Rhetorical Devices

Anaphora

repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses to create rhythm and emphasis — “I want to win. I want to improve. I want to succeed.”

Antithesis

the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in parallel structure to highlight differences — “I speak softly, but I carry strength.”

Asyndeton

omission of conjunctions between words or clauses to create a fast-paced, urgent rhythm — “I ran, jumped, laughed, cried.”

Polysyndeton

repetition of conjunctions between words or clauses to create emphasis or a flowing effect — “I ran and jumped and laughed and cried.”

Alliteration

repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words to create rhythm or emphasis — “She sells seashells by the seashore.”

Epistrophe

repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses for emphasis — “I need you to be better. I want you to be better. I expect you to be better.”

Anadiplosis

repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next clause — “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate.”

Hyperbole

deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or dramatic effect — “I’ve told you a million times.”

Metaphor

comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as” — “Time is a thief.”

Simile

comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as” — “She runs like the wind.”

Parallelism

repetition of similar grammatical structures in a sentence or series of sentences — “To win, to learn, to grow is my goal.”

Parenthesis

insertion of additional information that interrupts the normal flow of a sentence — “My brother—who never studies—got an A.”

Rhetorical Question

a question asked to make a point rather than to get an actual answer — “Do you really think that’s a good idea?”