Rhetorical Devices

Allusion

A brief reference to a person, place, thing, event, or other literary work with which the reader is presumably familiar.

Anecdote

A very short story that is significant to the topic at hand; usually adding personal knowledge or experience to the topic.

Asterismos (Pleonasm)

The use of a seemingly unnecessary word or phrase to introduce what you’re about to say.

Diction

Linguistic/word choice, particularly as an element of style. Different types of words have significant effects on meaning.

Didacticism

Describes a type of literature that is written to inform or instruct the reader, especially in teaching a specific moral or political lesson.

Ellipsis

The omission of words or a series of words.

Figurative Language

Any figure of speech which depends on a non-literal meaning of some or all of the words used.

Imagery

Refers to the use of figurative language to evoke a sensory experience or create a picture with words for a reader.

Juxtaposition

Implies comparison or contrast. Writers create juxtaposition by placing two entities side by side to create dramatic or ironic comparison/contrast.

Parallelism

The use of similar grammatical structures or patterns for effect.

Rhetorical Question/Hypophora

A question not asked for information, but for effect.

Satire

A work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of life to a humorous effect.

Syntax

Grammatical arrangement of words.

Irony

Using language that normally signifies the opposite of what the writer intends to achieve a humorous effect or to add emphasis.

Fallacy

An attractive, but unreliable piece of reasoning.