Rhetorical Devices

Anecdote: A brief story or tale told by a character in a piece of literature Perspective A character's view of the situation or events in the story

Aphorism: A concise statement designed to make a point or illustrate a commonly held belief

Contradiction: A direct opposition between things compared; inconsistency

Apostrophe: A figure of speech in which a person, thing, or abstract quality is addressed as if present

Oxymoron: A figure of speech that combines two apparently contradictory elements

Allusion: A figure of speech which makes brief, even casual reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object to create a resonance in the reader or to apply a symbolic meaning to the character or object of which the allusion consists.

Syllogism: A form of deduction. An extremely subtle, sophisticated, or deceptive argument Satire: A literary style used to make fun of or ridicule an idea or human vice or weakness Bildungsroman: A novel or story whose theme is the moral or psychological growth of the main character.

Devices: A particular word pattern or combination of words used in a literary work to evoke a desired effect or arouse a desired reaction in the reader

Foil: A person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast

Epistolary: A piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters

Epitaph: A piece of writing in praise of a deceased person

Parody: A satirical imitation of a work of art for purpose of ridiculing its style or subject. Delayed Sentence: A sentence that withholds its main idea until the end.

Sarcasm: A sharp caustic remark. A form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually bitterly or harshly critical.