Rhetorical devices Flashcards
Ethos
Content in an argument that appeals to certain morals
Pathos
An appeal that evokes emotion or feeling
Logos
Citation of facts or logic to convince an audience
Allegory
A story, poem, or picture that reveals a hidden meaning (usually moral or political)
Alliteration
The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words that are connected or adjacent to each other
Allusion
An indirect or passing reference; not mentioned explicitly
Anaphora
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses
Anecdote
A short amusing story about a real incident or person
Antithesis
A statement that is direct opposite of another statement
Asyndeton
A writing style where conjunctions are excluded to add emphasis
Chiasmus
A two part sentence phrase, where the second part is a reversal of the first
Connotation
The use of a word in a way different from its literal meaning
Epistrophe
The repetition of a word at the end of sentences
Hyperbole
Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally
Hypophora
Asking a question and then answering it
Irony
A statement that contrasts with what is expected
Juxtaposition
Two elements that are placed side by side to develop their differences
Litote
A phrase using negation to create an affirmative understatement
Metaphor
A comparison between two things that are unrelated
Oxymoron
A contradictory term in a conjunction
Paradox
A false statement that may be true
Personification
Adding human characteristics to something nonhuman
Polysyndeton
A list of words, phrases, or clauses that are connected with the same conjunction
Repetition
The action of repeating something that was already written
Rhetorical question
A question asked to create dramatic effect or to make a point
Similie
The comparison of one thing with another thing
Syllogism
A form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawing from two given or assumed statements, each sharing a term with the conclusion
Zeugma
A word that applies to two others in different senses
