Rhetorical Terms

Tropes

Figure of speech that uses language in a non-literal way. (ex. metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, iron)

**Change in word meaning**

Analogy

• A comparison between two things, usually for explanation or clarification

• Similes and metaphors function as analogies

Simile

comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as” for description and imagery

Metaphor

Word or phrase applied to object/action which isn’t literally applicable (one thing is another)

Litotes

Uses understatement to emphasize a point by stating a negative (usually double negatives) to imply a positive

Apostrophe

Speaker directly addresses an inanimate object, dead person, or someone who isn’t present (as if it were a living, thinking being)

Synecdoche

• a part is made to represent the whole, or vice versa ( a whole is made to represent a part)

• uses a specific part/component as stand-in

Metonymy

Something is referred to by name of something closely related to or associated to it

Euphemism

• Mild, indirect, or vague word/phrase that replaces harsh/blunt or potentially offense concept/term

• avoid offense, discuss sensitive topics

Understatement

The presentation of something as smaller or worse than what it actually is

Antonomasia

The use of a descriptive phrase or title put in place or a person’s proper name

Schemes

Device that plays with sounds, order, and arrangement of words

**Change in word order**

Chiasmus

• Structure/order of words or ideas is flipped  (AB—>BA)

• makes something memorable

Analepsis

A flashback in literature

Parallelism

2 or more phrases/clauses in a sentence that have the same grammatical structure

Antithesis

2 contrasting/opposing concepts placed in parallel structure to create a contrasting effect

Anadiplosis

Repeating the last word/phrase of a clause/sentence at the beginning of the next clause/sentence.

Polyptoton

Different forms of the same root word in close proximity to create emphasis, irony, or rhythm.

Anaphora

• The repetition of a word/phrase at the beginning of successive clauses/sentences

• for emphasis, rhythm, make a point more memorable