Rhetorical Figures Flashcards
Assonance
Repetition of the same set of consonants or vowels in the middle of or at the end of successive words
Anaphora
Super alliteration, in which the same word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of a series of phrases
Conversio
Super assonance - the same word or phrase is repeated at the end of a series of a series of phrases
Asyndeton
Omission of conjunctions which would normally be expected in a phrase, list or sentence
Polysyndeton
Unnecessary use of connective words, emphasising each and every element of a series
Adjunctio
The use of several words or phrases with only one verb, when more than one verb would be normal
Disjunctio
The use of the same verb with every member of a clause, when in normal practice the verb would be used only once
Complexio
Anaphora and conversio done at the same time in the same clause
Conduplicatio
The repetition of a word or phrase for emotional effect
Paranomasia
A word play (pun) by way of two (or more) words of similar sound but different meaning
Antithesis
The juxtaposition of words, phrases or ideas which are apparently (or really) strongly contrasting e.g. ‘Sink or swim’
Allegory
Extended and systematic metaphor
Metonymy
Transfers the name of one object to another object, from which it is really distinct, but to which it is connected by some external relationship e.g ‘He really loved the bottle’
Leitotes
A kind of understatement (inverse of hyperbole), depending upon a double negative for its effect
Meiosis
Deliberate belittling (thus the inverse of hyperbole), sometimes by way of metaphor
Oxymoron
An apparent (but not actual) contradiction in terms
Aposiopesis
A deliberate breaking off of the flow of grammatical thought, leaving the clause unfinished
Apostophe
Addressing absent persons (or inanimate objects) as though they were present
Occupatio
Forestalling an objection to one’s point by raising the objection before someone else does
Praeteritio
Announcing that one will not discuss a particular topic (in the process of which the topic is in fact brought up)
Obtestatio
The calling to witness (as in an oath) god (s), heaven, earth, heroes, etc.
Hendiadys
(‘One through two’) using two nouns, or a noun and it’s adjective, or a noun and it’s genitive, connects by a conjunction, to refer to one single complex thing or idea.
