Rhetorical Devices 

Rhetoric- the use of spoken or written word (or images) to convey your ideas and convince an audience; also known as the art of persuasion. When analyzing any piece of rhetoric, you consider the rhetorical triangle (the relationship of audience, speaker, and message).

Alliteration- draws attention to a string of words through the repetition of their initial sounds.

Ex: Lucy licked lollipops.

Allusion- a direct or indirect ==reference== to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical.

Ex: “I didn’t have any bus fare, but fortunately some good Samaritan helped me out!” This is an allusion to the Biblical story of the good Samaritan, from Luke 10:29-37 – a good Samaritan is someone who helps others in need, just as the Samaritan does in the story.

Analogy- a comparison between items that share a similarity, but are actually quite different.

Ex: Seasons of life; life is a highway

Anaphora – A sub-type of parallelism, when the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.

Ex: MLK used anaphora in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech (1963)

Chiasmus -two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic, memorable, thought-provoking effect.

Ex:“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” JFK

Climactic Word Order- presents several facts in order of least important to most important.

Ex: The young woman’s career rise was meteoric; after beginning as an administrative assistant, she became a supervisor, and three short years later, the president.

Ethos- setting up a source as credible and trustworthy

Ex: "He has a PhD in the subject and years of experience in the field" is an appeal to ethos.

Exaggeration- emphasizes a fact through hyperbole.

Ex: The wait until Christmas seemed like an eternity.

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Figurative Language -the use of language in a non-literal way; i.e. metaphor, simile, etc.

Ex: "The sky is a jewel box tonight!"

Imagery- an appeal to one or more of the senses by creating a vivid impression through the use of details and figures of speech like metaphors, simile, personification.

Ex: Fingers of fear ran down his spine.; She ran like the wind.

Logos- appealing to someone's sense of concrete facts and logic.

Ex: Citing peer-reviewed scientific studies is an appeal to logos.

Paradox- a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.

Ex: Think of the beginning of Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the        worst of times….”

Parallelism- repeats specific words, phrases  or clauses in a series giving key emphasis to key words, making them memorable.

Ex: Abraham Lincoln said government was “of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Pathos- appealing to someone's emotions.

Ex: Animal shelters ads with pictures of cute sad animals and dramatic music are using pathos.

Repetition- the repetition of words, phrases, ideas; used for emphasis and rhythm.

Ex: It was a strange night, a hushed night, a moonless night.

Rhetorical Question- one whose answer is already known or implied.

Ex: You don’t expect me to do homework on the weekend, do you?

Sentence Fragments- place emphasis on key words to create an overall effect, such as humour or suspense. (syntax)

Ex: A dark day. A dreary day. Typical for gray and cold November.

Understatement- creates the reverse effect and adds a touch of irony by making the fact seem less important.

Ex: Julius Ceasar’s best friend, Brutus, wasn’t the most loyal friend in the world.