Rhetorical Devices

Question 1

Allegory

Answer 1

A story with a literal surface meaning and a second deeper meaning. The underlying meaning usually has moral, social, religious, or political significance, and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas such as charity, greed, or letter.

The Hebrew Scripture present frequent instances of Allegory, one of the most beautiful being the comparison of the history of Israel to the growth of a vine in Psalm 80:8-17

Question 2

Alliteration

Answer 2

A stylistic device, or literary technique in which successive words (more strictly, stressed, syllables) begin with the same consonant sound or letter.

Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers.

Question 3

Allusion

Answer 3

A direct or indirect reference in one work to another work or to a historical person, place, or event. Allusions to literature, mythology, history, or the Bible presume a shared knowledge with the reader as they refer the reader to something else. The reference serves to explain or clarify whatever subject is under discussion and relies on the readers familiarity with what is being mentioned.

In the Matrix Reloaded, Morpheus states: “I have dreamed a dream, but now that dream is gone from me.” Which alluded to a quote by King Nebuchadnezzar from Daniel 2:3 of the Old Testament (religious allusion)

Question 4

Analogy

Answer 4

An analogy compares two things which are alike in several respects, for the purpose of explaining or clarifying some unfamiliar or difficult idea or object is similar to some familiar one.

Competing telecommunication systems to a spider web.

Question 5

Anecdote

Answer 5

A very brief take outlining a humorous or interesting biographical event.

“The summer I turned 13 was full of adventures. One night Leigh and I went to the ice cream shop to meet Ken.”

Question 6

Anti-Climax

Answer 6

A device of humour which depends for its effect upon the sudden descent in a sentence from the apparently serious to the unexpected or ridiculous.

He looked like a retired general, with his imposing stature, his piercing eye, his distinguished bearing, he sold lawnmowers in Sear’s basement I think.

Question 7

Antithesis

Answer 7

A figure of speech characterized by strongly contrasting words, sentences or ideas in a balanced or parallel construction.

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
- Neil Armstrong

Question 8

Chiasmus

Answer 8

Might be called “reverse parallelism” since the second part of a grammatical construction is balanced or paralleled by the first, only in reverse order.

What is learned unwillingly is gladly forgotten.

Susan’s reply annoyed her brother, angered her mother, and enraged her husband.

Question 9

Climax

Answer 9

Refers to the arranging of words, phrases, or clauses in ascending order of importance or emotional force.

A word from his lips might influence their passions, might change their opinion, and might affect their destiny

Susan’s reply annoyed her brother, angered her mother, and enraged her husband.

Question 10

Colloquialism

Answer 10

A word or phrase appropriate to conversation and other informal situations.

Whose kid is this?

Question 11

Diction

Answer 11

The choice of words and phrases by a writer or speaker

Question 12

Hyperbole

Answer 12

Intended exaggeration, a device often used to create irony, humour, or dramatic effect.

That’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard
It’s raining cats and dogs

Question 13

Imagery

Answer 13

The collected images that exist in a text. Imagery can be created through words or groups of words that evoke images that are visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory, and kinaesthetic.

“I remember when I was little. I used to stare into the big stainless steel tea kettle”
- Donna Lewis from Stop

Question 14

Metaphor

Answer 14

Defined as a direct comparison between two seemingly unrelated subjects. Typically, a first object is described as being or having the properties of a second object.

All the worlds a stage

Question 15

Paradox

Answer 15

The arrangement of similarly constructed clauses, sentences, or verse lines in a pairing or other sequence suggesting some correspondence between them.

“And any man who knows a thing knows he knows not a damned, damned thing at all.” - K’naan

Question 16

Parallelism

Answer 16

The arrangement of similary contracted clauses, sentences, or verse lines in a paring or other sequence suggesting some correspondence between them.

Last Halloween werewolves howled at the moon, witches floated through the sky, and skeletons rattled in the night.

Question 17

Parody

Answer 17

A composition that imitates the distinctive features of a serious piece of writing for comic or satiric purposes.

Question 18

Periodicity

Answer 18

The placing of the subject, verb, or object at the end of a sentence, so that the main idea is not clear until the end of the sentence. The effects you by this or suspense and emphasis on the thesis.

Whether playing a young wild adventurer, a fugitive from the law or are U.S president. There is one actor who films always making money.
- Harrison Ford

Question 19

Personification

Answer 19

Metaphorically represents an animal or an inanimate object as having human attributes, ideas and abstractions can also be personified.

This coffee is strong enough to get up and walk away.

Question 20

Pun

Answer 20

The use of two words with the same sound (homophone) or for humourous effect.

“Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.”
- Mercutio and Romeo and Juliet

Question 21

Repetition

Answer 21

And effective, attaining or emphasis by repeating a word, phrase, or clause that the writer wants the reader to remember.

There is no mistake. There has been no mistakes, and there shall be no mistakes.

Question 22

Rhetorical Question

Answer 22

I figure of speech in the form of a question pose for rhetorical effect, rather than for the purpose of getting an answer of rhetorical questions, to encourage reflection within the listener as to what the answer to the question (at least answer implied by the questionnaire) must be.

Bob Dylan song “Blowin’ in the wind” is a series of rhetorical questions. This is soofed in an episode of The Simpsons in which homer attempts to correctly answer: “How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man?”

Question 23

Simile

Answer 23

I definitely say to comparison that uses like, or as in its construction.

She’s as tall as a giraffe.

Question 24

Understatement

Answer 24

A form of speech, where a lesser expression is used than what would be expected.

Monty Python, the meaning of life a suburban dinner part is invaded by death, who wears a long black coat and carries a scythe. He is the grim reaper. The party is over the guest must all go with him well says one party guess “that’s cast rather a gloom over the evening, hasn’t it?”

Question 25

Tone

Answer 25

In a text, the creators attitude to the subject or audience as conveyed through elements of that text.

Humorous, sarcastic, ironic, dramatic, authoritative.