rhetorical devices Flashcards
Parallelism
The succesive use of identical grammatical patterns of words, phrases or sentences. May involve repetition of some words, but more generally involves repetition of parts of speech.
ex: what you see is what you get
Hypophora
Figure of speech in which the speaker both asks a question and immediately answers it. The speaker frames a hypophorical question in order to answer it.
ex: what did I tell you? no shoes in the house.
Repetition
Repetition or restatement of an idea at intervals to promote clarity, and encourages the acceptance of an idea.
ex: get ready, get set, go
Antithesis
A figure of speech involving a seeming contradiction of ideas, words, clauses or sentences within a balanced grammatical structure. Antithesis are used to strengthen an argument by using exact opposites or simply contrasting ideas, COMPLETE OPPOSITES
ex: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
Figurative speech
Makes any text more effective, persuasive and impactful. Metaphores, similes and allusions go beyond the literal meaning of words to give the readers a new insight.
Tricolon
Is a rhetorical term that consists of three parallel clauses, phrases or words, which happen to come in quick succesion without any interruption. The cumulative effect of three has a powerful effect on the audience.
ex: Be sincere, be brief, be seated
Polysyndeton
Figure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions. (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) This deliberate and excessive use of conjunctions is used to stress the importance of every item, but also gives it an impactful rythm.
ex: Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays…
Juxtaposition
The placing of two opposing concepts, characters, ideas near or next to eachother to get the readers attention. Contrast but maintains similarities (not complete opposites)
Allusion
When a person or author makes an indirect reference in any text to an event or figure that everyone should understand.
ex: I’m Juliet to your Romeo
Varied sentence length
Vary the sentences so that there is a dynamic flow to your words. When the sentences contrast the words come alive.
Anaphora
Conists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighbouring clauses, thereby lending them emphasis. An example of repetition.
ex: sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of..
Diacope
The repetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase.
ex: bond, james bond
Chiasmus
The inversion of parts of sentences in sequence.
ex: you take the man out of the city, not the city out the man
Anadiplosis
The repetition of the last word of a sentence as the first word of the next sentence.
ex: She opened a café, a café that ruined her financially.
