Activity #3 Rhetorical Terms

Anaphora

ex. "We will not give up, we will not back down, we will not be silenced."

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses to create emphasis or rhythm

Aphorism

ex. "The early bird catches the worm."

A short, pithy statement that expresses a general truth or principle

Bombast

ex. "This is the most revolutionary, groundbreaking discovery in the history of humankind!"

High-sounding language with little meaning, often used to impress or persuade through its ostentatious style

Chiasmus

ex. "She has all my love; my heart belongs to her."

A rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by reversing their structures

Enthymeme

ex. "He must be a great leader because he inspires others."

An argumentative statement that omits one premise or the conclusion, relying on the audience to infer it

Epigram

ex. "I can resist everything except temptation."

A brief, witty, and often paradoxical remark or statement

Farce

ex. "The meeting became a farce when the CEO started singing instead of discussing the company’s performance."

A type of comedy characterized by exaggerated and improbable situations, often used to highlight absurdity

Gustatory

ex. "The chocolate cake was so rich and creamy, each bite was a burst of flavor."

Relating to taste or the sense of taste; often used to describe sensory experiences associated with food

Hortative

ex. "Let's take a stand today and make a change in our community!"

A type of language or tone that encourages or urges action or behavior

Hypotaxis

"Because it was raining, we decided to cancel the picnic."

 The use of subordinate clauses to express a relationship between ideas, often showing dependency or cause-and-effect

Invective

ex. "You're such an idiot for making that mistake!"

Harsh, abusive language aimed at attacking or insulting someone or something

Inversion

ex. "Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset."

A reversal of the normal order of words in a sentence, often used for emphasis or stylistic effect

Litotes

ex. "She's not the worst cook I've ever met."

A figure of speech that employs understated language, often using double negatives or negating the opposite, to express a positive statement in a subtle or restrained manner