Rhetorical Devices Flashcards
Alliteration
A conspicuous repetition of identical initial consonant sounds in successive or
closely associated syllables within a group of words
Allusion
(Lat. allusio, from alludere – to play with or connote) Usually a noun or phrase that
briefly and indirectly references a person, place, thing, or idea containing cultural, historical,
literary, or political significance to the sender or receiver. Allusions are often very contextual –
in order for an allusion to work, the audience needs to know the person/event referred to.
Anaphora
(Grek. anafora – carrying back) To repeat a sequence of words at the beginning of
neighboring clauses, thereby lending them emphasis. In contrast, an epistrophe (or epiphora)
is repeating words at the clauses’ ends
Antithesis
(Greek antithesis – setting opposite) When two opposites are introduced together
for contrasting effect. The seeming contradiction of ideas, words, clauses, or sentences. An
antithesis must always contain two ideas within one statement. The ideas may not be
structurally opposite, but they serve to be functionally opposite when comparing two ideas for
emphasis.
Asyndeton
One or several conjunctions are deliberately omitted from a series of related
clauses. Examples include veni, vidi, vici and its English translation “I came, I saw, I
conquered”(Julius Caesar). Its use can have the effect of speeding up the rhythm of a passage
and making a single idea more memorable
Chiasmus
(Greek. chiasmós - crossing) A reversal of grammatical structures in successive
phrases or clauses. When the audience expects repetition, chiasmus can be used to surprise,
and give the phase a different emphasis.
Climax
(Greek. klimax – staircase, ladder) Figure of repetition in which words or phrases or
sentences are arranged in order of increasing intensity or importance, often in parallel
construction. Often three stages. Used to create false dilemmas and to focus attention on the
positive aspects of the subject at hand. The initial inferior options make the final term seem
still better by comparison than it would appear in isolation. Also used to create a sense of
movement or increase.
Simile
Directly compares two things. Similes differ from other metaphors by highlighting
the similarities between two things using comparison words such as “like”, “as”, “so”, or
“than”, while other metaphors create an implicit comparison.
Litotes
Understatement (the opposite of hyperbole). Used to emphasise a point by stating a
negative to further affirm a positive, often incorporating double negatives for effect.
Metaphor
(Greek. metaforá - transference). A figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect,
directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It works by bringing together concepts
from different conceptual domains. It may provide (or obscure) clarity or identify hidden
similarities between two different ideas.
Metonymy
(Greek. metonymía – a change of name). A thing or concept is referred to by the
name of something closely associated with that thing or concept. A type of metaphor, but
metonymy but works with association between two concepts.
Rhetorical question
Questions that are posed and that do not need answers, the aswers
should appear as evident.
Paradox
(Greek. parádoxon) A logically self-contradictory statement or a statement that runs
contrary to one’s expectation. It is a statement that, despite apparently valid reasoning from
true premises, leads to a seemingly self-contradictory or a logically unacceptable conclusion.
Oxymoron
(Greek. oxýmoron – pointy and stupid) Juxtaposes concepts with opposing
meanings within a word or phrase, creating an ostensible self-contradiction or paradox.
“barely clothed”, “terribly good”, “proud humility” etc.
Personification
A thing or abstraction is represented as a person.
