Rhetorical Analysis

parallelism/parallel structure

the repetition of words or phrases that have similar grammatical structures

polysyndeton example

They read and studied and wrote and drilled. I laughed and talked and flunked.

Diction

A writer's or speaker's choice of words

Asyndeton

omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words

Asyndeton example

I came, I saw, I conquered

Zeugma

a figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses, usually literally and figuratively

zeugma example

He lost his coat and his temper.

Ethos

credibility

Exigence

an issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts someone to write or speak

imagery example

He could see the boy through streaked glass, flashing with sunlight, blurring his vision.

Imagery

Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

Antithesis

the direct opposite, a sharp contrast

antithesis example

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Connotation

an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

rhetorical question

A question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

allusion example

This place is like a Garden of Eden.

telegraphic sentence

A sentence shorter than five words in length.

periodic sentence

sentence whose main clause is withheld until the end

loose sentence

A complex sentence in which the main clause comes first and the subordinate clause follows

periodic sentence example

"To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius."

point of view

the perspective from which a story is told

Tone

Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character

Logos

Appeal to logic

Pathos

Appeal to emotion

SOAPSTone

Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Tone

context

The circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding a text.

antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

Rhetoric

the art of using language effectively and persuasively

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality

Satire

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

Understatement

the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.

understatement example

"This is quite a shower we're having," said Noah, poking his head out the door of the ark.

Chiasmus

A statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed

chiasmus example

"Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You."

Juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts

Juxtaposition example

Beauty and ugliness

Isocolon

Parallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure, but also in length

Isocolon Example

"I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, she's a Pepper, we're a Pepper. Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper, too? Dr. Pepper."

Parenthesis

An insertion of material that interrupts the typical flow of a sentence.

Anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

anaphora example

My life is my purpose. My life is my goal. My life is my inspiration.

Epistrophe

the repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences

epistrophe example

and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, -

Anadiplosis

repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause

anadiplosis example

Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

Synecdoche

a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa

synecdoche example

"He got a new set of wheels."

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it

metonymy example

"The White House declared" rather than "The President declared"

Litotes

A form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite

litotes example

The ice cream was not too bad.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

oxymoron example

cruel kindness

Apposition

a grammar construction in which a noun (or noun phrase) is placed with another as an explanation

Apposition example

John, my brother, is coming home.

Paradox

A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

paradox example

he worked hard at being lazy