AP Lang Rehtorical devices

A

Audience

All's fair in love and war.

Juxtaposition

Allusions

a more subtle similarity/comparison to help the reader understand through the intertextual connection. These could be religious allusions, a reference to art, another book, a philosophical reference, etc.

Analogies/Comparasion

illustrates similarities between concepts, making an unfamiliar topic more familiar and accessible.

Anaphora

repeating of words, phrasing, or whole sentences. Look for similarities in language, word order, verb tense etc.

Anecdote

a short personal story.

Appealing to ethos

the speaker establishes their expertise, knowledge, experience, sincerity, and common purpose with an audience

Appealing to logos

the author plays upon the readers' respect and understanding of logical arguments.

Appealing to pathos

evoking sympathy or empathy of the audience. The reader buys in or is touched through this emotional appeal.

Buy Now

Call to action

Call to Action

a request or petition by the writer to move their audience to take action on an issue.

Concession/Acknowledgement

An admission that at least part of the opposing point of view is correct.

Direct Address

when the speaker directly speaks to the audience, perhaps using 1st or 2nd person pronouns ("We" or "You"), to make a point.

E

Exigence

Example

When an author references specific influential figures as examples.

He was as quiet as a mouse.

Simile

He's a couch potato.

Metaphor

Hyperbole

an exaggeration for dramatic effect.

I concede and acknowledge that it was only the government that sent it on such an errand that was polluted.

Concession/Acknowledgement

I have to practice my times tables over and over and over again so I can learn them.

Repetiton

I remember when I used to sit on my dad's lap while he drove around town delivering mail.

Anecdote

I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse.

Hyperbole

if it were a cold, rainy gray day, you might say, "What a beautiful day!"

Irony

Imagery

appealing to the five senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, feel) to set the scene and describe a setting.

Irony

When the opposite of what is expected does indeed happen OR when the opposite of what is meant is spoken (sarcasm: when a mocking tone and snark is involved).

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.

Anaphora

Juxtaposition

placing two elements or concepts close together or side by side with a contrasting effect. The author does this to reveal insights or point out a truth in society.

M

Message

Metaphor

a figure of speech comparing two seemingly unlike things. As a literary device, metaphor creates implicit comparisons without the express use of "like" or "as."

O

Ocassion

P

Purpose

Red roses = love.

Symbolism

Repetition/Parallel Structure

repeating of words, phrasing, or whole sentences. Look for similarities in language, word order, verb tense etc.

Rhetorical questions

Questions that are asked of the audience but do not necessarily require a verbal answer.

Rose is a real Einstein.

Allusion

S

Speaker

S

Subject

She's as blind as a bat.

Analogy/Comparison

Simile

a figure of speech comparing between two seemingly unlike things with the words "like" or "as." Similes reveal similarities between ideas.

Symbolism

imbue objects, places, or events with a meaning that is different from their original meaning or function.

T

Tone

Terry, you dropped a pencil.

Direct Address

What time do you call this?

Rhetorical Question