Rhetorical Devices
More RD'S
Still more RD'S
RHETORICAL DEVICES
100
Words which are inaccurate if interpreted literally, but are used to describe. Similes and metaphors are common forms.
What is figurative language?
100
John went to the store. He then went to school. John is the ______________________________ of he.
What is antecedent?
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 type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.
What is a loose sentence
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

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?

200
This rhetorical device involves an expression that has unusual meaning. ex: To kick the bucket, to break a leg...
What is an idiom.
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)

What is Ethos, Pathos, Logos

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

deliberately suggesting two or more different, and sometimes conflicting, meanings in a work. An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way- - this is done on purpose by the author, when it is not done on purpose, it is vagueness, and detracts from the work.

What is ambiguity?

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
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 involves an understatement in the negative. ex: "I cannot say that I think you are very generous to the ladies; for, whilst you are proclaiming peace and good-will to men, emancipating all nations, you insist upon retaining an absolute power over wives." (Abigail Adams, letter to John Adams, May 7, 1776)

What is litotes.

500
This rhetorical device involves the substitution of a name with another closely associated to it. ex: "Detroit is still hard at work on an SUV that runs on rain forest trees and panda blood." (Conan O'Brien)
What is metonymy.
500
an example of this device is... "Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune--without the words, And never stops at all,
What is an extended metaphor.
500
This device refers to the way an author chooses to join word into phrases and sentences.
What is syntax.