Rhetorical Devices & Their Functions
analogy
simile
hyperbole
understatement
juxtaposition
imagery
alliteration
allusion
refrain
anaphora
repetition
parallelism
tone
undertone
words w/ heavy connotations
selection of detail
lists, cataloguing
irony
paradox
anecdote
humor
short, staccato sentences
satire
invective
sarcasm/verbal irony
rhetorical question
appeals to reason, emotion, patriotism, religion, ethics, etc.
paralipsis
litotes
Comparing two, familiar things to clarify/define a different, often difficult-to-understand idea
A vivid comparison using "like" or "as"
She was as talented as Chopin when she played the piano
metaphor
A vivid comparison made without using "like" or "as"
Her face was the sun - I couldn't help but squint when I looked at her
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
I'm so ugly my mirror broke when I looked into it for too long.
The presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is
Jupiter is at least twice as large as Earth.
Placing two opposite elements together
Trump next to a homeless person
Vivid and/or descriptive language
The stars twinkled across her eyes as she looked to the heavens, the entirety of the Milky Way encapsulated in her gaze.
The repetition of identical consonant sounds at the beginning of words
The black beetle bit the bumbling bear.
An indirect reference to an object/circumstance from outside the text
"the Shiny Apple/is bruised but sweet and if you choose to eat/you could lose your teeth" - Black Star
to create a memorable phrase
to illustrate an idea, a feeling, or the particular qualities of something; to produce a feeling, idea, or tone
to lend authority to an idea, to make an association with something the reader knows, to create a memorable phrase
to provoke a response, to cast something in a strong light
used to make a pointed comparison, often a very powerful comparison
A fish needs a bicycle like a girl needs a relationship
to call attention to extremes
used to make a pointed comparison, often a very powerful comparison
used to make a pointed comparison, often a very powerful comparison
to spark the reader's imagination, or make a pointed observation
repetition of a word, phrase, or lines
to create a memorable, powerful effect, to reinforce an idea
"Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas
the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clause
to create a memorable, powerful effect, to reinforce an idea
We shall fight for justice. We shall fight for the poor and marginalized. We shall fight and one day be free.
repeating words or phrases in a text
to create a memorable, powerful effect, to reinforce an idea
Eat the rich! Eat the rich! Eat the rich!
the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same
He likes reading books, eating fries, and punching Nazis
to create a memorable, powerful effect, to reinforce an idea
an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience
to communicate an attitude towards the subject
“I want to ask the authorities what is the big deal? Why do they not control the epidemic? It is eating up lives like a monster.”
“I want to draw the attention of the appropriate authorities toward damage caused by the epidemic. If steps are not taken to curb it, it will further injure our community.”
an implied meaning that usually points towards the underlying theme of a work
to communicate an attitude towards the subject that cuts beyond the attitude that appears on the surface
Religious undertones in The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly
to cast the subject in a particular light, to imply
Mom and Dad (loving) vs. Mother and Father (more distant)
the specific words, incidents, images, or events the author uses to create a scene or narrative
to solidify a particular idea, fact, or feeling
The sky was dark and gloomy
Putting things in similar categories one after another in a text
to create a sense of overwhelming force or magnitude
"Glory be to God for dappled things - /For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;/For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;/Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings" -Manley Hopkins, Pied Beauty
a contrast or incongruity between expectations for a situation and what is reality
to convey complexity
Hurricane raging This is a nice breezy day
the juxtaposition of a set of seemingly contradictory concepts that reveal a hidden and/or unexpected truth
this statement is false
to point out an apparent contradiction
a short and interesting story, or an amusing event, often proposed to support or demonstrate some point,
to provide a concrete example or humanize an abstract concept
For example, if a group of coworkers are discussing pets, and one coworker tells a story about how her cat comes downstairs at only a certain time of the night, then that one coworker has just told an anecdote.
being funny
to disarm the audience, diffuse hostility, warm the reader to the writer's ideas
Ex: a sarcastic comment
use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
to ridicule and inspire reform
"Weekend Update" from SNL
the use of irony to mock or convey contempt
to ridicule or criticize
Oh wow oh man I sure love to make mind maps they are the highlight of my WEEK especially because they make rhetorical devices so easy to learn :)
where someone attacks or insults a person or thing through the use of abusive language and tone
Yo mama so ugly she went into a haunted house and came out with a job application
the speaker or writer brings up a subject by either denying it, or denying that it should be brought up.
Let's not even mention the high rates of police brutality
provide emphasis and attract the reader's attention
to provoke the audience into a response
Think of your country when you make your purchases
Bees invaded. They marauded. Humans perished
a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer.
What is the meaning of life? Is hell hot?