Rhetorical Devices
More RD'S
And yet more RD'S
Still more RD'S
RHETORICAL DEVICES
100

Writing that is not meant to be read literally. Similes and metaphors are common forms.

What is figurative language?

100

To address a person who is not present or an inanimate object

Apostrophe

100
This rhetorical device involves the direct usage of conjunctions. ex: "The frenzied fields, and doghouses and hills and trees and ditches and gardens."
What is polysyndeton.
100
This rhetorical device is a subtype of parallelism. It is defined as the exact repition of words at the beginning of phrases. ex:The I have a dream speech.
What is anaphora.
100

A form of an extended metaphor, this is a story, fictional or non fictional, in which characters, things, and events represent qualities or concepts. 

Example: Animal Farm

What is an allegory?

200
This rhetorical device involves two unlike things being compared using like or as. ex: Her hair was as red as fire.
What is a simile.
200

“Rise high in the bright sky” is an example of:

Assonance 

200

An object or pattern that repeats itself throughout literary Work. 


What is a motif?

200

When the audience understands something that the characters do not  

What is dramatic irony?

200
This rhetorical device involves the deliberate exaggeration of a situation. ex: He ate everything in the house.
What is hyperbole.
300

The three main types of appeals (The Greek Please) and what they each appeal to

What is Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Ethos-credibility

Pathos-emotions

Logos-logic

300
a question asked for an effect, and not actually requiring an answer.
What is a rhetorical question?
300

A sentence where the main clause, most important part, of the sentence is given at the end, in an effort to create interest or suspense.


Periodic Sentence

300
This rhetorical device involves the usage of one word to govern two. ex: To wage war and peace....
What is zeugma.
300
This rhetorical device involves a direct or indirect reference to somthing which is commonly known. ex:'Christy didn't like to spend money. She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities'..
What is an Allusion.
400

“Despite the blinding snow, the freezing temperatures, and the heightened threat of attack from polar bears, the team continued" is an example of:

Periodic Sentence

400
This rhetorical device involves the direct omission of conjunctions often producing a rapid tempo. ex: "They dove, splashed, floated, splashed, swam, snorted." (James T. Farrell, Young Lonigan)
What is asyndeton.
400

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa

What is Synecdoche?

400
This rhetorical device involves the second part of a sentence meaning the exact opposite than the first part. ex: "Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man." (Edgar Allan Poe, "The Tell-Tale Heart")
What is antithesis.
400
A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity
What is a paradox
500

This rhetorical device is a form of understatement. It is roundabout way of saying something using the opposite of your intended meaning to illustrate what you're trying to say. The negative of one thing is used to express the positive of its opposite.

"He isn't the friendliest person"

"It wasn't an awful trip"

What is litotes?

500

Another term for a car is your “ride.” In this case, “ride” is a _________ because it's a related word that replaces the term entirely.

What is metonymy.

500

When words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form. 

He went to the country, to the town went she.

What is a Chiasmus?

500

She broke his car and his heart is an example of:

Zeugma

500
This device refers to the way an author chooses to join word into phrases and sentences.
What is syntax.