Rhetorical Devices 1-15

Adage

a proverb, wise saying

Ad Hominem Argument

an argument attacking an individual's character rather than their position on an issue

Allegory

the device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some allegories, for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom. The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.

Alliteration

the practice of beginning several consecutive words with the same sound, e.g., The twisting trout twinkled below.

Allusion

a reference to mythological, literary, or historical person, place, or thing.

Anadiplosis

a figure of repetition that occurs when the last word or terms in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of the next sentence, clause, or phrase. Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering.—Yoda *Related to conduplicatio.

Ambiguity

allows for two or more simultaneous interpretations of a word, phrase, action, or situation, all of which can be supported by the context of a work.

Analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.*See extended analogy as well.

Anaphora

One of the devices of repetition, in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines or sentences. *see epistrophe and symploce

Antanagoge

placing a good point or benefit next to a fault criticism, or problem in order to reduce the impact or significance of the negative point: The new anti-pollution equipment will increase the price of the product slightly, I am aware; but the effluent water from the plant will be actually cleaner than the water coming in.

Anecdote

A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event. The term most frequently refers to an incident in the life of a person.

Antecedent

the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers In the sentence "Peter was more than unhappy for he couldn't sleep at night," "Peter" is the antecedent for "he."

Antithesis

The juxtaposition of contrasting words, often in parallel structure. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!"— Martin Luther King, Jr., I Have a Dream -or—Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."—Barry Goldwater

Aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If an authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb). "It is better to be hated for what one is than loved for what one is not."—Andre Gide

Aporia

expresses doubt about an idea or conclusion. Among its several uses are the suggesting of alternatives without making a commitment to either or any. Aporia can also dismiss assertions irrelevant to your discussion without either conceding or denying them: I have never been able to decide whether I really approve of dress codes, because extremism seems to reign both with them and without them. (or) I do not know whether this legislation will work all the miracles promised by its backers, but it does seem clear that . . . .