Rhetorical DevicesRhetorical Devices

AP LanguageAP Language

Schemes involving Schemes involving BalanceBalance

►ParallelismParallelism The repetition of similar grammatical The repetition of similar grammatical

or syntactical patterns.or syntactical patterns.

►Parallelism of Parallelism of wordswords►Parallelism of Parallelism of phrasesphrases►Parallelism of Parallelism of clausesclauses

MOST COMMON!

ExamplesExamples►Parallelism of Parallelism of wordswords

““Exercise physiologists Exercise physiologists argue that body-argue that body-pumppump aerobics sessions benefit a person’ aerobics sessions benefit a person’ s s heart and lungsheart and lungs, , muscles and nervesmuscles and nerves, , and and joints and cartilagejoints and cartilage. .

►Parallelism of Parallelism of phrasesphrases ““Exercise physiologists Exercise physiologists argue that body-argue that body-

pumppump aerobics sessions aerobics sessions help a person help a person breathe more effectivelybreathe more effectively, , move with less move with less discomfortdiscomfort, and , and avoid injury.avoid injury.

Active verb

ExampleExample

►Parallelism of Parallelism of clausesclauses ““Exercise physiologists argue Exercise physiologists argue that that body-body-

pump aerobics is the most efficient pump aerobics is the most efficient exercise classexercise class, , thatthat body-pump body-pump participants show greater gains in stamina participants show greater gains in stamina then participants in comparable exercise then participants in comparable exercise programsprograms, and , and that that body-pump aerobics body-pump aerobics is less expensive in terms of equipment is less expensive in terms of equipment and training needed to lead or take and training needed to lead or take classes.”classes.”

Zeugma (zoog-mah)Zeugma (zoog-mah)

►A figure in which more than one item A figure in which more than one item in a sentence is governed by a single in a sentence is governed by a single word, word, usually a verbusually a verb..

Examples of zeugmaExamples of zeugma

►““You You held your breathheld your breath and the door for and the door for me.”me.”

~Alanis Morissette~Alanis Morissette

Head Over FeetHead Over Feet

►““You are free to You are free to execute your lawsexecute your laws, and , and your citizens, as you see fit.”your citizens, as you see fit.”

~Star Trek: Next ~Star Trek: Next GenerationGeneration

Examples of zeugmaExamples of zeugma

AntithesisAntithesis

► Parallel structure that juxtaposes Parallel structure that juxtaposes contrasting ideascontrasting ideas

► Antithesis of:Antithesis of: Words,Words, PhrasesPhrases ClausesClauses

(placement of two things side by side for emphasis)(placement of two things side by side for emphasis)

Examples of AntithesisExamples of Antithesis►Of Of WORDSWORDS

““When distance runners reach the state When distance runners reach the state they call the zone, they find themselves they call the zone, they find themselves mentally mentally engagedengaged yet yet detacheddetached. .

►Of Of PHRASESPHRASES“When distance runners reach the state When distance runners reach the state

they call the zone, they find themselves they call the zone, they find themselves mentally mentally engaged with their physical engaged with their physical surroundingssurroundings yet yet detached from moment-detached from moment-to-moment concerns about their to-moment concerns about their conditioningconditioning.”.”

Examples of AntithesisExamples of Antithesis

►Of Of CLAUSESCLAUSES

“When distance runners reach the When distance runners reach the state they call the zone, state they call the zone, they find that they find that they are empiricallythey are empirically engaged with their engaged with their physical surroundingsphysical surroundings yet yet they are also they are also completelycompletely detached from moment-to-detached from moment-to-moment concerns about their moment concerns about their conditioningconditioning.” .”

Another to add… (antithesis)Another to add… (antithesis)► Antimetabole (anti-met-ab-olee)Antimetabole (anti-met-ab-olee)

Words are repeated in different grammatical Words are repeated in different grammatical forms.forms.

““When the going get tough, the tough get When the going get tough, the tough get going”going”

““Ask not what your country can do for Ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your you- ask what you can do for your country.”country.”

““You take the girl out of the honky tonk, You take the girl out of the honky tonk, but you can’t take the honky tonk out of but you can’t take the honky tonk out of the girl.”the girl.”

Schemes Involving Schemes Involving INTERUPTIONINTERUPTION

Necessary for Necessary for on the spot information or on the spot information or ideasideas

►Parenthesis (paren-the-ses) Parenthesis (paren-the-ses) an amplifying or explanatory word, phrase, or an amplifying or explanatory word, phrase, or

sentence inserted in a passage from which it sentence inserted in a passage from which it is usually set off by punctuation is usually set off by punctuation

““Sports night at the school always brings out Sports night at the school always brings out the would-be jocks—the would-be jocks—whowho would expect anywould expect any different?—different?—ready to show that they’re ready to show that they’re potentially as good as the varsity players. potentially as good as the varsity players.

Interruption Interruption

►AppositiveAppositive

A word or phrase that renames the nearby A word or phrase that renames the nearby noun or pronoun.noun or pronoun.

““Joe Weider, Joe Weider, a pioneer in personal weight a pioneer in personal weight trainingtraining, would marvel at the facilities , would marvel at the facilities open to today’s student athletes.”open to today’s student athletes.”

Schemes Involving Schemes Involving OmissionOmission

► EllipsisEllipsisthe omission of one or more words that are the omission of one or more words that are obviously understood but that must be obviously understood but that must be supplied to make a construction supplied to make a construction grammatically complete (sometimes grammatically complete (sometimes replaced with three consecutive periods) replaced with three consecutive periods)

In a hockey power play, if you pass the puck In a hockey power play, if you pass the puck to the wing, to the wing, and he to youand he to you, then you can , then you can close in on the goal. close in on the goal.

OmissionOmission

►Asyndeton (a-sin-da-ton)Asyndeton (a-sin-da-ton)

The omission of conjunctionsThe omission of conjunctions

“ “He has provided the poor with jobs, He has provided the poor with jobs, with opportunity, with self-respect.”with opportunity, with self-respect.”

Schemes Involving Schemes Involving RepetitionRepetition

““Don’t be repetitive, but use repetition.” Don’t be repetitive, but use repetition.”

Alliteration- Alliteration-

Repetition of same sound or letter at the Repetition of same sound or letter at the beginning of consecutive words or beginning of consecutive words or syllables. syllables.

““Intramural hockey is a strenuous, Intramural hockey is a strenuous, stimulating, satisfying sport. stimulating, satisfying sport.

RepetitionRepetition

AssonanceAssonance (ass-o-nance) (ass-o-nance)

The repetition of identical or similar The repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds vowel sounds

““A workout partner is finally a kA workout partner is finally a kiind, nd, relreliiable, rable, riight-minded helper.”ght-minded helper.”

RepetitionRepetition

AnaphoraAnaphora (ana-for-a) (ana-for-a)

The repetition of same group of words The repetition of same group of words at the beginning of clausesat the beginning of clauses

““Exercise builds staminaExercise builds stamina in young in young children, children, exercise builds staminaexercise builds stamina in in

teenagers and young adults, teenagers and young adults, exercise exercise builds staminabuilds stamina in older adults and senior in older adults and senior

citizens. citizens.

Schemes involving Schemes involving RepetitionRepetition

►Epistrophe (E-pis-tro-fee)Epistrophe (E-pis-tro-fee) Repetition of same group of words at end Repetition of same group of words at end

of successive clausesof successive clauses

To become a top-notch player, I thought To become a top-notch player, I thought like an athlete, I trained like an athlete, I like an athlete, I trained like an athlete, I ate like an athlete. ate like an athlete.

RepetitionRepetition

►Anadiplosis (ana-dip-lo-sis)Anadiplosis (ana-dip-lo-sis) Repetition of last word of one clause at Repetition of last word of one clause at

the beginning of following clausethe beginning of following clause

Mental preparation leads to training, Mental preparation leads to training, training builds muscle tone and training builds muscle tone and coordination; muscle tone and coordination; muscle tone and coordination, combined with focused coordination, combined with focused thinking, produce athletic excellence. thinking, produce athletic excellence.

RepetitionRepetition

►ClimaxClimax Repetition of words, phrases, or clauses in Repetition of words, phrases, or clauses in

order of increasing number or importanceorder of increasing number or importance

Excellent athletes need to be respectful of Excellent athletes need to be respectful of themselves, their teammates, their themselves, their teammates, their schools, and their communities. schools, and their communities.

ComparisonComparison

Synecdoche Synecdoche a part of something used to refer to the a part of something used to refer to the

whole whole

We decided we could rearrange the gym We decided we could rearrange the gym equipment if everyone would equipment if everyone would lend a lend a handhand..

ComparisonComparison

Metonymy Metonymy an entity referred to by one of its an entity referred to by one of its

attributesattributes

The The central officecentral office announced announced today new today new regulations for sports nights.regulations for sports nights.

ComparisonComparison

Personification: Personification: Assigning lifelike characteristics to Assigning lifelike characteristics to

inanimate objectsinanimate objects

After almost three periods of After almost three periods of searching, the puck finally found the searching, the puck finally found the goal.goal.

ComparisonComparison

Periphrasis Periphrasis (puh-(puh-RIRI-frah-suhs)-frah-suhs)

a descriptive word or phrase used to a descriptive word or phrase used to refer to proper namerefer to proper name

The New York Yankees and the New The New York Yankees and the New York Islanders vie to be the best York Islanders vie to be the best hockey team in the hockey team in the Big Apple.Big Apple.

Schemes Involving Schemes Involving ComparisonComparison

Metaphor:Metaphor: Figure of speech used when one thing is Figure of speech used when one thing is

spoken of as though it were something spoken of as though it were something else, thus making an implicit comparisonelse, thus making an implicit comparison

Many an athletic contest is lost when Many an athletic contest is lost when the player’s mind is an idling engine.the player’s mind is an idling engine.

ComparisonComparison

Simile:Simile: A figure of speech that uses “like” or “as” A figure of speech that uses “like” or “as”

to compare two thingsto compare two things

An athlete’s mind must be like a well-An athlete’s mind must be like a well-tuned engine, in gear and responding tuned engine, in gear and responding to the twists and curves of the contest. to the twists and curves of the contest. (This sentence begins w/ simile and (This sentence begins w/ simile and ends with implied metaphor.)ends with implied metaphor.)

Tropes Involving Tropes Involving Word PlayWord Play

►PunPun suggests two or more meanings, by suggests two or more meanings, by

exploiting multiple meanings of words, or exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended of similar-sounding words, for an intended humoroushumorous or or rhetoricalrhetorical effect effect

““The tipped-but-caught third strike, ending The tipped-but-caught third strike, ending a bases-loaded rally, was a a bases-loaded rally, was a foul most foul most foul.foul.

Word PlayWord Play

►Antimeria (anti-mer-ia)Antimeria (anti-mer-ia) One part of speech, usually a verb, that One part of speech, usually a verb, that

substitutes for a nounsubstitutes for a noun

When the Little Leaguers lost the When the Little Leaguers lost the championship, they need just to have a championship, they need just to have a good good crycry before they could feel okay before they could feel okay about their season. about their season.

Word PlayWord Play

►Onomatopoeia (ono-mato-pia)Onomatopoeia (ono-mato-pia) A word that imitates or suggests the A word that imitates or suggests the

source of the sound that it describes. source of the sound that it describes.

The puck The puck whizzed whizzed and and zippedzipped over the over the ice, then ice, then clatteredclattered into the goal. into the goal.

Overstatement and Overstatement and UnderstatementUnderstatement

►Hyperbole (Hy-per-bowl-ee)Hyperbole (Hy-per-bowl-ee) The use of exaggeration as rhetorical The use of exaggeration as rhetorical

device. It may be used to evoke strong device. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally but is not meant to be taken literally

He couldn’t make that shot again if he tried He couldn’t make that shot again if he tried a million timesa million times. .

Overstatement and Overstatement and UnderstatementUnderstatement

►Litotes (LYE-tuh-tees)Litotes (LYE-tuh-tees) The use of an understatement as The use of an understatement as

rhetorical device. It may be used to evoke rhetorical device. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken impression, but is not meant to be taken literally.literally.

Shutting out the opponents for three Shutting out the opponents for three straight games is straight games is no big deal (NBD)no big deal (NBD) . .

Litotes ExamplesLitotes Examples

► "Not bad." "Not bad."

► "[…] no ordinary "[…] no ordinary city city

► "She is not as young "She is not as young as she was." as she was."

““Good”Good”

““[ ] a very impressive [ ] a very impressive city.city.

““She’s old.”She’s old.”

Management of MeaningManagement of Meaning

► IronyIrony Words meant to convey the opposite of Words meant to convey the opposite of

literal meaningliteral meaning

Their center is over seven feet tall- where Their center is over seven feet tall- where do they come up with these do they come up with these little little pipsqueakspipsqueaks??

Management of MeaningManagement of Meaning

►SarcasmSarcasm Bitter IronyBitter Irony

““ThanksThanks for everything you did for us for everything you did for us tonight” (when he really did nothing…). tonight” (when he really did nothing…).

Management of MeaningManagement of Meaning

►OxymoronOxymoron Words with contradictory meanings placed side by Words with contradictory meanings placed side by

sideside

When you have to face your best friend in When you have to face your best friend in competition, whoever wins feels an competition, whoever wins feels an aching aching pleasurepleasure. .

Jumbo shrimp, deafening silence, alone Jumbo shrimp, deafening silence, alone togethertogether

Same difference, constant variable, unbiased Same difference, constant variable, unbiased opinionopinion

Management of MeaningManagement of Meaning

►Rhetorical QuestionRhetorical Question A question designed not to secure an A question designed not to secure an

answer, but to move the idea forward and answer, but to move the idea forward and suggest a point.suggest a point.

Hasn’t the state of intercollegiate athletics Hasn’t the state of intercollegiate athletics reached the point where the line between reached the point where the line between professionalism and amateurism is professionalism and amateurism is blurred?blurred?