Basic Rhetorical Devices

Question 1

Repetition of a word or idea, adding to its exploration through emphasis.

Answer 1

Amplification

Question 2

Placing a good point next to a fault or criticism to lessen its blow.

Answer 2

Antanagogue

Question 3

Creating a clear, contrasting relationship between two ideas.

Answer 3

Antithesis

Question 4

Emphasizing something by glossing over it or ignoring it.

Answer 4

Apophasis

Question 5

Stopping a sentence or clause abruptly.

Answer 5

Aposiopesis

Question 6

A noun placed after another noun describing the latter mentioned.

Answer 6

Appositive

Question 7

Omitting conjunctives from lists to add emphasis.

Answer 7

Asyndeton

Question 8

An extravagant implied metaphor using words in an alien way.

Answer 8

Catachresis

Question 9

Arranging words in increasing importance, weight or emphasis.

Answer 9

Climax (Gradatio)

Question 10

Repetition of an important word from the clause before in the current clause.

Answer 10

Conduplicatio

Question 11

Repetition of a word or phrase after it has already been introduced for emphasis.

Answer 11

Diacope

Question 12

Using a repeated ending to a clause or sentence (opposite of anaphora).

Answer 12

Epistrophe

Question 13

Rhetorical question.

Answer 13

Erotesis

Question 14

Departure from normal word order.

Answer 14

Hyperbaton

Question 15

Raising a question and proceeding to answer it.

Answer 15

Hypophora

Question 16

A form of metaphor where the metaphorical thing is closely linked to the subject.

Answer 16

Metonym

Question 17

Recurrent syntactical similarity.

Answer 17

Parallelism

Question 18

A word or phrase used as an aside in the middle of a phrase.

Answer 18

Parenthesis

Question 19

Using more words than required to make a point.

Answer 19

Pleonasm

Question 20

The use of conjunctions between words or phrases.

Answer 20

Polysyndeton

Question 21

Emphasising an idea by expressing it in a string of synonymous words or phrases.

Answer 21

Scesis Onomaton

Question 22

Quoting a maxim or wise saying.

Answer 22

Sententia

Question 23

: Combining anaphora and epistrophe in a sentence or clause.

Answer 23

Symploce

Question 24

Yoking together of two or more parts of speech by more speech.

Answer 24

Zeugma

Question 25

Citing a (e.g. historical) example.

Answer 25

Exemplum