Rhetorical Techniques

Pun: A play on words created by using one word to suggest two different meanings, both of which seem appropriate in the context of the sentence/paragraph, even though the meanings they suggest may be different or opposite.

Figurative Language: The use of non-literal words or phrases that do not use a word’s strict or realistic meaning but instead create a deeper meaning.

Double Entendre: A word or phrase that has a double meaning, one of which is usually offensive.

Onomatopoeia: A word that imitates the sound associated with an action, mimicking the sound it describes.

Simile: A description that uses “like” or “as” to make a comparison.

Metaphor: A figure of speech that makes a non-literal comparison between two things that are not alike.

Analogy: A comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Conceit: A type of extended metaphor that compares two things in a lengthy, elaborate, and often unexpected way.

Personification: A device that gives human characteristics to non-human things or inanimate objects.

Zeugma: The use of one word to refer to two or more different things in more than one way.

Allegory: a story, poem, or a picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Fable: a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.

Metonymy: a figure of speech in which one word is substituted for another word that it is closely associated with.

Synecdoche: a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole.

Apposition: A grammatical construction in which two elements, normally noun phrases, are placed side by side so one element identifies the other in a different way.

Epithet: characterizing words or phrases firmly associated with a person or thing and typically used in place of an actual name or title.

Hyperbole: an extreme exaggeration to create emphasis and create an impression.

Understatement: a device by which a particular aspect is downplayed or presented as being less than what is true to the situation.

Litotes: an understatement in which a positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite.

Euphemism: a word or phrase used to soften an uncomfortable topic or to refer to a situation without having to confront it.

Paradox: a statement that appears to contradict itself but has a deeper meaning.

Oxymoron: a figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposing meanings.

Rhetoric of Parallelism / Parallel Structure: using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance

Rhetoric of Ellipsis: the omission of one or more words, which must be supplied by the listener or reader for the sentence to be understood

Rhetoric of Antithesis: a figure of speech that uses parallel grammatical structure to highlight contrasts between ideas

Asyndeton: the act of leaving out conjunctions between words or parts of a sentence.

Polysyndeton: repetition of conjunctions (and, but, or, nor) in close succession to connect parts of a sentence.

Anaphora: the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of a number of sentences or phrases.

Anadiplosis: repeating a word or phrase at the end of one clause and then beginning the next clause with that same word or phrase.

Isocolon: a successive group of phrases, clauses, or sentences with relatively equal length and corresponding structure.

Chiasmus: a device in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order.

Exclamation: a sudden remark you say when expressing strong emotions.

Parenthesis: something inserted as an explanation or an afterthought into a passage that is complete without it, usually in curved brackets.

Apostrophe: a punctuation mark used to indicate possession.

Style: The way an author expresses their thoughts through language, including word choice, sentence structure, and tone

Diction: The specific words and phrases an author uses, which can affect the mood, tone, and meaning of the text

Syntax: The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences, affecting how the meaning is conveyed

Organization/Structure: The way a text is arranged, including how information is ordered and presented

Narrative Structure/Narration: The framework of a story, including the sequence of events and how the story is told

Detail: The specific elements and descriptions used to enrich the narrative and help readers visualize and understand the story better

Theme: The central idea or underlying message of a text, reflecting the author's viewpoint or commentary on a particular topic

Tone: The author's attitude or perspective toward the subject matter or audience, conveyed through their choice of words and style

Mood/Attitude: The emotional atmosphere or feeling created by a text, which can affect how the reader feels while engaging with the content

Humor: The quality of being amusing or entertaining, often through jokes, funny situations, or clever dialogue

Irony: discrepancy between appearance and reality

Verbal Irony: When a speaker says something but means the opposite, often similar to sarcasm.

Situational Irony: When there is a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs.

Dramatic Irony: When the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating tension or humor

Sarcasm: A form of verbal irony where someone says the opposite of what they mean, often mockingly

Satire: A genre of writing that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock societal issues, individuals, or institutions, with the aim of provoking thought or change

Language: The system of communication used in a text

Literal Meaning: The straightforward, dictionary definition of a word or phrase

Metaphorical/Figurative Meaning: The symbolic or imaginative interpretation of a word or phrase used to convey deeper or more abstract ideas

Formal Language: Structured and sophisticated language used in professional or serious contexts

Informal Language: Casual, conversational language used in everyday situations

Colloquial Language: Everyday language or slang used by a particular group or in specific regions

Denotative Meaning: The literal, dictionary definition of a word or phrase

Connotative Meaning: The additional meanings or emotions associated with a word beyond its literal definition

Abstract: Concepts or ideas that are not tangible or specific, often relating to qualities or ideas

Concrete: Specific, tangible items or phenomena that can be perceived with the senses

Simple: Language or expression that is straightforward and easy to understand

Pretentious: Language or expression that is overly elaborate or showy, often used to impress others

Imagery: Descriptive language that creates vivid pictures or sensory experiences in the reader’s mind, using details related to sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch

External Conflict: Physical events or actions that take place in the story, involving characters interacting with their environment or other characters

Internal Conflict: Psychological or emotional events that occur within a character’s mind, such as thoughts, feelings, or internal struggles

Exposition: The introduction of the story, where background information is provided, including setting, characters, and the basic situation

Rising Action: The series of events that build up to the climax, creating tension and developing the plot through conflicts and complications

Climax: The most intense and pivotal point of the story, where the main conflict reaches its peak and the outcome is decided

Resolution: The final part of the story where conflicts are resolved, and the narrative comes to a conclusion

Suspense: The feeling of anticipation or anxiety about what will happen next in the story, keeping the reader engaged and curious

Alliteration: the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a sequence of words

Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within closely placed words

Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words

Refrain: A repeated line or group of lines in a poem or song

Pathos: Appeal to emotions, aiming to evoke feelings in the audience to persuade them

Ethos: Appeal to credibility and character, where the speaker establishes their authority

Logos: Appeal to logic and reason, using fact

Rhetorical Questions: Questions asked for effect or to make a point rather than to recieve an answer, often used to engage the audience or emphasize a particular idea

Ad Hominem Device/Argument: Attacking the person making the argument rather than addressing the argument itself

Logical Fallacies:

Syllogism: A form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions

Inductive Reasoning: Drawing general conclusions based on specific observations or evidence

Deductive Reasoning: Drawing specific conclusions based on general principles or premises

The Grotesque: A literary and artistic concept that combines elements of horror, absurdity, and the bizarre to evoke a reaction of discomfort or unease