AP Lang Rhetoric tropes and schemes

Metaphor

A comparison between two unlike things without using like or as. Example: Time is a thief.

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using like or as. Example: Her smile was as bright as the sun.

Hyperbole

An intentional exaggeration for emphasis. Example: I’ve told you a million times.

Irony

Saying the opposite of what is meant. Example: “What lovely weather we’re having,” she said during a storm.

Metonymy

Using a related word to represent something. Example: The White House issued a statement. (White House = President)

Synecdoche

A part represents the whole or the whole represents a part. Example: All hands on deck. (hands = sailors)

Personification

Giving human qualities to nonhuman things. Example: The wind whispered through the trees.

Pun (Paronomasia)

A play on words with similar sounds or meanings. Example: A bicycle can’t stand on its own — it’s two-tired.

Oxymoron

Combines contradictory terms. Example: Bittersweet or Deafening silence.

Paradox

A statement that contradicts itself but reveals a truth. Example: Less is more.

Litotes

An understatement using negation. Example: She’s not unlike her mother.

Apostrophe

Addressing someone or something that cannot reply. Example: O Death, where is thy sting?

Parallelism

Using similar grammatical forms for related ideas. Example: She likes cooking, jogging, and reading.

Isocolon

Clauses that are equal in length and rhythm. Example: Buy one, get one free.

Antithesis

Contrasting ideas in parallel structure. Example: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Anastrophe

Inversion of the normal word order. Example: Into the room walked Livia.

Parenthesis

Inserting a side comment or phrase that interrupts normal flow. Example: My dog—who loves pizza—stole my lunch.

Apposition

A noun or phrase renames another noun. Example: My friend, a doctor, lives in Boston.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds. Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Anaphora

Repetition at the beginning of clauses. Example: We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds…

Epistrophe

Repetition at the end of clauses. Example: See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

Chiasmus

Reversal of grammatical order in successive phrases. Example: Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

Polysyndeton

Using many conjunctions for effect. Example: He ran and jumped and laughed and cried.

Asyndeton

Omitting conjunctions for speed or emphasis. Example: I came, I saw, I conquered.

Climax

Arranging words in increasing importance. Example: He risked his money, his reputation, even his life.

ethos

An appeal to the speaker's credibility, authority, or character

pathos

An appeal to the audience's emotions

logos

An appeal to logic and reason

forensic occasion

Arguments made in favor of this occasion are usually made in order to shape one's perception of the past.

ceremonial occasion

arguments made on this occasion have a stated goal of shaping ones perception of the present

political occasion

arguments made on this occasion have a vested interest in shaping policy, legislation, or societal trends in the future

ethos

an argument that appeals to the credentials of authority

pathos

An argument that appeals to the emotions of the audience or evokes a personal connection

logos

An argument that appeals to facts, statistics, or other rationale