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Definitions
Definitions
Purpose
Examples
Examples
100
More than one item in a sentence is governed by a single word, usually a verb
What is zeugma
100
Deliberate omission of a word or of words that are readily implied by the context
What is ellipsis
100
Used to establish a marked rhythm in the sequence of clauses; usually used to create an emotional effect
What is anaphora
100
"Those who have been left out, we will try to bring in. Those left behind, we will help to catch up"
What is antithesis
100
"The Negro needs the white man to free him from his fears. The white man needs the Negro to free him from his guilt."
What is antimetabole
200
Type of parallelism where not only the syntax is similar, but the length of each clause is similar.
What is isocolon
200
The insertion of some verbal unit in a position that interrupts the normal syntactical flow of the sentence
What is parenthesis
200
Used to produce a hurried rhythm in a sentence
What is asyndeton
200
"So singularly clear was the water that when it was only twenty or thirty feet deep the bottom seemed floating in the air! Yes, where it was even eighty feet deep. Every little pebble was distinct, every speckled trout, every hand's-breadth of sand."
What is ellipsis
200
"Why should white people be running all the stores in our community? Why should white people be running the banks for our community? Why should the economy of our community be in the hands of the white man?"
What is anaphora
300
Asking a question in order to reproach, instead of to get information
What is epiplexis
300
Repetition of the same word or group of words at the ends of successive clauses
What is epistrophe
300
Used to emphasize the importance of the controlling verb
What is zeugma
300
"Wasn't the cult of James a revealing symbol and symbol of an age and society which wanted to dwell like him in some false world of false art and false culture?"
What is erotema
300
"He is asked to stand, he wants to sit, and he is expected to lie."
What is isocolon
400
Reversal of grammatical structures in successive phrases or clauses (not involving repetition of words)
What is chiasmus
400
Repetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order
What is antimetabole
400
Used to set up a pronounced rhythm and secure a special emphasis, by repeating words and putting words in the final position in the sentence
What is epistrophe
400
"The emotional isolation, the preoccupation with God and themselves, the struggles for freedom, which seem to have possessed many of my friends at the same age, I know almost nothing of."
What is anastrophe
400
"I said, 'Who killed him?' and he said, 'I don't know who killed him but he's dead all right,' and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights and windows broke and boats all up in the town and trees blown down and everything all blown down and I got a skiff and went out and found my boat..."
What is polysyndeton
500
The deliberate use of conjunctions
What is polysyndeton
500
Asking a question, not to elicit an answer, but for the purpose of asserting or denying something obliquely
What is erotema
500
A scheme used to highlight a cause and effect relationship between items through a type of repetition
What is anadiplosis
500
"Devil: 'Man measures his strength by his destructiveness. What is his religion? An excuse for hanging me. What is his law? An excuse for hanging you. What is his morality? Gentility!... What is his art? An excuse for gloating over pictures of slaughter.
What is hypophora
500
"Labor and care are rewarded with success, success produces confidence, confidence relaxes industry, and negligence ruins the reputation which diligence had raised."
What is anadiplosis