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Rhetorical Devices and Their Functions (Analogy (to make a pointed…
Rhetorical Devices and Their Functions
Rhetorical devices are techniques writers use to achieve a particular effect. All writers draw from a ¨toolbox¨ of rhetorical strategies and devices as they express ideas and evoke responses in their readers.
Analogy
to make a pointed comparison, often a very powerful comparison.
Example of anology --> mother: home: teacher: school
Metaphor
to make a pointed comparison, often a very powerful comparison
Example of metaphor--> He was a tornado, blasting his way through the opposing team.
Simile
to make a pointed comparison, often a very powerful comparison.
Example of a simile--> Peter laughs like a hyena.
Hyperbole
to provoke a response, to cast something in a strong light.
Example of a hyperbole--> I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
Understatement
to spark the reader´s imagination, or make a pointed observation.
Example of an understatement--> The Middle East is having some political squabbles.
Juxtaposition
to call attention to extremes.
Example of juxtaposition--> My wife is cheating on me, but she is not.
Imagery
to illustrate an idea, a feeling, or the particular qualities of something; to produce a feeling, idea or tone.
Example of imagery--> The room was dark, cold, and messy. It was clear that this was a bad idea.
Alliteration
to create a memorable phrase
Example of alliteration--> How much stuff can you stuff in your stuffie until your stuffie has stuffed enough stuff?
Allusion
to lend authority to an idea, to make an association with something the reader knows.
Example of allusion--> Chocolate is my Achilles´ Heel!
Refrain
to create a memorable phrase
Example of refrain--> The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promise to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.
Anaphora
to create a memorable, powerful effect, to reinforce an idea.
Example of anaphora--> Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task.
Repetition
to create a memorable, powerful effect, to reinforce an idea.
Example of repetition--> We went to the mall, I wanted to go to bed. We went to go eat, I wanted to go to bed. We went back home, and I still wanted to go to bed.
Parallelism
to create a memorable, powerful effect, to reinforce an idea.
Example of parallelism--> What you see is what you get.
Tone
to communicate an attitude towards the subject.
Example of tone--> The ominous room creaked and sent shivers down Sam´s arms.
Undertone
to communicate an attitude towards the subject that cuts beyond the attitude that appears on the surface.
Example of undertone--> The book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad has a grim undertone.
Words w/ Heavy Connotations
to cast the subject in a particular light, to imply.
Example of words with heavy connotations--> Enthusiastic and rowdy.
Selection of Detail
to concretize a particular idea, fact, or feeling.
Understanding selection of detail--> selecting certain details to add to the story or to make it better.
Lists
to create a sense of overwhelming force or magnitude.
Example of lists--> He called her a melon, a pineapple, an olive tree, an emerald, and a fox in the snow all in the space of three seconds.
Irony
to convery complexity
Example of irony--> A fireman afraid of fire.
Paradox
to point out an apparent contradiction.
Example of a paradox--> No one goes there because it is too crowded.
Anecdote
to provide a concrete example or humanize an abstract concept.
Example of an anecdote--> Do you know a creature who has a spiny tail and a hard brown hat? If you guessed the horseshoe crab you are right! Let´s examine their appearance, investigate its habitat, and discover its history, and the incredible facts that are waiting to be uncovered.
Humor
to disarm the audience, diffuse hostility, warm the reader to the writer´s ideas.
Example of humor--> Talk about ironic...he choked to death on a Lifesaver.
Satire
to ridicule and inspire reform.
Example of satire--> Nike ¨Just Do It¨ slogan while a little girl is making a shoe.
Verbal Irony
to ridicule or criticize
Example of verbal irony--> This chair is as comfortable as sitting on nails.
Invective
to ridicule, chastise, or convey contempt
Example of invective--> You slimy, gooey piece of squirming tentacle, get your visually stinking self away from me.
Narrative Pace
to convey energy or intense feelings (or lack thereof)
Purpose of narrative pace--> The pace of the literary work should support the characters and the plot.
Appeals to reason, emotion, patriotism, religion, ethics, etc.
to provoke the audience to respond in a particular way, to tap into a reader´s intellect feelings, needs, values,etc.
Way to do this--> Try and relate to the people. Try to focus on experiences and find ways to try and get people to relate.
Rhetorical Question
to provoke the reader to respond or to think, or to lead them to the next idea
Example of a rhetorical question--> Are you crazy?
Short, staccato sentences
to call attention to an idea
Example--> Killer bees invaded America. Viciously they attacked. Humans suffered.
Paraleipsis
to draw attention to something while pretending not to do so.
Example of paraleipsis--> Since I need to finish warming up for the marathon, I won´t take the time to tell you that I came in first in our age category in the last three races.
Litotes
to draw attention to something while pretending to be subtle.
Example of litotes--> It´s not the smartest idea I´ve heard.