Rhetorical Devices
Here are examples of rhetorical devices with a definition and an example:
Alliteration - the recurrence of initial consonant sounds - rubber baby buggy
bumpers
Allusion - a reference to an event, literary work or person - I cant do that
because I am not Superman.
Amplification - repeats a word or expression for emphasis - Love, real love,
takes time.
Analogy - compares two different things that have some similar
characteristics - He is flaky as a snowstorm.
Anaphora - repeats a word or phrase in successive phrases - "If you prick us,
do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? (Merchant of Venice,
Shakespeare)
Antanagoge - places a criticism and compliment together to lessen the
impact - The car is not pretty but it runs great.
Antimetabole - repeats words or phrases in reverse order - ask not what your
country can do for you ask what you can do for your country. (J F
Kennedy)
Antiphrasis - uses a word with an opposite meaning - The Chihuahua was
named Goliath.
Antithesis - makes a connection between two things - That's one small step
for a man, one giant leap for mankind. (Neil Armstrong)
Appositive - places a noun or phrase next to another noun for descriptive
purposes - Mary, queen of the land, hosted the ball.
Enumeratio - makes a point with details - Renovation included a spa, tennis
court, pool and lounge.
Epanalepsis - repeats something from the beginning of a sentence at the end
- My ears heard what you said but I couldnt believe my ears.
Epithet - using an adjective or adjective phrase to describe - mesmerizing
eyes
Epizeuxis - repeats one word for emphasis - The amusement park was fun,
fun, fun.
Hyperbole - an exaggeration - I have done this a thousand times.
Litotes - makes an understatement by denying the opposite of a word that
may have been used - The terms of the contract are not disagreeable to me.
Metanoia - corrects or qualifies a statement - You are the most beautiful
woman in this town, nay the entire world.
Metaphor - compares two things by stating one is the other - The eyes are the
windows of the soul.
Metonymy - a metaphor where something being compared is referred to by
something closely associated with it - The knights are loyal to the crown.
Onomatopoeia - words that imitate the sound they describe - plunk, whiz, pop
Oxymoron - a two word paradox - near miss, seriously funny
Parallelism - uses words or phrases with a similar structure - I went to the
store, parked the car and bought a pizza.
Simile - compares one object to another - He smokes like a chimney.
Understatement - makes an idea less important that it really is - The
hurricane disrupted traffic.