Rhetorical Devices

Question 1

An implied comparison of two unlike things

Answer 1

Metaphor

Question 2

An explicit comparison between two unlike things using like or as

Answer 2

Simile

Question 3

Attributing human qualities to an inanimate object

Answer 3

Personification

Question 4

A contrast between reality and expectations

Answer 4

Irony

Question 5

Caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule

Answer 5

Sarcasm

Question 6

Exaggeration; deliberate exaggeration for emphasis

Answer 6

Hyperbole

Question 7

A type of understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary

Answer 7

Litotes

Question 8

Related to classification and division—a part is substituted for the whole, or the species for the genus

Answer 8

Synecdoche

Question 9

Designation of one thing with something closely associated with it

Answer 9

Metonymy

Question 10

Contradiction; two contradictory terms or ideas used together

Answer 10

Oxymoron

Question 11

A statement that appears to be contradictory but, in fact, has some truth

Answer 11

Paradox

Question 12

Refers to the use of words whose sound reinforces their meaning

Answer 12

Onomatopoeia

Question 13

Commonly defined as those questions that do not require an answer

Answer 13

Rhetorical Question

Question 14

“A turning away”. You “turn away” from your audience to address someone or something new

Answer 14

Apostrophe

Question 15

Substitute less pungent words for harsh ones, with excellent ironic effect

Answer 15

Euphemism

Question 16

Expresses similar or related ideas in similar grammatical structures

Answer 16

Parallelism

Question 17

Grammatical structure of the first clause or phrase is reversed in the second, sometimes repeating the same words

Answer 17

Chiasmus

Question 18

The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas

Answer 18

Antithesis

Question 19

The placing next to a noun another noun or phrase that explains it

Answer 19

Apposition

Question 20

The insertion of words, phrases, or a sentence that is not syntactically related to the rest of the sentence

Answer 20

Parenthesis

Question 21

Conjunctions are omitted, producing a fast-paced and rapid prose

Answer 21

Asyndeton

Question 22

Omission or a word or short phrase easily understood in context

Answer 22

Ellipsis

Question 23

Repetition at the end of a clause to a word tagged occurred at the beginning

Answer 23

Epanalepsis

Question 24

He regular repetition of the same word or group of words at the ends of successive clauses

Answer 24

Epistrophe

Question 25

The use of many conjunctions to slow the pace

Answer 25

Polysyndeton

Question 26

The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of the successive words

Answer 26

Alliteration

Question 27

Involves the repetition of vowels sounds with words

Answer 27

Assonance

Question 28

The repetition of consonants in words stressed in the same place (but wholes vowels differ)

Answer 28

Consonance

Question 29

Occurs when the use of a sound device produces a pleasant mellifluous sound

Answer 29

Eupohony

Question 30

Occurs when the use of a sound device produces a harsh, discordant sound

Answer 30

Cacophony

Question 31

A work the functions on a symbolic level

Answer 31

Allegory

Question 32

A reference contained in a work to an event in history or to another piece of literature

Answer 32

Allusion

Question 33

A short, personal story or brief episode told by a writer or character to illustrate a point

Answer 33

Anecdote

Question 34

The relation ship an author has towards his or her subject and or audience

Answer 34

Attitude/tone

Question 35

The interpretive level of a word based on its associated images rather than its literal meaning

Answer 35

Connotation

Question 36

The literal or dictionary definition of a word

Answer 36

Denotation

Question 37

The use of quotation or except at the beginning of a work or chapter that hints at its theme

Answer 37

Epigraph

Question 38

The repetition of variations of an image or idea in a work used to develop theme or characters

Answer 38

Motif

Question 39

A work that targets human vices, follies of social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule

Answer 39

Satire

Question 40

Something in literary work that stands for something else, usually something greater than the things itself

Answer 40

Symbol

Question 41

The opposite of an exaggeration; a technique from developing irony and/or hint where the writer describes something as less than what it is

Answer 41

Understatement

Question 42

A play on the meaning of words

Answer 42

Pun

Question 43

Involve alterations in the usual meanings of words or phrases

Answer 43

Tropes

Question 44

Arrangements of ideas, words, or phrases that are stylistically effective

Answer 44

Schemes

Question 45

Syntactic structure of each sentences supports its meaning

Answer 45

Balance

Question 46

Standard word order is subject-verb, adjectives precede nouns. Deviation from normal word order signals emphasis

Answer 46

Syntax

Question 47

Adding words or phrases to a sentence to vary the style and draw emphasis to certain parts of the sentence

Answer 47

Addition

Question 48

Taking out words stylistically or for emphasis

Answer 48

Omission

Question 49

Repeating any element for emphasis

Answer 49

Repetition

Question 50

The repetition of certain sounds within a paragraph or sentence

Answer 50

Sound