Rhetorical DevicesRhetorical Devices

Adapted from the Web SiteAdapted from the Web Site

ofof

James TomlinsonJames Tomlinson

AlliterationAlliteration Repetition of the initial consonant sounds beginning several Repetition of the initial consonant sounds beginning several

words in sequence. words in sequence.     "....we shall not falter, we shall not fail."   "....we shall not falter, we shall not fail."  

(President (President G.W. BushG.W. Bush Address to Congress following 9- Address to Congress following 9-11-01 Terrorist Attacks.)11-01 Terrorist Attacks.)

    "Let us go forth to lead the land we love.“"Let us go forth to lead the land we love.“ (President (President J. F. KennedyJ. F. Kennedy, Inaugural 1961), Inaugural 1961)

"Veni, vidi, vici.“"Veni, vidi, vici.“ (Julius Caesar  - “I came, I saw, I conquered”)(Julius Caesar  - “I came, I saw, I conquered”)

AssonanceAssonance

Repetition of the same vowel sounds in words close to each Repetition of the same vowel sounds in words close to each other.other.

"Thy kingd"Thy kingdoom cm coome, thy will be dme, thy will be doone.“ne.“

(The Lord's Prayer)(The Lord's Prayer)

““IIts quick soft sts quick soft siilver bell beatlver bell beatiing, beatng, beatiing…”ng…”

(Karl Shapiro, “Auto Wreck”)(Karl Shapiro, “Auto Wreck”)

AnadiplosisAnadiplosis (“Doubling back") The rhetorical repetition of one or several (“Doubling back") The rhetorical repetition of one or several

words; specifically, repetition of a word that ends one words; specifically, repetition of a word that ends one clause at the beginning of the next. clause at the beginning of the next.

"Men in great place are thrice servants: servants of the "Men in great place are thrice servants: servants of the sovereign or state; servants of fame; and servants of sovereign or state; servants of fame; and servants of business.“business.“

(Francis Bacon)(Francis Bacon)

AnaphoraAnaphora The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of

successive phrases, clauses or lines. successive phrases, clauses or lines.

""We shall We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We We shallshall fight in France, fight in France, we shallwe shall fight on the seas and fight on the seas and oceans, oceans, we shallwe shall fight with growing confidence and fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, growing strength in the air, we shall we shall defend our island, defend our island, whatever the cost may be, whatever the cost may be, we shall we shall fight on the fight on the beaches, beaches, we shallwe shall fight on the landing grounds, fight on the landing grounds, we shallwe shall fight in the fields and in the streets, fight in the fields and in the streets, we shallwe shall fight in the fight in the hills. hills. We shallWe shall never surrender." never surrender."

(British Prime Minister Winston Churchill)(British Prime Minister Winston Churchill)

AntistropheAntistrophe Repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of Repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of

successive clauses.successive clauses. "In 1931, ten years ago, Japan invaded Manchukuo -- "In 1931, ten years ago, Japan invaded Manchukuo --

without warningwithout warning. In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia -- . In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia -- without warningwithout warning. In 1938, Hitler occupied Austria -- . In 1938, Hitler occupied Austria -- without warningwithout warning. In 1939, Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia . In 1939, Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia -- -- without warning.without warning. Later in 1939, Hitler invaded Poland Later in 1939, Hitler invaded Poland ---- without warning. without warning. And now Japan has attacked Malaya And now Japan has attacked Malaya and Thailand -- and the United States --and Thailand -- and the United States --without warningwithout warning." ."

((President Franklin D. RooseveltPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt ) )

AntithesisAntithesis

Opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a Opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction. balanced or parallel construction.

""Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."(Barry Goldwater - Republican Candidate for (Barry Goldwater - Republican Candidate for President 1964)President 1964)

"Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more". Rome more". (Brutus in:  " Julius Caesar" by William (Brutus in:  " Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare)Shakespeare)

AporiaAporia Expression of doubt (often feigned) by which a speaker Expression of doubt (often feigned) by which a speaker

appears uncertain as to what he should think, say, or do.appears uncertain as to what he should think, say, or do.

"Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I "Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do?"  do?"     

(Bible: Luke 16(Bible: Luke 16))

ApostropheApostrophe A turn from the general audience to address a specific A turn from the general audience to address a specific

group or person or personified abstraction absent or group or person or personified abstraction absent or present. present.

"For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel."For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel.Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him". Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him". (Mark Antony in (Mark Antony in Julius CaesarJulius Caesar - - William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare))

AsyndetonAsyndeton Lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, Lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses,

or words. or words.

"We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any "We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."the survival and the success of liberty."  ((J. F. KennedyJ. F. Kennedy, Inaugural), Inaugural)

"But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot "But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.“consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.“

      ((President Abraham LincolnPresident Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address), Gettysburg Address)

CacophonyCacophony Harsh joining of sounds Harsh joining of sounds

"We want no parlay with you and your grisly gang who "We want no parlay with you and your grisly gang who work your wicked will."work your wicked will."  ((British Prime Minister Winston Churchill British Prime Minister Winston Churchill -referring -referring to Hitler.)to Hitler.)

““A toad the power mower caught, A toad the power mower caught, Chewed and clipped of a leg, with a hobbling hop has Chewed and clipped of a leg, with a hobbling hop has got”got”

("The Death of a Toad" by Richard Wilbur)("The Death of a Toad" by Richard Wilbur)

CatachresisCatachresis A harsh metaphor involving the use of a word beyond its A harsh metaphor involving the use of a word beyond its

strict sphere. strict sphere.

"I listen vainly, but with thirsty ear.""I listen vainly, but with thirsty ear."((General Douglas MacArthur,General Douglas MacArthur, Farewell Address) Farewell Address)

'Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse”'Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse”

((ShakespeareShakespeare, , Timon of AthensTimon of Athens))

ChiasmusChiasmus Two corresponding pairs arranged not in parallels (A-B-A-B) Two corresponding pairs arranged not in parallels (A-B-A-B)

but in inverted order (A-B-B-A); from shape of the Greek but in inverted order (A-B-B-A); from shape of the Greek letter chi (X). letter chi (X).

"Those gallant men will "Those gallant men will remain often in my thoughtsremain often in my thoughts and and in in my prayers always.my prayers always.""       ( (General Douglas MacArthurGeneral Douglas MacArthur))

""Renown'dRenown'd    for conquestfor conquest, and in , and in council skill'dcouncil skill'd."."       ( (Marcus Tullius CiceroMarcus Tullius Cicero))

ClimaxClimax Arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of Arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of

ascending power. Often the last emphatic word in one ascending power. Often the last emphatic word in one phrase or clause is repeated as the first emphatic word of phrase or clause is repeated as the first emphatic word of the next. the next.

"One equal temper of heroic hearts,"One equal temper of heroic hearts,Made weak by time and fate, but strong in willMade weak by time and fate, but strong in willTo strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.""        (        (TennysonTennyson, " Ulysses"), " Ulysses")

EuphemismEuphemism EuphemismEuphemism:: substitution of an agreeable or at least non- substitution of an agreeable or at least non-

offensive expression for one whose plainer meaning might offensive expression for one whose plainer meaning might be harsh or unpleasant. be harsh or unpleasant.

Examples:   Euphemisms for " stupid"Examples:   Euphemisms for " stupid"

A few fries short of a Happy Meal.A few fries short of a Happy Meal.

A few beers short of a six-pack.A few beers short of a six-pack.

One Fruit Loop shy of a full bowl.One Fruit Loop shy of a full bowl.

All foam, no beer.All foam, no beer.

The cheese slid off his cracker.The cheese slid off his cracker.

HyperboleHyperbole Exaggeration for emphasis or for rhetorical effect. Exaggeration for emphasis or for rhetorical effect.

"If you call me that name again, I'm going to explode!" "If you call me that name again, I'm going to explode!" ““I nearly died laughing.”I nearly died laughing.”

(Verbal) Irony(Verbal) Irony Expression of something which is contrary to the intended Expression of something which is contrary to the intended

meaning; the words say one thing but mean another. meaning; the words say one thing but mean another.

““Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;And Brutus is an honourable man. “And Brutus is an honourable man. “               (Shakespeare's (Shakespeare's Mark Antony in Mark Antony in Julius Caesar)Julius Caesar)

MetaphorMetaphor Implied comparison achieved through a figurative use of Implied comparison achieved through a figurative use of

words; the word is used not in its literal sense, but in one words; the word is used not in its literal sense, but in one analogous to it. analogous to it.     **Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player,Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player,That struts and frets his hour upon the stage. " That struts and frets his hour upon the stage. " (Shakespeare(Shakespeare, , MacbethMacbeth ) )

    ““From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an

iron curtain has descended across the continent.”iron curtain has descended across the continent.”  ((W. ChurchillW. Churchill))

OxymoronOxymoron Apparent paradox achieved by the juxtaposition of words Apparent paradox achieved by the juxtaposition of words

which seem to contradict one another. which seem to contradict one another.

““I must be cruel only to be kind.“I must be cruel only to be kind.“

((ShakespeareShakespeare, , HamletHamlet))

              "Hurts so good…“"Hurts so good…“

(John Cougar Melancamp)(John Cougar Melancamp)

  “  “Jumbo Shrimp”Jumbo Shrimp”

ParadoxParadox An assertion seemingly opposed to common sense, but that An assertion seemingly opposed to common sense, but that

may yet have some truth in it.may yet have some truth in it.

““What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young." What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young."

((George Bernard ShawGeorge Bernard Shaw))

PersonificationPersonification

Attribution of personality to an impersonal thing.Attribution of personality to an impersonal thing.

““England expects every man to do his duty." England expects every man to do his duty." ((Lord NelsonLord Nelson))

The rose was a soft as a baby's skinThe rose was a soft as a baby's skin

"Rise up and defend the "Rise up and defend the Motherland"Motherland"  (Line from "Enemy at the Gates“)  (Line from "Enemy at the Gates“)

PleonasmPleonasm Use of superfluous or redundant words, often enriching the Use of superfluous or redundant words, often enriching the

thought.thought.

No one, rich or poor, will be excepted.No one, rich or poor, will be excepted.

Ears pierced while you wait! Ears pierced while you wait!

I have seen no stranger sight since I was born. I have seen no stranger sight since I was born.

SimileSimile An explicit comparison between two things using 'like' or An explicit comparison between two things using 'like' or

'as'. 'as'.

““My love is as a fever, longing stillMy love is as a fever, longing stillFor that which longer nurseth the disease" For that which longer nurseth the disease"

            ((ShakespeareShakespeare, Sonnet CXLVII) , Sonnet CXLVII)    

““Reason is to faith as the eye to the telescope" Reason is to faith as the eye to the telescope"             ((D. Hume)D. Hume)

    ““Let us go then, you and I,Let us go then, you and I,

While the evening is spread out against the sky,While the evening is spread out against the sky,Like a patient etherized upon a table" Like a patient etherized upon a table"

                ((T.S. EliotT.S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”) , “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”)

SyllepsisSyllepsis Use of a word with two others, with each of which it is Use of a word with two others, with each of which it is

understood differently. understood differently.

““We must all hang together or assuredly we will all hang We must all hang together or assuredly we will all hang separately.” separately.”

((Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin))

TautologyTautology Repetition of an idea in a different word, phrase, or Repetition of an idea in a different word, phrase, or

sentence. sentence.

""With malice toward noneWith malice toward none, with , with charity for allcharity for all."." ( (President Abraham LincolnPresident Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural), Second Inaugural)

Work CitedWork Cited

Tomlinson, James. Tomlinson, James. Rhetorical Devices. Rhetorical Devices. http://http://facstaff.bloomu.edu/jtomlins/rhetorical_devices.htm#topfacstaff.bloomu.edu/jtomlins/rhetorical_devices.htm#top. . 6/29/20066/29/2006