Linguistic devices
What is irony
Expressing your opinion by stating the opposite.
What is a metaphor
Visual language used to express certain qualities of a thing or person by equating it with another.
What is sarcasm
Using irony to mock or put someone down, conveying contempt for the person.
What is direct address
The use of ‘you’, ‘your’, ‘we’, ‘our’, etc. draws the reader into the context.
What is logos
Appealing to the audience’s sense of reason or logic to persuade them.
What is simile
Visual language used to express certain qualities of a thing or person
What is idiom
Using a turn of phrase to convey what you mean to say.
What is contrast
Presenting two ideas, persons, situations or things as opposites or contrasts, for example evil vs. good.
What is rhetorical question
Asking a question not to get an answer, but to make a point.
What is pathos
Appealing to the audience’s feelings and emotions to persuade them.
What is personification
Assigning personality, soul, thought or feeling to an otherwise unfeeling object
What is hyperbole
Using exaggeration to the extremes. Hyperboles are not supposed to be taken too literally.
What is enumeration
Listing a series of details or examples helps to build up emphasis.
What is anaphora
Using the same words or phrases at the beginning of a sentence or clause.
What is ethos
Appealing to the audience’s sense of trust in the speaker, in order to persuade them.
What is alliteration and give an example
Using a number of words beginning with – or containing – the same consonant or vocal sound
What is euphemism and give an example
When something seems too harsh to say it directly, you use a euphemism to make it less blunt, direct or harsh.
What is oxymoron and give an example
Using two apparently contrasting words or phrases together.
What is Epiphora and give an example
Using the same words or phrases at the end of a sentence or clause.
What is another way to refer to logos, pathos and ethos
Forms of appeal