Rhetorical Devices

Alliteration

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

Analogy

A form of comparison in which a parallel is drawn between two different things to illustrate a commonality or explain something unfamiliar by comparing it to something familar

Anaphora

The repetition of a word, or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences or lines of poetry, creating emphasis.

Anecdote

A short, interesting or amusing story told to make a point.

Antimetabole

Repetition of words in reverse order

Antithesis

A sharp contrast created by juxtaposing opposite ideas, often in parallel structure

Assonance

The repetition of internal vowel sounds in nearby words

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words

Closing by return

When the conclusion of the writing is very similar to or reiterates something from the beginning of the writing. This technique serves to unify the writing and bring it all together.

Colloquialism

A word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal communication, not usually acceptable in formal writing

Connotation

Not the dictionary definition of the word but the attitudes, feelings and emotions conjured up by the word

Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word; the direct and specific meaning

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

Figurative language

Describes language that moves beyond the standard or literal meaning.

Flow

The continuity, or coherence, among the sentences of a paragraph.

Framing Words

Also known as transitional phrases. These serve to connect ideas, introduce divisions within a piece of writing, and signal shifts in focus.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Imagery

Vivid figurative language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

Imperative sentence

A sentence that requests or commands or enjoins.

Dramatic irony

When the audience is aware of something that a character is not.

Situational irony

Occurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected

Verbal irony

A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant

Juxtaposition

Placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast

Metaphor

A direct comparison of two different things

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it
Ex. The pen is mightier than the sword.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase. Ex. bittersweet

Parallelism

Parallel sentence structure involves the use of the same syntactical structures, phrases, clauses and sentences. Parallelism adds balance, rhythm and clarity to the sentence.

Periodic sentence

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.

Polysyndeton

The use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions (joining words) than is necessary or natural.

Rhetorical question

A question asked merely for dramatic effect and not requiring an answer

Satire

A work (often involving humor, exaggeration and/or sarcasm) that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions in order to inspire for reform or ridicule.

Simile

A comparison of two unlike things using linking words like or as.

Symbol

An object, character or action that means something more than its literal meaning. Something that is concrete (tangible) but represents an abstract idea.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole.
Ex. hired "hands" signifying workers

Understatement

To downplay something that is startling, horrifying, shocking, painful, or otherwise deserving of more emotion and attention than the writer gives it.

Tone

A writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization.

Zeugma

A figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses, but only makes literal sense with one of them.
Ex. He stole my wallet and my heart.

Pathos

Rhetorical appeal to emotion (connected to audience response)

Logos

Rhetorical appeal based on logic or reasoning (connected to the message)

Ethos

Rhetorical appeal to character or credibility (connected to the writer or speaker)

Hypophora

Consists of raising one or more questions and then proceeding to answer them, usually at some length.

Consonance

Repetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.

Dysphemism

A derogatory or unpleasant term used instead of a pleasant or neutral one (ex. cancer sticks for cigarettes or snail mail for regular post)

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

Abstraction

An abstraction is any word that does not refer to a concrete object, but rather to an idea, such as love, truth and justice. These words are problematic because everyone can have a different definition/understanding of the term, and therefore these words should be defined.

personification

A figure of speech in which an object, animal or other non-human entity is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes