Rhetorical Strategies and Literary Devices in Argumentation and Persuasion 1

Abstract

Designating qualities or characteristics apart from specific objects or events; it is the opposite of concrete.

Allegory

A narrative, either in verse or prose, in which character, action, and sometimes setting represent abstract concepts apart from the literal meaning of a story. (A story within a story ie: Animal Farm is an example of allegory that critiques totalitarianism and examines social injustice.)

Alliteration

The repetition of initial identical consonant sounds or any vowel sounds in successive or closely associated syllables, especially stressed syllables.

Allusion

A brief reference to a person, event, or place, real or fictitious, or to a work of art.

Analogy

A process of reasoning that assumes if two subjects share a number of specific observable qualities then they may be expected to share qualities that have not been observed.

Anaphora

A device of repetition in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences.

Anastrophe

The inversion of the usual, normal, or logical order of the parts of a sentence, used to secure rhythm or to gain emphasis or euphony. Like yoda in star wars

Antecedent

The word to which a pronoun refers (whose place it takes).

Anticipating Audience Response

A rhetorical technique often used to convince an audience by anticipating and stating the arguments that one's opponent is likely to give and then answering these arguments even before the opponent has had a chance to voice them.

Antithesis

A figure of speech characterized by strongly contrasting words, clauses, sentences, or ideas. The use of antithesis emphasizes a clear contrast in meaning, often to highlight the difference between opposing ideas or terms.