Rhetorical Devices and Literary Terms: Definitions and Examples

Anaphora

Repetition at the beginning of phrases or sentences.

Antistrophe / Epistrophe

Repetition at the end of phrases or sentences.

Asyndeton

Deliberately leaves out conjunctions like "and" or "but."

Polysyndeton

Uses many conjunctions close together ("and this and that and more").

Juxtaposition

Places two ideas side by side for contrast.

Diction

Author's specific word choice or tone.

Anastrophe

Inverts normal word order for effect ("Strong you are"). (Yoda speech cue.)

Euphemism

Soft or polite way to say something harsh ("passed away" instead of "died").

Parallelism / Parallel Structure

Repeating grammatical structure for rhythm and clarity. (Repeat pattern = repeat power.)

Syntax

Sentence structure or arrangement of words.

Parenthetical Expression

Adds side information inside commas or parentheses.

Appositive

Noun or phrase renames another noun beside it ("My dog, Luna, is cute.").

Rhetorical Question

Asked for effect, not to get an answer. (You already know the answer.)

Metonymy

Replaces a word with something closely related ("The White House said...").

Synecdoche

A part represents the whole ("All hands on deck.").

Eponym

A word based on a person's name ("Sandwich" from Earl of Sandwich). (Name = namesake.)

Epigraph

Short quote at the beginning of a text suggesting its theme.

Allusion

Brief reference to something well known.

Antithesis

Opposite ideas side by side for emphasis ("Best of times, worst of times.").

Paronomasia (Pun)

Play on words for humor or effect.

Litotes

Double negative to make a mild positive ("Not bad" = good).

Zeugma

One word applies to two meanings ("She broke his car and his heart.").