Rhetorical Figures

Question 1

Assonance

Answer 1

Repetition of the same set of consonants or vowels in the middle of or at the end of successive words

Question 2

Anaphora

Answer 2

Super alliteration, in which the same word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of a series of phrases

Question 3

Conversio

Answer 3

Super assonance - the same word or phrase is repeated at the end of a series of a series of phrases

Question 4

Asyndeton

Answer 4

Omission of conjunctions which would normally be expected in a phrase, list or sentence

Question 5

Polysyndeton

Answer 5

Unnecessary use of connective words, emphasising each and every element of a series

Question 6

Adjunctio

Answer 6

The use of several words or phrases with only one verb, when more than one verb would be normal

Question 7

Disjunctio

Answer 7

The use of the same verb with every member of a clause, when in normal practice the verb would be used only once

Question 8

Complexio

Answer 8

Anaphora and conversio done at the same time in the same clause

Question 9

Conduplicatio

Answer 9

The repetition of a word or phrase for emotional effect

Question 10

Paranomasia

Answer 10

A word play (pun) by way of two (or more) words of similar sound but different meaning

Question 11

Antithesis

Answer 11

The juxtaposition of words, phrases or ideas which are apparently (or really) strongly contrasting e.g. ‘Sink or swim’

Question 12

Allegory

Answer 12

Extended and systematic metaphor

Question 13

Metonymy

Answer 13

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’

Question 14

Leitotes

Answer 14

A kind of understatement (inverse of hyperbole), depending upon a double negative for its effect

Question 15

Meiosis

Answer 15

Deliberate belittling (thus the inverse of hyperbole), sometimes by way of metaphor

Question 16

Oxymoron

Answer 16

An apparent (but not actual) contradiction in terms

Question 17

Aposiopesis

Answer 17

A deliberate breaking off of the flow of grammatical thought, leaving the clause unfinished

Question 18

Apostophe

Answer 18

Addressing absent persons (or inanimate objects) as though they were present

Question 19

Occupatio

Answer 19

Forestalling an objection to one’s point by raising the objection before someone else does

Question 20

Praeteritio

Answer 20

Announcing that one will not discuss a particular topic (in the process of which the topic is in fact brought up)

Question 21

Obtestatio

Answer 21

The calling to witness (as in an oath) god (s), heaven, earth, heroes, etc.

Question 22

Hendiadys

Answer 22

(‘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.