Rhetorical Devices Term List 1.

Chiasmus: Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect. Ex) "Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You." 2. Ambiguity/Ambiguous: Ambiguity or fallacy of ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning. Ex) The passerby helps dog bite victim. 3. Analogy: An analogy is a comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it. Ex) Life is like a race. The one who keeps running wins the race and the one who stops to catch a breath loses. 4. Anaphora: Anaphora is the deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect. Ex) "Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better." 5. Anecdote: An anecdote is defined as a short and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point and make readers and listeners laugh. 6. Antithesis: Antithesis is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. Ex) "Setting foot on the moon may be a small step for a man, but a giant step for mankind." 7. Aphorism: Aphorism is a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner. The term is often applied to philosophical, moral and literary principles. Ex) The simplest questions are the hardest to answer 8. Apostrophe: In literature, apostrophe is a figure of speech sometimes represented by exclamation "O". A writer or a speaker, using an apostrophe, detaches himself from the reality and addresses an imaginary character in his speech. Ex) "The Star" in the nursery rhyme "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". 9. Appositive: The placement side-by-side of two coordinate elements (usually noun phrases), the second of which serves to identify or rename the first. Ex) Gussie, a glutton for punishment, stared at himself in the mirror.

10. Colloquial: In literature, colloquialism is the use of informal words, phrases or even slang in a piece of writing. Ex) To bamboozle (to deceive) 11. Concession: Concession is a literary device used in argumentative writing where one acknowledges a point made by one's opponent. 12. Imperative: The form of the verb that makes direct commands and requests. Ex) Pick up the book. 13. Exposition: Exposition is a literary device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters etc. to the audience or readers. Ex) The beginning text of a Star Wars movie 14. Extended Metaphor: The term extended metaphor refers to a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem. 15. Invective: The term invective denotes speech or writing that attacks, insults, or denounces a person, topic, or institution. It involves the use of abusive and negative use of language. Ex) "I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth. 16. Inverted Sentence: Any sentence in which the normal word order is reserved, with the verb coming before the subject or the complete subject and predicate coming after another clause. Ex) Far beyond the shores was the wooden ship. 17. Isocolon: An isocolon is a rhetorical term for a succession of clauses or sentences of approximately equal length and corresponding structure. Ex) It takes a licking, but it keeps on ticking. 18. Metonymy: Metonymy is a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated. Ex) The suits were at a meeting. (Suits referring to business people) 19. Oxymoron: Oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. Ex) Tragic comedy

20. Paradox: Paradox is a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth. It is also used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary to accepted traditional ideas. Ex) Your enemy's friend is your enemy. 21. Pedantic Diction: A type of diction in which the diction choices are much more intellectual than needed for the situation at hand. 22. Recasting a Clich: Changing a well known clich to something more modern, but has the some idea. 23. Rhetorical Strategy: Rhetorical Strategies are the efforts made by authors to persuade or inform their readers. Rhetorical strategies are employed by writers and refer to the different ways they can persuade the reader. 24. Syllogism: Syllogism is a rhetorical device that starts an argument with a reference to something general and from this it draws conclusion about something more specific.