Rhetorical Devices - AP Language and Composition

Alliteration

the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words

Antithesis

contrasts opposing ideas by placing them in parallel grammatical structures to create emphasis and clarity

Allusion

a brief, indirect reference to a well-known person, event, place, or work of art that is assumed to be familiar to the audience

Anaphora

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

Chiasmus

a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order

Climax

a three-step increase in words or phrases

Hyperbole

extreme, unrealistic exaggeration

Irony

when there is a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, or between what is said and what is meant

Satire

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and critique people’s stupidity or vices, especially in the context of politics or other topical issues

Metaphor

a direct comparison between two unlike things without using ‘like’ or ‘as’

Simile

a comparison between two different things using ‘like’ or ‘as’

Persona

a voice or character the author adopts

Personification

the figure of speech that gives human like qualities, such as feelings, actions, or characteristics, to nonhuman things like objects, animals, or ideas

Imagery

language that uses vivid descriptions and sensory details to create pictures in the reader’s mind

Analogy

comparison between one thing and another, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification

Repetition

the intentional use of words or phrases multiple times to emphasize ideas, create rhythm, and make writing more powerful

Rhetorical questions

the question asked is not to elicit an actual response but to make a point, persuade, or provoke a thought

Anecdote

a short, engaging narrative about a real or fictional incident, often drawn from personal experience, that is used to illustrate a point, support an argument, or connect with the audience’s emotions and experiences