Figures of Speech for College

7/25/2019 Figures of Speech for College

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Rhetorical StrategiesRhetorical Strategies

AP Language & CompositionAP Language & Composition


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Connotation/ DenotationConnotation/ Denotation

Connotation: Connotation is the feeling thatConnotation: Connotation is the feeling that

a word or phrase evokes in addition to itsa word or phrase evokes in addition to itsliteral meaningliteral meaning

e!: g"ps"# tramp# e!plorere!: g"ps"# tramp# e!plorer

Denotation: $he direct or dictionar" meaningDenotation: $he direct or dictionar" meaning

of a wordof a word


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%er 'ank%er 'ank

(ere is a list of vers "ou might find helpful(ere is a list of vers "ou might find helpful

)ou should alwa"s strive to use the most)ou should alwa"s strive to use the most

connotativel" precise words "ou canconnotativel" precise words "ou can

Ad*ures# advances# advises# asks# egs#Ad*ures# advances# advises# asks# egs#

commands# confides# complains# descries#commands# confides# complains# descries#

discloses# encourages# e!claims# e!plains#discloses# encourages# e!claims# e!plains#

groans# implies# insinuates# *ustifies# mocks#groans# implies# insinuates# *ustifies# mocks#

reports# reveals# sings# suggests# etcreports# reveals# sings# suggests# etc


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S"nta!S"nta!

$he$he arrangementarrangementof words in a sentenceof words in a sentence

$he rules that govern how words comine$he rules that govern how words comine

to form phrases# clauses# and sentencesto form phrases# clauses# and sentences


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'alance'alance

ParallelismParallelism: similarit" of structure in a pair or: similarit" of structure in a pair orseries of related words# phrases# andseries of related words# phrases# and

clausesclauses


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+socolon+socolon

,hen parallel elements are similar not onl",hen parallel elements are similar not onl"

in structure ut in length -same . of wordsin structure ut in length -same . of words

and s"llalesand s"llales


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AntithesisAntithesis

0!ample: 1ne0!ample: 1ne smallsmallstepstep

for man# onefor man# one giant leapgiant leap

for mankindfor mankind

The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas often in parallel structure.The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas often in parallel structure.

+t was the+t was the estestof times2 itof times2 it

was thewas the worstworstof timesof times


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Anastrophe -)odaAnastrophe -)oda

AnastropheAnastrophe: inversion of the natural or usual word: inversion of the natural or usual wordorderorder


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Commas# Parentheses# ("phensCommas# Parentheses# ("phens

+nsertion of commas# parentheses# or h"phens to+nsertion of commas# parentheses# or h"phens to

interrupt the normal flow of the sentence2interrupt the normal flow of the sentence2

$hree wa"s to interrupt a sentence:$hree wa"s to interrupt a sentence:

3 commas # #3 commas # #

Parenthesis -Parenthesis -

("phens 4 4("phens 4 4

0ffect:0ffect: aruptl" and usuall" riefl" sends thearuptl" and usuall" riefl" sends the

thought off on a tangentthought off on a tangent


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AppositionApposition

Placing side " side two coordinatePlacing side " side two coordinateelements# the second of which serves as anelements# the second of which serves as ane!planation or modification of the firste!planation or modification of the first

0!ample: 5ohn 6organ#0!ample: 5ohn 6organ# a famil" mana famil" man##worked hard to provide a good life for thoseworked hard to provide a good life for thosehe lovedhe loved

6en of his kind76en of his kind7 soldiers of the game#soldiers of the game#sports fanaticssports fanatics## 6onda" night couch6onda" night couchpotatoespotatoes7 come alive at kick4off time7 come alive at kick4off time


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0llipsis0llipsis

0llipsis0llipsis: delierate omission of a word or of: delierate omission of a word or ofwords which are readil" implied in thewords which are readil" implied in theconte!tconte!t

0!ample0!ample: And he to 0ngland shall: And he to 0ngland shall - - alongalongwith "ou 4(amletwith "ou 4(amlet

88$he ceremon" honored twelve talented$he ceremon" honored twelve talented

athletes9visiting the S;athletes9visiting the S; $he ellipsis marks -9 ma" or ma" not e$he ellipsis marks -9 ma" or ma" not e

included in the sentenceincluded in the sentence


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As"ndetonAs"ndeton

Delierate omission of con*unctionsDelierate omission of con*unctionsetween a series of related words# phrases#etween a series of related words# phrases#clausesclauses

0!ample0!ample: + came# + saw# + con


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Pol"s"ndetonPol"s"ndeton

Delierate use of man" con*unctionsDelierate use of man" con*unctions

0!ample0!ample: $his semester + am taking 0nglish: $his semester + am taking 0nglish

and histor" and iolog" and math and P0and histor" and iolog" and math and P0 0ffect0ffect: emphasi>es the large numer of: emphasi>es the large numer of

classes2 slows the rh"thm of the sentenceclasses2 slows the rh"thm of the sentence


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AlliterationAlliteration

Alliteration: repetition of initial consonants inAlliteration: repetition of initial consonants in

two or more ad*acent wordstwo or more ad*acent words

0!ample: A0!ample: A ssale#ale# ssilent#ilent# ssolemn forestolemn forestsstoodtood

0ffect0ffect: soothing rh"thm2 used often in ads: soothing rh"thm2 used often in ads

as a tactic to help the audience rememeras a tactic to help the audience rememerthe sloganthe slogan


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AssonanceAssonance

$he repetition of similar vowel sounds#$he repetition of similar vowel sounds#

preceded and followed " differentpreceded and followed " different

consonants# in the stressed s"llales ofconsonants# in the stressed s"llales of

ad*acent wordsad*acent words

0!ample: $he l0!ample: $he liind# despnd# despiised# and dsed# and d""inging

king ordered his servants to ring him someking ordered his servants to ring him some

rriice puddingce pudding

RefrRefreesh "our >sh "our >eest for living?st for living?


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AnaphoraAnaphora

Repetition of the same word or group ofRepetition of the same word or group of

words at thewords at the eginning of successiveeginning of successive

clausesclauses

0!ample:0!ample: ,e shall fight,e shall fighton the eaches#on the eaches# wewe

shall fightshall fighton the landing grounds#on the landing grounds# we shallwe shall

fightfightin the fields and in the streets#in the fields and in the streets# we shallwe shall

fightfightin the hillsin the hills 7,inston Churchill# 5une @B7,inston Churchill# 5une @B

0ffect: a strong emotional reaction0ffect: a strong emotional reaction


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0pistrophe0pistrophe

Repetition of the same word or group ofRepetition of the same word or group of

words at thewords at the endsendsof successive clausesof successive clauses

0!ample: +n a cake# nothing tastes0!ample: +n a cake# nothing tastes like reallike realutterutter# nothing enriches# nothing enriches like real utterlike real utter##

nothing satisfiesnothing satisfies like real utterlike real utter

0ffect0ffect: sets up a rh"thm2 secures a special: sets up a rh"thm2 secures a specialemphasis " repetition and placing the wordemphasis " repetition and placing the word

in the final positionin the final position


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0panalepsis0panalepsis

Repetition at the end of a clause of the word thatRepetition at the end of a clause of the word that

occurred near the eginningoccurred near the eginning of the same clauseof the same clause

0!ample: (e was the0!ample: (e was the fleshfleshof m"of m" flesh2flesh2 he washe wasthethe

oneoneof m"of m" one2one2 he was thehe was the loodloodof m"of m" loodlood

88'lood'loodhath roughthath rought loodlood# and# and lowslowshavehave

answeredanswered lowslows:: StrengthStrengthmatchd withmatchd with strengthstrength##

andand powerpowerconfrontedconfronted powerpower; 7Shakespeare; 7Shakespeare 0ffect: se sparingl" to show intense emotion0ffect: se sparingl" to show intense emotion


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AnadiplosisAnadiplosis

Repetition of theRepetition of the last wordlast wordof one clause atof one clause at

thethe eginning of the ne!t clauseeginning of the ne!t clause

0!ample: $he crime was0!ample: $he crime was violent2 violentviolent2 violenteethe punishmentthe punishment

+solation reeds+solation reeds insecurit"insecurit"22 insecurit"insecurit"

reedsreeds suspicion and fearsuspicion and fear22 suspicion andsuspicion andfearfearreed violencereed violence


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Clima!Clima!

Arrangement of words# phrases# or clausesArrangement of words# phrases# or clauses

in an order increasing importancein an order increasing importance

0!ample: Let a man acknowledge0!ample: Let a man acknowledgeoligations to hisoligations to his famil"famil"# his# his countr"countr"# and his# and his

=od=od


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AntimetaoleAntimetaole

RepetitionRepetitionof words# in successive clauses#of words# in successive clauses#

in reverse grammatical orderin reverse grammatical order

0!ample:0!ample: 6ankind6ankindmust put an end tomust put an end to warwar##oror warwarwill put an end towill put an end to mankindmankind 75EF 75EF

Ask not whatAsk not what "our countr""our countr"can do forcan do for "ou"ou22

ask whatask what "ou"oucan do forcan do for "our countr""our countr" 0ffect0ffect: adds magic to the appeal# makes it: adds magic to the appeal# makes it

memoralememorale


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ChiasmusChiasmus

Reversal of grammatical structures in successiveReversal of grammatical structures in successivephrases or clauses usingphrases or clauses using differentdifferentwords -nowords -norepetitionrepetition

0!ample0!ample: (e: (e loves schoolloves school# ut the# ut the homeworkhomeworkhehedespisesdespises +nstead of: (e loves school# ut he despises the+nstead of: (e loves school# ut he despises the

homeworkhomework 0!ample0!ample: +t is: +t is hardhardto maketo makemone"# utmone"# ut to spendto spenditit

isis easyeasy +nstead of: +t is hard to make mone"# ut it is eas"+nstead of: +t is hard to make mone"# ut it is eas"

to spendto spend


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Pol"ptotonPol"ptoton

Repetition of words derived from the sameRepetition of words derived from the same

rootroot

0!ample: Eew are0!ample: Eew are chosenchosenecause fewecause fewchoosechooseto eto e chosenchosen

$he desert land ecame$he desert land ecame uselessuselessdue todue to

overuseoveruse


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6anipulating ,ord 6eaning6anipulating ,ord 6eaning

-rather than structure-rather than structure Eigures of speech# also known as tropes# use wordsEigures of speech# also known as tropes# use words

in a wa" other than what is considered its literal orin a wa" other than what is considered its literal ornormal formnormal form

Some tropes that "ou should alread" know:Some tropes that "ou should alread" know: SimileSimile 6etaphor6etaphor PersonificationPersonification ("perole("perole PersonificationPersonification +ron"+ron" 1nomatopoeia1nomatopoeia


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6etaphor6etaphor

Comparison of two

seemingl" unrelated

o*ects without the use of

like or as


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SimileSimile

Comparison of two

things using like or

as


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ApostropheApostrophe

a figure of speech in

which someone

absent or dead orsomething

nonhuman is

addressed as if it

were alive andpresent and was able

to reply.


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+ron"+ron"

Situational +ron": A

contrast etween what is

e!pected to happen and

what actuall" does

%eral +ron": A contrast

etween what is said and

what is meant

Dramatic +ron": ,hen

the reader knowssomething that other

characters do not


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Parado!Parado!

A contradictor" statementA contradictor" statement

that contains some elementthat contains some element

of truthof truth

0!ample0!ample: $he more "ou: $he more "ou

know# the more "ou knowknow# the more "ou know

"ou dont know"ou dont know

(e is guilt" of eing(e is guilt" of einginnocentinnocent


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0uphemism0uphemism

Sustituting a milder word or phrase for oneSustituting a milder word or phrase for one

that might e offensive or harshthat might e offensive or harsh

0! 8passed awa"; for 8died;2 8previousl"0! 8passed awa"; for 8died;2 8previousl"owned; for 8used;owned; for 8used;


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AlliterationAlliteration

Alliteration occursAlliteration occurs

when the initial soundswhen the initial sounds

of a word# eginningof a word# eginning

either with a consonanteither with a consonant

or a vowel# areor a vowel# are

repeated in closerepeated in close

successionsuccession


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1nomatopoeia1nomatopoeia

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeiais theis the

formation of a wordformation of a word

from a soundfrom a sound

associated with whatassociated with what

is namedis named

0!: cuckoo# si>>le#0!: cuckoo# si>>le#

u>># pop# crackle#u>># pop# crackle#

etcetc


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AntanaclasisAntanaclasis

AntanaclasisAntanaclasis: repetition of a word in two: repetition of a word in twodifferent wa"s -same word# differentdifferent wa"s -same word# different

meaningmeaning

0!ample: )our argument is0!ample: )our argument is soundsound# nothing# nothingutut soundsound

+f we dont+f we dont hanghangtogether# welltogether# well hanghang

separatel"separatel" Although wereAlthough were apartapart# "oure still# "oure still a parta partofof

meme


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ParonomasiaParonomasia

ParonomasiaParonomasia: use of words: use of words similarsimilarin soundin sound

0!amples from Shark $ale:0!amples from Shark $ale:

5essica Shrimpson5essica Shrimpson

6ussel Crowe6ussel Crowe

Fatie CurrentFatie Current

Shell phoneShell phone


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S"llepsisS"llepsis

S"llepsisS"llepsis: use of a word understood: use of a word understood

differentl" in relation to two or more otherdifferentl" in relation to two or more other

words# which it modifieswords# which it modifies

0!ample: (ed rather drive her home than0!ample: (ed rather drive her home than

cra>"cra>"

Lets take lunch not notes?Lets take lunch not notes?

Draft eer not soldiers?Draft eer not soldiers?


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AnthimeriaAnthimeria

$he sustitution of one part of speech for$he sustitution of one part of speech for

anotheranother

0!ample: )ou cant *ust 80!ample: )ou cant *ust 8swiss cheeseswiss cheese; the; theneighorhood " uilding a ,almart in theneighorhood " uilding a ,almart in the

middle of the lock?middle of the lock?

She 8She 8

homeworkedhomeworked

; us to death?; us to death?


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LitotesLitotes

Delierate use of understatement# not toDelierate use of understatement# not to

deceive someone ut to enhance thedeceive someone ut to enhance the

impressiveness of what we sa"impressiveness of what we sa"

0!ample0!ample: +t isnt ver" serious + have this tin": +t isnt ver" serious + have this tin"

tumor on m" raintumor on m" rain


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PeriphrasisPeriphrasis

Sustitution of a descriptive word for aSustitution of a descriptive word for a

proper name or of a proper name for aproper name or of a proper name for a


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Rhetorical GuestionRhetorical Guestion

Asking a


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1!"moron1!"moron

$he comination of terms that are ordinaril"$he comination of terms that are ordinaril"

contradictor"contradictor"

0!ample0!ample: sweet pain# cheerful pessimist#: sweet pain# cheerful pessimist#*umo shrimp# lu!urious povert"# eggarl"*umo shrimp# lu!urious povert"# eggarl"

riches# rela!ed tension# loving hate# cruelriches# rela!ed tension# loving hate# cruel

kindness# deafening silencekindness# deafening silence


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Parado!Parado!

A contradictor" statement that containsA contradictor" statement that contains

some element of truthsome element of truth

0!ample0!ample: $he more "ou know# the more "ou: $he more "ou know# the more "ouknow "ou dont knowknow "ou dont know

$he past is the prologue$he past is the prologue

(e is guilt" of eing innocent(e is guilt" of eing innocent


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S"necdocheS"necdoche

Eigure of speech in which a ph"sical partEigure of speech in which a ph"sical partstands for the whole or the whole for thestands for the whole or the whole for thepartpart

0!ample: 8Iice set of0!ample: 8Iice set of wheelswheels? -part of the? -part of thecarcar

+ like "our+ like "our threadsthreads# man? -part of the# man? -part of the

clothingclothing AllAll handshandson deck?; -hands to represent theon deck?; -hands to represent the

whole manwhole man


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6etonom"6etonom"

A is a closel" associated with ' -ut not aA is a closel" associated with ' -ut not a

ph"sical part of itph"sical part of it

0!ample: 80!ample: 8$he ,hite (ouse said$he ,hite (ouse said; is a; is ametonom" for the president and his staffmetonom" for the president and his staff

$he ,hite (ouse is$he ,hite (ouse is not a part ofnot a part ofthethe

president# ut it ispresident# ut it is closel" associatedclosel" associatedwithwith

himhim

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Figures of Speech for College