his or her authority or the source’s credibility How the speaker establishes his or her authority or the source’s credibility

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

Pathos The emotional or motivational appeal The emotional or motivational appeal Uses vivid language, emotional langauge, and numerous sensory details Uses vivid language, emotional langauge, and numerous sensory details

Conceit A fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor A fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor Ex : Ex : Shakespeare makes use of a conceit in Act 3, Scene 5 of his play “Romeo and Juliet”. Capulet comes to Juliet’s room after Romeo has left. He finds her weeping and says: “Thou counterfeit’st a bark, a sea, a wind; For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea, Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is, Sailing in this salt flood; the winds, thy sighs; Who, raging with thy tears, and they with them, Without a sudden calm, will overset Thy tempest-tossed body.”

Onomatopoeia A word formed from the imitation of natural sounds A word formed from the imitation of natural sounds Ex: "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is." Ex: "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is."

Ellipsis The omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the context The omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the context Ex: “Some people prefer cats; others, dogs.” Ex: “Some people prefer cats; others, dogs.”

Synecdoche Using one part of an object to represent the entire object Using one part of an object to represent the entire object Ex: Referring to a car simply as “wheels” Ex: Referring to a car simply as “wheels”

Juxtaposition Placing two elements side by side to represent a comparison or contrast Placing two elements side by side to represent a comparison or contrast Ex: 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 - A Tales of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Ex: 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 - A Tales of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Allusion A reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize. A reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize. Ex: “I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s.” This refers to the story of Pinocchio, where his nose grew whenever he told a lie. It is from The Adventures of Pinocchio, written by Carlo Collodi. Ex: “I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s.” This refers to the story of Pinocchio, where his nose grew whenever he told a lie. It is from The Adventures of Pinocchio, written by Carlo Collodi.

Soliloquy The act of speaking while alone, especially when used as a theatrical device that allows a character's thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience The act of speaking while alone, especially when used as a theatrical device that allows a character's thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience

Foreshadowing The presentation of material in such a way that the reader is prepared for what is to come later in the work. The presentation of material in such a way that the reader is prepared for what is to come later in the work. Ex: Ex: In John Steinbeck’s novel “Of Mice and Men”, George killing Candy’s dog foreshadows Candy killing Lennie because Candy is identical to George and Lennie to the dog.

Work Cited Tomlinson, James. Rhetorical Devices. 6/29/2006