Rhetorical Devices AP Lang

Accismus

A form of irony where a person pretends to refuse or express disinterest in something they actually desire. | Saying "Oh, I couldn't possibly accept another piece of cake," while holding out your plate. The speaker feigns politeness to avoid looking greedy, fully intending to eat the cake.

Ad hominem

A logical fallacy where an argument attacks the opponent's character or personal traits rather than addressing their actual argument. | "We shouldn't listen to candidate X's tax proposal because he got a speeding ticket last year." Instead of pointing out flaws in the tax proposal, the speaker attacks candidate X's driving record to undermine his credibility.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a well know person, place, event, work of art, or piece of literature.

Anadiplosis

A pattern where the last word or phrase of a sentence or clause is repeated at the very beginning of the next one. | "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." The end of each sentence links directly to the start of the next, building a tight chain of cause

Analogy

An extended comparison between two different things to explain or clarify a complex idea by linking it to something familiar. | "Structure an essay like a house: your thesis is the foundation, and your body paragraphs are the supporting walls." Uses the familiar physical layout of a building to show how structural stability applies to writing logic.

Anaphora

The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. | "I have a dream... I have a dream... I have a dream..." Repeating the phrase creates an emotional rhythm, reinforcing the vision of equality across the speech.

Antithesis

Placing two opposite or contrasting ideas side by side within a balanced sentence structure. | "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Contrasts "small step" with "giant leap" to highlight the enormous historical significance of the moon landing.

Apostrophe

A rhetorical figure in which a speaker directly addresses an absent person, an abstract concept, or an inanimate object. | "O Death, where is thy sting?" The speaker personifies death, addressing it directly to challenge its power.

Chiasmus

A grammatical structure where concepts or words are repeated in reverse order. | Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country

Dramatic Irony

A narrative situation where the audience or reader knows crucial information that the characters do not. | In *Romeo and Juliet*, the audience knows Juliet is under a sleeping potion, but Romeo thinks she is dead. Creates tension and tragedy because the audience watches Romeo act on false information.

Ethos

An appeal to ethics, credibility, authority, or moral character to persuade an audience. | "As a doctor with over 20 years of practice, I recommend this treatment." Establishes professional experience to gain the audience's trust in the medical advice.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor that stretches across multiple lines, paragraphs, or an entire work, comparing two unlike things in depth. | Robert Frost's poem *The Road Not Taken*, comparing life choices to choosing paths in a wood. Uses the visual of a diverging forest path throughout the entire poem to reflect on life decisions and regret.

Hypophora

A device where a speaker asks a question and then immediately answers it themselves. | "Why are we here today? We are here to demand equal rights." Captures the audience's attention with a question, then controls the exact message by answering it right away.

Idiom

A commonly used phrase whose figurative meaning is completely different from its literal word | It’s easy as pie.

Innuendo

An indirect or subtle hint, suggestion, or implication, often used to hint at something derogatory or improper. | "She has a very... *unique* sense of style." Politely implies that the person dresses strangely without using outright negative words.

Logos

An appeal to logic, reason, and evidence, using facts, statistics, and structured arguments. | "Studies show that wearing helmets reduces the risk of head injury by 85%." Uses hard statistical data to convince people to wear safety gear.

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things by stating that one thing *is* another (without using "like" or "as"). | "Time is a thief." Compares time to a robber to show how quickly and quietly moments vanish.

Metonymy

A figure of speech where something is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it. | "The White House issued a statement today." Uses the physical building ("White House") to stand in for the President and executive administration.

Non Sequitur

A statement or conclusion that does not logically follow from the previous statement or premise. | "She drives a red sports car, so she must be a fantastic cook." Connects car color to culinary skill, which have no logical connection to one another.

Paradox

A paradox is a statement or situation that appears self-contradictory or illogical at first, but actually reveals a deeper truth or a realistic logic | Less is more.

Pathos

An appeal to emotions, aiming to evoke feelings like pity, empathy, anger, or joy in the audience. | "For just $1 a day, you can save a starving puppy who has nowhere else to go." Uses imagery of vulnerable animals to make viewers feel compassion and donate.

Polysyndeton

The deliberate use of multiple conjunctions (like *and*, *or*, *but*) in close succession, often without commas. | "We have ships and men and money and stores." Repeats "and" to make the list feel overwhelming, emphasizing vast resources.

Prolepsis

A rhetorical strategy where a speaker anticipates an opponent's objection and answers it before it can be raised. | "Now, you might think this plan is too expensive. However, the long-term savings will have paid for the initial investment before the year is out.

Rhetoric

The art of effective or persuasive speaking and writing, using various figures of speech and techniques. | A politician organizing a speech around Ethos, Logos, and Pathos to convince citizens to vote. Applies structured techniques to craft an argument that persuades an audience.

Simile

A comparison between two different things using explicit linking words such as "like" or "as." | "Her smile shone like the sun." Uses "like" to emphasize the brightness and warmth of someone's expression.

Situational Irony

A sharp contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. | A fire station burning down while firefighters are out on a call. The exact opposite of the building's purpose (protecting against fires) occurs.

Solecism

A nonstandard grammatical usage or syntactic error, sometimes used deliberately in literature for stylistic effect. | "He don't know nothing about that." Uses a double negative and incorrect subject

Syncrisis

A rhetorical figure that compares opposite people, things, or ideas side by side to highlight their differences clearly. | "He is quick to anger and slow to forgive, while she is patient in trial and eager to reconcile." Places two contrasting personalities next to each other to make their traits stand out.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole (or vice versa). | "Check out my new wheels!" Uses a part of a car ("wheels") to refer to the entire vehicle.

Verbal Irony

A statement in which a speaker says one thing but means the exact opposite (often taking the form of sarcasm). | Looking out the window at a pouring thunderstorm and saying, "What lovely weather we're having today!" The speaker says the weather is great to sarcastically highlight how terrible it actually is.