rhetorical terms definitions and examples

Zeugma

Linking two words to a verb or adjective which is intended for only one of them

“She broke his leg and his heart”

Zeugma

Aphorism

A short, witty statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment

“There is more than one way to skin a cat” or “actions speak louder than words.”

Aphorism

Ambiguity

A literary device where two conflicting interpretations are equally supported. Multiple supported meanings.

“Harry Potter having both good and evil within him and committing actions that could be seen as good, evil or both.

Ambiguity

connotation

suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase is used

“Barf vs vomit”

Connotation

Denotation

using the word for its dictionary definition of a word

“Vomit” compared to barf

connotation

Diction

Word choice

ALL.THE.WORDS.

Diction

syntax

Organization of language into meaningful structures

ALL. THE. SENTENCES

Syntax

Parable

story consisting of events from which a moral or lesson could be learned

Fairy tales

Parable

Tropes

Word/phrase is altered from usual or expected meaning

Category that many rhetorical terms fall under: Litotes, apostrophe

Tropes

Schemes

word order is altered from usual or expected

Category that many rhetorical terms fall under including: Chiasmus, antithesis, etc

scheme

Mood

emotional atmosphere in a work of literature

The mood of the room of requirement from Harry Potter is ominous

Mood

Tone

Author’s attitude towards subject or the “emotionl essence” of the piece

J.K Rowling towards the Room of requirement is Harry Potter is one of awe and respect

Tone

Oxymoron

Term consisting of contradictory elements, usually side by side

Jumbo shrimp, icy hot

Oxymoron

Paradox

a statement that seems contradictory, but is actually true

Something that can only be seen by the eyes of the blind

Paradox

Litotes

A form of understatement that expresses the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity

He is not a bad dancer.

litotes

Understatement

Understatement; A restrained Statement, muted message to appear less important to gain attention

“I have to have this operation. It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny, little tumor on the brain.”

understatment

Metaphor

uses imagery to evoke emotion. It directly compares two items. It states the comparison.

He is a couch potato

Metaphor

Analogy

Comparison of two things to help explain an idea or concept. More detailed than metaphor/simile. It states the comparison and explains it.

“Explaining the joke is like dissecting a frog. You understand it better but the front dies in the process.”

Analogy

Simile

Compare two items using like or as

He’s as sick as a dog

simile

Apostrophe

An address to a person or thing that is not present

“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, how I wonder what you are?”

Apostrophe

Metonymy

A substitution trope where something is substituted by naming on of it’s attributes.

We await word from the “Crown”.

Metonymy

Synecdoche

A specific type of metonymy where a whole is represented by naming its part.

Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend me your “Ears”.

Synecdoche

Antonomasia

substitution trope where a descriptive phrase is substituted for a proper name.(often what they’re associated with)

Harry Potter= The Chosen One

Antonomasia

Euphemism

A substitution trope where a harsher word is replaced with a more mild or minimization of a word to create a less intense tone

“passed away” for died, or “let go” instead of fired

Euphemism

Chiasmus

Inverted parallelism: The reversal of structures to make a larger point. ABBA pattern

Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.

Chiasmus

Analepsis

A flashback to further the plot or further character development

Katniss from the Hunger Games remembers Peeta from the time he gave her bread when she was 12

Analepsis

Parallelism

An umbrella term for rhetorical devices that have grammatically similar phrases used for effect and impact

I came. I saw. I conquered.

parallelism

Antithesis

A type of parallelism where identical structures are joined to mark opposition or contrast

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.

Antithesis

Assonance

repetition of vowel sounds

chips and dips, surf and turf, no pain; no gain.

assonance

consonance

the repetition of consonant sounds

peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers

consonance

Anadiplosis

repeating the LAST word or phrase of the line to begin another line

I am Sam. Sam I am.

Anadiplosis

Polytoton

repeating of forms of a word.

I struck the intruder, and, stricken, he ceased to intrude.

polyptoton

anaphora

repetition of words/phrases at the beginning or suceeding sentences

We shall not fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France. We shall fight on seas and oceans.

anaphora

anastrophe

a departure from normal emphasis: verb before noun, object before verb, adjective follows noun, preposition before noun

troubles, everybody’s got. Glistens the dew upon the grass.

anastrophe

Asyndetons

a scheme where conjunctions are not used in related clauses

she scratched, clawed, and struggled, all just to survive.

asyndeton

polysyndeton

addition of conjunctions are added in related clauses for suspense, drama, or comedy.

The pet store has cats and dogs and fish and turtles.

polysyndeton

Apposition

two noun phrases refer to the same noun. addition, adjacent coordinate, or descriptive element

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer.

Apposition