rhetorical terms

Litotes

derived from a Greek word meaning “simple,” it is a figure of speech that employs an understatement by using double negatives or, in other words, a positive statement expressed by negating its opposite expressions. EX) “William Shakespeare is not a bad playwright at all.”

Hypophora

a rhetorical device; the author poses a question and then answers it.  The effect is that it allows the speaker to control the response, but makes the reader feel involved.  Example: “Do we want a snow day? YES, we do!”

Anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several successive sentences or clauses.  “We shall fight on the beaches.  We shall fight on the landing grounds.  We shall fight in the fields and in the streets.  We shall fight in the hills.”

Epistrophe

 the repetition of a word or words at the end of successive clauses, phrases, or verses. Also known as Epiphora.  Example: “I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong.” 

Headnote

a note, comment, or explanation above the first line of the body of the text.  Often defines terms, explains background information that is necessary in order for the reader to understand the text, or introduces the author.

Footnote

a note or comment fixed at the bottom of the text and indicated in the text by a number.  Used to define terms, give citations, and add information that would otherwise interrupt the flow of the text. 

Analogy

 drawing a comparison between two things to show a similarity in some respect. The assumption is that if the two things are alike in one way, they are alike in other ways as well.  Example: Comparing the human brain to a computer.

Tension

the emotional or psychological strain or imbalance; also refers to a sense of heightened involvement, uncertainty, and interest that an audience experiences.  In fiction, this is generally what builds as we approach the climax.  In non-fiction, it usually takes the form of the reader being made to feel in some way uncertain about a topic.

Hyperbole

 a deliberate exaggeration or overstatement used for serious, ironic, or comic effect.  Example: “I’ve told you that a million times already.” 

Anecdote

a brief account (story) of an interesting incident or event that usually is intended to entertain or to make a point.

Diction

refers to an author’s word choice and style of expression.  If a vocabulary is a list of words available for use, then good diction is the careful selection of those words to communicate a particular idea/subject to a specific audience.

Parody

imitates or mocks another work or type of literature.  Like a caricature in art, parody in literature mimics a subject or style or person.  Its purpose may be to ridicule, to broaden understanding of, or to add insight to the original work, but its main focus is humor.

Objective

used to describe information which is without bias or prejudice and attempts to present all sides of an issue.

Subjective

information which is affected by or reflective of personal feeling or interpretation

Reflection

contemplation or calm, lengthy, intent consideration of past experiences or events and the impact they have had.

Emotive Diction

words that are chosen because they carry emotional overtones.  Their connotation is such that they express something about the thing/person being discussed. Example: calling someone smart vs. calling them a know-it-all. 

Rhetorical Question

any question asked for a purpose other than to obtain the answer. Example: “Do you have any idea how much trouble you are in?”

Allusion

a reference to or representation of a place, person, event, literary work, or work of art either directly or by implication.

Anastrophe

departure from normal word order to place emphasis on something. Example: “To the mall we went,” or, “Glistening was the dew on the grass.” (Think of Yoda.) The second example highlights the fact that the grass was “glistening” far more than if the sentence were written in the usual order (The dew was glistening…).

Antithesis

juxtaposition of two contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses. Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

Asyndeton

the omission (removal) of conjunctions between ideas in a series. The effect is to speed up the list, to add a sense that the list may not be complete, and at times to add a strong, equal emphasis on every item in the list. Example: "He was a bag of bones, a floppy doll, a broken stick, a maniac.”

Polysyndeton

the use of conjunctions between all items in a series. The effect is to increase the speed/rhythm, show exuberance, and build excitement. Example: "Let the white folks have their money and power and segregation and sarcasm and big houses and schools and lawns like carpets, and books, and mostly--mostly--let them have their whiteness.” (

Euphemism

 a substitution for a word or expression that might offend or suggest something unpleasant. Makes the expression more palatable. Example: Saying someone has “bought the farm” instead of saying they have died.

Verbal Irony

the use of words to convey a meaning which is the opposite of their literal meaning. Example: Saying, “Wow! What a beautiful day!” when it is actually pouring rain.