Literary Rhetorical Devices

analogy

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way

alliteration

the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of successive words

hyperbole

exaggeration used for emphasis

invective

a verbally abusive attack

simile

a comparison of two unlike objects using like, as, than, or resembles

imagery

the use of words or phrases that invokes the senses

[ex. "The sunset painted streaks of orange, red, and yellow across the sky."]

repetition

word or phrase used 2 or more times in close proximity to create emphasis

personification

giving human characteristics to an object or idea not normally associated with those traits

metaphor

a comparison of two unlike objects using like, as, than, or resembles

synecdoche

a figure of speech in which a part stands for the whole or the whole stands for the part

[ex. "He got some new wheels for his sixteenth birthday."]

understatement

the opposite of exaggeration; it is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended

[ex. "It's just a flesh wound." (Black Knight, after having both of his arms cut off)]

allusion

to give authority to an idea by referring to a person, idea, event, etc. from art, culture, or history to get across an idea

[ex. "She is the Britney Spears of our school."]

parody

a work that ridicules the style of another work by imitating and exaggerating its elements; it can be utterly mocking or gently humorous; depends on allusion and exaggerates and distorts the original style and content

satire

a work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of human behavior by portraying it in an extreme way; targets groups or large concepts rather than individuals

rhetoric

From the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively

litotes

emphasizing the magnitude of a statement by denying its opposite (understatement)

[ex. "I didn't fail the test, but I wouldn't exactly call it my best performance."]

parallelism

the use of similar structures in two or more clauses

[ex. "She likes to eat chocolate eclairs, take moonlight walks, and sing classical jazz."]

paradox

a statement that seems impossible because the ideas are opposites, but have an element of truth

[ex. "That was the first time I had seen them alone together."]

juxtaposition

the placement of two contrasting ideas next to each other for comparison

[ex. "This classroom is sweltering while the hallway is ice cold."]

pun

phrase that uses confusion for rhetorical humor

assonance

the repetition of similar vowel sounds preceded and followed by different consonants

[ex. "A workout partner is finally a kind, reliable, right-minded helper."]

anecdote

a short, simple narrative of an incident; often used for humorous effect or to make a point

rhetorical question

a question asked to make a point, not that you want an answer; used to pose an idea to be considered by the speaker or audience

metonymy

a figure of speech that uses the container to indicate the contained

[ex. "The White House remains in support of the Iraq War."]

anaphora

the repetition of the same word or group of words at the BEGINNING of successive clauses

[ex. "We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail."]

irony

the use of a word in such a way as to convey a meaning opposite to the literal meaning

[ex. "Frustrated by their constant questions about his mood, the teacher yelled, "I'm not upset".]

zeugma

"yoking" 2 objects to the same word to produce different levels of meaning

[ex. "She conquered shame with passion, fear with audacity, reason with madness."]

exaggeration

hyperbole

logos

making a clear, coherent statement of ideas and a central argument

pathos

relating to, and sometimes even speaking directly to, their emotions and interests

ethos

offering evidence that the writer is a trustworthy, well-educated, believable person

antithesis

the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas usually in grammatically balanced statements

[ex. "To err is human; to forgive divine."]

allegory

an extended narrative in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface of the story; the underlying meaning may be moral, religious, political, social, or satiric

apostrophe

addressing directly some person, idea, or place that cannot actually respond