Examples of Rhetorical Devices

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  • Created by: GetuardL
  • Created on: 26-10-16 11:14

Allusion

A reference to an event, literary work or person - I can’t do that because I am not Superman.

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Alliteration

The recurrence of initial consonant sounds - rubber baby buggy bumpers

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Amplification

Repeats a word or expression for emphasis - Love, real love, takes time.

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Analogy

Compares two different things that have some similar characteristics - He is flaky as a snowstorm.

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Anaphora

Repeats a word or phrase in successive phrases - "If you ***** us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh?” (Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare)

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Antanagoge

Places a criticism and compliment together to lessen the impact - The car is not pretty but it runs great.

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Antimetabole

Repeats words or phrases in reverse order - “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” (J F Kennedy)

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Antiphrasis

Uses a word with an opposite meaning - The Chihuahua was named Goliath.

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Antithesis

Makes a connection between two things - “That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” (Neil Armstrong)

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Appositive

Places a noun or phrase next to another noun for descriptive purposes - Mary, queen of the land, hosted the ball.

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Enumeratio

Makes a point with details - Renovation included a spa, tennis court, pool and lounge. 

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Epanalepsis

Repeats something from the beginning of a sentence at the end - My ears heard what you said but I couldn’t believe my ears.

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Epithet

Using an adjective or adjective phrase to describe - mesmerizing eyes

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Epizeuxis

Repeats one word for emphasis - The amusement park was fun, fun, fun.

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Hyperbole

An exaggeration - I have done this a thousand times.

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Litotes

Makes an understatement by denying the opposite of a word that may have been used - The terms of the contract are not disagreeable to me.

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Metanoia

Corrects or qualifies a statement - You are the most beautiful woman in this town, nay the entire world. 

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Metaphor

Compares two things by stating one is the other - The eyes are the windows of the soul.

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Metonymy

A metaphor where something being compared is referred to by something closely associated with it - The knights are loyal to the crown.

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Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate the sound they describe - plunk, whiz, pop

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Oxymoron

A two word paradox - near miss, seriously funny

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Parallelism

Uses words or phrases with a similar structure - I went to the store, parked the car and bought a pizza.

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Simile

Compares one object to another - He smokes like a chimney.

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Understatement

Makes an idea less important that it really is - The hurricane disrupted traffic.

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