Rhetorical Devices Quiz 2

metaphor

implied comparison of two things of unlike nature

simile

explicit comparison of two things of unlike nature using like or as

apostrophe

when someone or something that is not physically present is addressed

synecdoche

figure of speech when part stands for whole or whole stands for part

metonymy

substitution of some attributive or suggestive word for what is actually meant

antanaclasis

the repetition of a word in two different senses

diacope

uninterrupted repetition, or repetition with only one or two words between each repeated phrase

symplace

when words are repeated at both the beginning and end of each phrase

paranomasia

a humorous play on words that are alike in sound but different in meaning

homonymic pun

words spelled and sounded the same way but with different meanings

syllepsis

the use of a word differently understood in relation to two or more words, which it modifies or governs

anthimeria

substitution of one part of speech for another

periphrasis (autonomasia)

substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name or of a proper for a quality associated with the name

personification

investing abstractions for inanimate objects’ heightened effect

prosopopeia

giving inanimate objects the ability to speak

hyperbole

use of exaggerated terms for purpose of emphasis or heightened effect

meosis

opposite of exaggeration, an understatement

litotes

the deliberate use of understatement in the negative way to create an effect

rhetorical question

asking a question not for the purpose of eliciting an answer but for the purpose of asserting or denying something obliquely

erotema

takes place when a question is used as a transition or thought provoking tool for the reader before proceeding

irony

use of a word in such a way as to convey a meaning opposite to the literal meaning of the same word

onomatopoeia

use of words whose sound echoes the sense

oxymoron

yoking of two terms ordinarily contradictory

paradox

an apparently contradictory statement that nevertheless contains a measure of truth

aporia

when the reader, writer, or speaker talks about not being able to talk about something

synesthesia

when one sensory experience is described in terms of another sensory experience

zeugma

when one part of speech, usually a verb, is used to govern two or more other parts of the sentence while being grammatically consistent with only one