Additional Tropes

English 104

Additional TropesSome other forms of figurative language

used in arguments:HyperboleUnderstatementAntonomasiaIronyParallelismAntithesisReversed structures

HyperboleThe use of overstatement to make a pointExample:

“With page after page of bulging biceps and Gillette jaws, robust hairlines and silken skin, Men’s Health is peddling a standard of male beauty as unforgiving and unrealistic as the female version sold by those dewy-eyed pre-teen waifs draped across covers of Glamour and Elle.” – Michelle Cottle, ‘Turning Boys into Girls’Overstated descriptions of male and female beauty

used to argue that men’s magazines contribute to the same anxieties about appearance as those that have afflicted women

UnderstatementThe use of a quiet message to make a pointExamples:

“The war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage.” – Japanese Emperor Hirohito announcing the surrender of Japan after WWII

“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped […] I trust you are not in too much distress.” - Captain Eric Moody’s announcement to the passengers of British Airways Flight 9A subtle message used to downplay the severity of

the situation and thus attempt to reduce panic

AntonomasiaSubstituting a proper name with a phrase

or epithet Examples:

“King of Pop” for Michael JacksonArgues that Jackson is a great pop musician

“Iron Lady” for Margaret ThatcherArgues that Thatcher is a strong-willed woman

“Caribou Barbie” for Sarah PalinArgues that Palin is good-looking but empty-headed

IronyThe use of words to convey a meaning in

opposition to their literal meaningExample:

The Onion (http://www.theonion.com/)Uses satire to make a point about politics and pop

culture.Uses irony, exaggeration, humor, and ridicule to

criticize politics and contemporary issues.

SchemesSchemes: figurative language based on word

orderParallelism – the use of grammatically similar

phrasesExample: “Rosa sat so that Martin could walk. Martin

walked so that Obama could run. Obama ran so that our children could fly.” – Unknown Uses parallelism to argue in favor of Obama, saying that

he has inspired a new generation of African AmericansAntithesis – the use of parallel structures to indicate

contrastExample: “Those who kill people are called murderers;

those who kill animals, sportsmen.” – Unknown Uses antithesis to argue against the killing of animals

SchemesSchemes: figurative language based on word

orderReversed structures – the use of a reversal of

wording to make a pointExample #1: “Ask not what your country can do for

you; ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. KennedyUses reversed structure to encourage citizens to

work for their countryExample #2: “The Democrats won’t get elected

unless things get worse, and things won’t get worse until the Democrats get elected.” – Jeane KirkpatrickUses reversed structure to argue against the

Democrats

Works CitedLunsford, Andrea A., John J. Ruszkiewicz, and Keith

Walters. Everything’s an Argument with Readings. 6th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. Print.