boegman rhetoric

rhetoric

Adynaton (a-dyn'-a-ton)

Adynaton (a-dyn'-a-ton)

A declaration of impossibility, usually in terms of an exaggerated comparison. Sometimes, the expression of the impossibility of expression. Ex: I will sooner have a beard grow in the palm of my hand then he shall get one of his cheek

Alliteration (al-lit'-er-a'-tion)

Repetition of the same letter or sound within nearby words. Most often, repeated initial consonants. Ex: Bob bought the best burger by Brandon.

Anadiplosis (an'-a-di-plo'-sis)

The repetition of the last word (or phrase) from the previous line, clause, or sentence at the beginning of the next. Often combined with climax Ex: The love of wicked men converts to fear, That fear to hate, and hate turns one or both To worthy danger and deserved death.

Anaphora (an-aph'-o-ra)

Repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines. Ex: This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-paradise,

Antanaclasis (an'-ta-na-cla'-sis)

The repetition of a word or phrase whose meaning changes in the second instance. Ex: Your argument is sound...all sound.

Anthimeria (an-thi-mer'-i-a)

Substitution of one part of speech for another (such as a noun used as a verb). Ex: Feel bad? Strike up some music and have a good sing.

Antithesis (an-tith'-e-sis)

Juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas (often, although not always, in parallel structure). Ex: It can't be wrong if it feels so right

Aposiopesis (a-pos-i-o-pee'-sis)

Breaking off suddenly in the middle of speaking, usually to portray being overcome with emotion. Ex:O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason. Bear with me, My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me. —Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

Apostrophe (a-pos'-tro-phe)

Turning one's speech from one audience to another. Most often, apostrophe occurs when one addresses oneself to an abstraction, to an inanimate object, or to the absent. Ex: O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Thou art the ruins of the noblest man That ever lived in the tide of times. —Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

Apposition (ap-po-sit'-i-on)

Addition of an adjacent, coordinate, explanatory or descriptive element. Ex: Albert Einstein, perhaps the greatest of scientists, seemed not to have mastered the physics of hair combing.

Assonance (ass'-o-nance)

Repetition of similar vowel sounds, preceded and followed by different consonants, in the stressed syllables of adjacent words. Ex: The sergeant asked him to bomb the lawn with hotpots.

Asyndeton (a-syn'-de-ton)

The omission of conjunctions between clauses, often resulting in a hurried rhythm or vehement effect. Ex: Veni, vidi, vici (Caesar: "I came; I saw; I conquered")

Brachylogia (brach-y-lo'-gia)

The absence of conjunctions between single words. The effect of brachylogia is a broken, hurried delivery. Ex:Phillip! Rise! Eat! Leave!

Chiasmus (ki-az'-mus)

Repetition of ideas in inverted order, or repetition of grammatical structures in inverted order. Ex: It is boring to eat; to sleep is fulfilling

Climax (cli'-max)

Generally, the arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance, often in parallel structure. Ex: Miss America was not so much interested in serving herself as she was eager to serve her family, her community, and her nation.

Consonance (cons'-so-nance)

The repetition of consonants in words stressed in the same place (but whose vowels differ). Also, a kind of inverted alliteration, in which final consonants, rather than initial or medial ones, repeat in nearby words. Consonance is more properly a term associated with modern poetics than with historical rhetorical terminology.

Ellipsis (el-lip'-sis)

Omission of a word or short phrase easily understood in context. The average person thinks he isn't.

Epistrophe (e-pis'-tro-fee)

Ending a series of lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences with the same word or words. Ex: We are born to sorrow, pass our time in sorrow, end our days in sorrow.

Hyperbole (hy-per'-bo-lee)

Rhetorical exaggeration. Hyperbole is often accomplished via comparisons, similes, and metaphors. Ex: I've told you a million times not to exaggerate.

Irony (i'-ron-ee)

Speaking in such a way as to imply the contrary of what one says, often for the purpose of derision, mockery, or jest. Ex: O villain! thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this.

Litotes (li-to'-tees))

Deliberate understatement, especially when expressing a thought by denying its opposite. Ex: Running a marathon in under two hours is no small accomplishment.

Mesodiplosis (mes-o-dip-lo'-sis)

Repetition of the same word or words in the middle of successive sentences. Ex: We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. —2 Corinthians

Metaphor (met'-a-phor)

A comparison made by referring to one thing as another Ex: Life is a beach.

Metonymy (me-ton'-y-my)

Reference to something or someone by naming one of its attributes. Ex: We await word from the crown

Oxymoron (ox-y-mo'-ron)

Placing two ordinarily opposing terms adjacent to one another. A compressed paradox. Ex: The Sounds of Silence

Paradox (pa'-ra-dox)

A statement that is self-contradictory on the surface, yet seems to evoke a truth nonetheless. Ex: Whosoever loses his life, shall find it.

Paralipsis (par-a-lip'-sis)

Stating and drawing attention to something in the very act of pretending to pass it over. A kind of irony. Ex: It would be unseemly for me to dwell on Senator Kennedy's drinking problem, and too many have already sensationalized his womanizing..

Parallelism

Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses. Ex: Singing a song or writing a poem is joyous.

Personification

Reference to abstractions or inanimate objects as though they had human qualities or abilities. Ex: The insatiable hunger for imagination preys upon human life.

Polyptoton (po-lyp-to'-ton)

Repeating a word, but in a different form. Using a cognate of a given word in close proximity. Ex: With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder.

Polysyndeton (pol-y-syn'-de-ton)

Employing many conjunctions between clauses, often slowing the tempo or rhythm. Ex: I said, "Who killed him?" and he said, "I don't know who killed him but he's dead all right," and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights and windows broke and boats all up in the town and trees blown down and everything all blown and I got a skiff and went out and found my boat where I had her inside Mango Key and she was all right only she was full of water.

Rhetorical Questions

The rhetorical question is usually defined as any question asked for a purpose other than to obtain the information the question asks. For example, "Why are you so stupid?" is likely to be a statement regarding one's opinion of the person addressed rather than a genuine request to know. Similarly, when someone responds to a tragic event by saying, "Why me, God?!" it is more likely to be an accusation or an expression of feeling than a realistic request for information.

Simile (si'-mi-lee)

A comparison, often (but not necessarily) employing "like" or "as." Ex: He was running like a cheetah

Symploce (sim'-plo-see)

Beginning a series of lines, clauses, or sentences with the same word or phrase while simultaneously repeating a different word or phrase at the end of each element in this series. Ex: Against yourself you are calling him, against the laws you are calling him, against the democratic constitution you are calling him

Synonymia (si-no-ni'-mi-a)

In general, the use of several synonyms together to amplify or explain a given subject or term. A kind of repetition that adds emotional force or intellectual clarity Ex: You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! - Julius Caesar

Tricolon (tri-co'-lon)

Three parallel elements of the same length occurring together in a series. Ex: Veni, vidi, vici. —Julius Caesar