AP Lang Rhetorical Devices

What is Allegory?

A story where characters or events stand for bigger ideas about life, politics, or history. Example: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe — Lion = God, Witch = Evil, Edmund = Judas.

What is Alliteration?

Using the same starting sound in nearby words. Example: 'Cookies are for closers'; 'Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.'

What is Allusion?

Referring to a person, story, or event from elsewhere so the reader recognizes it. Example: He acted like a Scrooge; 'Let this cup pass from you'; 'A real Romeo with the ladies.'

What is Anadiplosis?

Last word of one sentence starts the next sentence. Example: 'Support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge…'.

What is Analogy?

Comparing two things to explain or clarify something. Example: Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog; 'You’re a snake! You scare children and have no spine.'

What is Anaphora?

Repeating a word or phrase at the start of multiple sentences or clauses. Example: 'Let freedom ring.'

What is Anastrophe?

Changing normal word order to sound dramatic or fancy. Example: 'Sure I am of this, that you have only to endure to conquer.'

What is Antithesis?

Putting two opposite ideas together to show contrast. Example: 'That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'

What is Apophasis?

Mentioning something by saying you won’t talk about it. Example: 'I won’t even begin to address my opponent’s gambling problem.'

What is Apostrophe?

Talking to someone or something that isn’t there, like an idea or object. Example: 'O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet.'

What is Assonance?

Repeating vowel sounds in nearby words. Example: 'An old stone savage.'

What is Asyndeton?

Leaving out 'and' or other connectors to make a sentence faster or punchy. Example: 'I came, I saw, I conquered.'

What is Chiasmus?

Switching the order of words or phrases in two similar sentences. Example: 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.'

What is Consonance?

Repeating consonant sounds in nearby words (not just at the start). Example: 'The early bird gets the worm.'

What is Epistrophe?

Repeating a word at the end of several sentences. Example: 'Don’t you ever talk about my friends! …And you certainly wouldn’t speak to any of my friends.'

What is Euphemism?

Using a nicer or softer way to say something harsh. Example: 'Passed away' instead of 'died'; 'May I use your powder room?'.

What is Freight Train?

A long sentence with many short sentences joined together. Example: 'The storm was approaching; the storm of doom and destruction that had leveled whole communities…'.

What is Hyperbole?

A big exaggeration to make a point. Example: 'I have a million things to do today.'

What is Hypophora?

Asking a question and then immediately answering it. Example: 'What is honor? A word.'

What is Litotes?

Saying something in a negative way to mean the positive. Example: 'Not a bad singer' = good.

What is a Loose Sentence?

A sentence where the main idea comes first and extra details are added after. Example: 'Sal Maglie ended the third for the Dodgers, walking out slowly carrying one bat…'.

What is a Metaphor?

Comparing two things directly to show they’re alike. Example: 'The sun was a toddler refusing to go to bed.'

What is Metonymy?

Using a related word to stand for something. Example: 'The crown will decide' (crown = king); 'The pen is mightier than the sword.'

What is an Oxymoron?

Two words that seem opposite but are used together. Example: 'Feather of lead'; 'Seriously funny.'

What is a Paradox?

A statement that seems wrong or contradictory, but is true. Example: 'I will fight no more forever.' – Chief Joseph.

What is Parallelism?

Using the same structure in multiple sentences or parts to make them balanced. Example: 'We have petitioned… we entreat no more; we petition no more.'

What is a Periodic Sentence?

The main idea comes at the end, for suspense or effect. Example: 'In spite of heavy snow, the game continued.'

What is Personification?

Giving human traits to animals, objects, or ideas. Example: 'The car sputtered and coughed before starting.'

What is Polysyndeton?

Using many 'and's or conjunctions in a sentence. Example: 'And it was dark and there was water standing in the street…'.

What is Synecdoche?

A part of something represents the whole (or vice versa). Example: 'All hands on deck' (hands = people).

What is Synesthesia?

Describing one sense using words from another sense. Example: 'Taste the rainbow.'

What is Tricolon?

Three words, phrases, or sentences in a row with the same structure. Example: 'Be sincere, be brief, be seated'; 'Veni, vidi, vici.'

What is Understatement?

Making something seem smaller or less serious than it is. Example: 'It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.'

What is Zeugma?

One word applies to two other words in different ways. Example: 'She left in tears and a taxi'; 'The farmer grew peanuts, potatoes, and bored.'