Whats the figure of speech?
What is it called when someone is making no sense?
Write an oxymoron that could plausibly appear in a speech.
“Necessary chaos” in a speech about social reform.
Why might understatement be more persuasive than hyperbole and arguement?
Understatement feels credible and measured; hyperbole risks sounding unserious.
How does irony allow a writer to critique without stating their position outright?
It lets the audience see the gap between what’s said and what’s meant, which creates humor or critique without open confrontation.
What does allusion accomplish for readers familiar with the referenced text, and what risk does it carry?
(allusion:an implied or indirect reference especially in literature. )
It adds depth if the reader gets it, but risks confusion if they don’t.
A substitution of the name of one thing for that of another closely associated with it (“The crown will decide” = monarchy).
Metonymy
Create a metaphor that critiques anything
"We are moths circling the endless glow of shop windows.”-Metaphor for consumer culture
In what kind of writing might euphemism be expected, and why?
Writings often use euphemism for sensitive topics (e.g. “passed away” instead of “died”), to maintain professionalism and avoid alienating readers.
How can parallelism create both rhythm and logical clarity in a dense text?
It organizes ideas so they feel balanced and memorable, making arguments easier to follow.
What does polysyndeton (repeated conjunctions) do to pacing and tone?
(a literary and rhetorical device that involves the deliberate repetition of conjunctions (like "and," "or," or "but") to connect items in a list or clauses in a sentence.)
It slows the rhythm and builds intensity, making things feel overwhelming or dramatic.
or
creates emphasis on each item, slows the sentence's rhythm, and can produce a tone of seriousness, excitement, or even overwhelm the reader by giving each part of the sentence extra weight and flow.
When structural patterns are repeated in multiple clauses or sentences in the begining to add rhythm and emphasis.
anaphora
Construct a synecdoche describing a university student. (could be any answer)
“The weary eyes in lecture hall three won’t survive another seminar.”
Why do advertisers sometimes prefer metonymy (“the suits”) over direct labels?
(example: The word that replaces the original one is called a metonym. For example, “suits” is a metonym for “business people.")
Because it’s catchier and more human-sounding than “executives,” which makes the message more memorable.
(Euphemism & dysphemism) Why might the interplay of euphemism and dysphemism in media coverage manipulate public perception?
Soft words downplay issues, harsh words amplify them, together they shape how audiences judge events.
(Repetition)
What does repetition do?
It makes an idea stronger and easier to remember.
A figure of speech in which part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa (e.g. “all hands on deck”).
Synecdoche
Write a chiasmus about technology’s influence on humanity.
Chiasmus, tech & humanity: “We shaped machines to serve us, and now we serve the machines we shaped.”
Where would a writer deliberately use an apostrophe to create emotional intensity, and why is it risky?
In dramatic speeches or writings (“O Death, where is thy sting?”).
Risk: it can sound fake or over-the-top.
(Conceit) How does conceit challenge the reader’s imagination differently than a simple metaphor?
It forces the reader to stretch connections across different ideas, deepening engagement.
(Anaphora)
What’s the effect of repeating the start of sentences?
It adds emphasis and rhythm.
A figure that deliberately juxtaposes parallel structures in reverse order (e.g. “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”).
Chiasmus
Make a conceit (an extended metaphor; a fanciful metaphor, especially a highly elaborate or extended metaphor in which an unlikely, far-fetched, or strained comparison is made between two things.)
"Procrastination is a credit card: you enjoy using it now, but the bill always comes due later."
Why would a speechwriter use chiasmus in a context of national crisis rather than in a celebratory speech?
A: Because chiasmus makes a message feel weighty and memorable. It works best in serious contexts, but in lighthearted ones it can sound forced.
How can parataxis convey urgency or chaos in a narrative?
(Defintion: the placing of clauses or phrases one after another, without words to indicate coordination or subordination, as in Tell me, how are you?.)
(example: In Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises: "The steer was down now, his neck stretched out, his head twisted, he lay the way he had fallen." )
Short, stacked clauses mimic the rush or disorder of real events.
(Hyperbole)
What does exaggeration (hyperbole) do?
It makes something sound bigger or more dramatic.