APENG Rhetorical Devices

simile

simile

makes a comparison between unlike things, suggesting an unexpected likeness while using the words like or as (or sometimes than)

metaphor

compares two essentially dissimilar things, but instead of saying one thing is like another, it equates them, saying that one is the other.

metonymy

the substitution of one term for another that is associated with it. 

[FYI: “synecdoche” is a more specific version of metonymy, in which part of something is used to represent the whole thing. Consider saying “wheels” to refer to a car or “all hands on deck” to call up workers (to use their hands)].

analogy

an extended metaphor or simile. Sometimes extended over several sentences or even several paragraphs; analogies help readers understand an unfamiliar idea by comparing it to something concrete they already know.

personification

an animal, an inanimate object, or a concept is given the attributes or qualities of a human

allusion

makes a reference to a familiar person, place or event in literature or history. The major allusions in American Literature reference Shakespeare, the Bible, and Greek mythology

symbolism

to tie deeper meaning to an object

alliteration

the repetition of same or similar consonant sounds close together at the beginning of words

onomatopoeia

to attempt to capture the way something literally sounds.

imagery

descriptive language that attempts to capture the five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

rhetorical question

a question which expects no answer

subordination

Shows that the idea of one clause is more important than the idea of the other clause. Usually starts with a dependent clause but hammers home the main, more powerful point in the connected independent clause.

coordination

ideas joined with coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) that suggest that neither of the joined ideas is less important than or dependent upon the other. Doesn’t really draw extra attention to itself.

parallelism c

the powerful repetition of words or phrases that have similar grammatical structures. Does draw attention to itself.

antithesis

the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, often in parallel structure.

polysyndeton

the deliberate use of many conjunctions.

asyndeton

the deliberate omission of conjunctions.

anaphora

the repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses. (Opposite of epistrophe.) This can overlap with parallelism

epistrophe

the repetition of the same word or group of words at the end of successive clauses. (Opposite of anaphora.) This can overlap with parallelism.

logos

appealing to the audience’s reason or logic (brain).

pathos

appealing to the audience’s emotion or pity (heart).

ethos

appealing to the audience’s ethics, morality, credibility, etc. (sense of justice/rightness).

hyperbole

to say more than you really mean, or extremely exaggerate the situation.

understatement

to say less than you mean or to discount something.

parody

mockery of a specific, known person/book/movie/event.

verbal irony

A contrast between what one says and what one means (often, sarcasm).

situational irony

A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens

dramatic irony

A contrast between what the characters think is happening versus what the audience knows is happening.

tone

the attitude, mood, characteristics, etc. of a text.

happy, sad, mad, surprised, fearful, disgusted, bad, etc.