ADV Eng. 2 Rhetorical Devices

Oxymoron

A word or phrase that contains opposites.

Paradox

A phrase or concept that seems to contradict itself.

Juxtaposition

Putting 2 unlike things side by side to bring out their differences and show contrast.

Litotes

A type of understatement that tells what something is by describing what it’s not.

Antithesis

A pair of statements/images in which one reverses the other.

Kenning

Replaces an ordinary noun with a metaphor.

Metonymy

Replaces words with related/associated words.

Simile

Comparing 2 things using 'like' or 'as'.

Metaphor

Comparing 2 things NOT using 'like' or 'as'.

Analogy

Comparison of 2 unlike things by resemblance.

Synecdoche

Using a part to represent a whole.

Onomatopoeia

Written representation of sound.

Cacophony

Hard, discordant sounds.

Alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds at the start of words.

Assonance

Repetition of internal vowel sounds.

Consonance

Repetition of internal consonant sounds.

Anaphora

Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of a clause.

Chiasmus

Repetition of thematic elements in reverse order.

Anadiplosis

Beginning a clause with the same words or phrases.

Repetition

Repeating a word/phrase for impact.

Rhetorical Question

A question or statement with an implied answer.

Isocolon

Type of parallelism that uses syllable length to create rhythm in multiple clauses of a sentence.

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions within a list or set.

Polysyndeton

Use of conjunctions between every item within a list or set.

Parallelism

Pattern of sentence structure to create rhythm.

Ellipsis

Omission of words/phrases that will not take away from the overall meaning of a clause.

Zeugma

One verb serves two clauses which may have totally different meanings.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration.

Allusion

Reference to something well known.

Symbolism

Object/image used to represent an idea or subject.

Personification

Giving human-like qualities to non-human things.

Understatement

Downplaying the extent of something.

Ambiguity

Intentional confusion created by a word or phrase that could have multiple meanings.

Apostrophe

Addresses someone/something that is no longer there.

Aphorism

Simple statement used to illustrate a commonly held belief or piece of advice.