Literary Devices and Rhetorical Terms: Definitions and Examples

Allusion

A reference to a person, place, event, or work of art that is widely known

Allusion ex.

"Their love was a Romeo and Juliet story"

Analogy

A comparison between two unlike things to explain their similarities

Analogy ex.

"Learning a new language is like solving a puzzle"

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

Anaphora ex.

"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields"

Anecdote

A brief story told to illustrate a point

Anecdote ex.

My grandmother used to say that during the Depression…"

Antecedent

The word or phrase that a pronoun refers to

Antecedent ex.

Sarah threw the ball, and she caught it." (Here "she" refers to Sarah)

Antithesis

The comparison of contrasting ideas

Antithesis ex

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"

Analysis

Breaking down material into parts to understand it better

Analysis ex.

When a teacher breaks down a poem to explain its meaning

Asyndeton

Listing items without connecting words

Asyndeton ex

"I came, I saw, I conquered"Chiasmus

Chiasmus

A reversal of word order in parallel phrases

Chiasmus ex

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"

Clause

A group of words containing a subject and verb

Clause ex

Because I forgot my lunch"

Colloquialism

Informal language used in everyday speech

Colloquialism ex

"Break a leg!"Connotation

Connotation

The emotional or cultural association of a word

Connotation ex

Home" suggests warmth and safety

Denotation

The literal dictionary meaning of a word

Denotation ex

"Dog" means a domesticated carnivorous mammal

Diction

The choice of words used in speaking or writing

Diction ex

Using sophisticated vocabulary in academic papers

Ethos

The establishment of credibility or trustworthiness

Ethos ex

A doctor citing medical research to support their advice

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word used to avoid offense

Euphemism ex

Passed away" instead of "died"

Hyperbole

An intentional exaggeration for emphasis

Hyperbole ex

"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse"

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses

Imagery ex

The golden sun sank slowly into the dark ocean"

Inversion

Unusual word order in a sentence

Inversion ex

Up went the balloon" instead of "The balloon went up"

Irony

A contrast between what is expected and what occurs

Irony ex

The fire station caught on fire"