rhetorical devices what are they and why are they used?

Rhetorical DevicesRhetorical Devices

What are they and why are What are they and why are they used?they used?


What is a rhetorical device?What is a rhetorical device?A technique an author uses to evoke A technique an author uses to evoke

an emotional responsean emotional responseWhy do authors use rhetorical Why do authors use rhetorical

devices?devices?Emphasis, association, clarification, Emphasis, association, clarification,

focus, organization, transition, focus, organization, transition, arrangement, decoration, variety.arrangement, decoration, variety.

In other words, works would be much In other words, works would be much more boring without them.more boring without them.


Notice the difference.Notice the difference. "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall

fight on the landing-grounds, we shall fight fight on the landing-grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills." Winston Churchill fight in the hills." Winston Churchill

Without rhetorical devices, this might be Without rhetorical devices, this might be summarized as “We will fight summarized as “We will fight everywhere.” everywhere.”

What impact do the descriptions give you?What impact do the descriptions give you?


"That's one small step for man, one "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Neil giant leap for mankind." Neil Armstrong Armstrong

Think about these famous lines: Think about these famous lines: Would it be more effective to say, Would it be more effective to say, “We took a big step”?“We took a big step”?


Rhetorical devices add “spark” and Rhetorical devices add “spark” and interest to writing. interest to writing.

They also function on different levelsThey also function on different levelsIndividual Sounds LevelIndividual Sounds LevelWord LevelWord LevelSentence/Phrase LevelSentence/Phrase LevelAll OthersAll Others

Individual Sounds LevelIndividual Sounds Level

Alliteration: The same consonant Alliteration: The same consonant sound repeated at the beginning of sound repeated at the beginning of several words or syllables in close several words or syllables in close proximityproximity

Mary sat musing on the lamp-flame Mary sat musing on the lamp-flame at the table" from The Death of the at the table" from The Death of the Hired Man by Robert Frost Hired Man by Robert Frost

Individual Sound LevelIndividual Sound Level

Assonance: The same or similar Assonance: The same or similar vowel sounds repeated in words vowel sounds repeated in words within close proximitywithin close proximity

Slow things are beautiful:Slow things are beautiful:The closing of the day,The closing of the day,The pause of the waveThe pause of the waveThat curves downward to spray That curves downward to spray From Elizabeth Coatsworth “Swift Things From Elizabeth Coatsworth “Swift Things

Are Beautiful”Are Beautiful”

Individual Sounds LevelIndividual Sounds Level

AssonanceAssonanceBut he grew old,But he grew old, This knight so bold,This knight so bold,And o'er his heart a shadowAnd o'er his heart a shadow Fell as he foundFell as he found No spot of groundNo spot of groundThat looked like Eldorado. That looked like Eldorado.

From “Eldorado” by Edgar Allan PoeFrom “Eldorado” by Edgar Allan Poe

Individual Level SoundsIndividual Level Sounds

Onomatopoeia: The sound of the Onomatopoeia: The sound of the word imitates the sound of the object word imitates the sound of the object itselfitself

Baa Baa Black Sheep Baa Baa Black Sheep To the tintinnabulation that so To the tintinnabulation that so

musically wellsmusically wellsFrom the bells, bells, bells, bells,From the bells, bells, bells, bells,Bells, bells, bells-Bells, bells, bells-From the jingling and the tinkling of From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells. From Edgar Allan Poethe bells. From Edgar Allan Poe

Individual Sounds LevelIndividual Sounds Level OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia The rusty spigotThe rusty spigot

Sputters,Sputters,UttersUttersA splutter,A splutter,Spatters a smattering of drops,Spatters a smattering of drops,Gashes wider;Gashes wider;Slash,Slash,Splatters,Splatters,Scatters,Scatters,Spurts,Spurts,Finally stops sputteringFinally stops sputteringAnd plash!And plash!Gushes rushes splashesGushes rushes splashesClear water dashes.Clear water dashes.By: Eve Merriam By: Eve Merriam

Word LevelWord Level

Anaphora: A word or phrase is Anaphora: A word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of repeated at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or linessuccessive phrases, clauses or lines

““How they are provided for upon the How they are provided for upon the Earth, Earth,

How dear and dreadful they are to How dear and dreadful they are to the Earth.”the Earth.”

From Walt WhitmanFrom Walt Whitman


AnaphoraAnaphora““Let us march to the realization of Let us march to the realization of

the American dream. Let us march the American dream. Let us march on segregated hosuing. Let us on segregated hosuing. Let us march on segregated schools. Let us march on segregated schools. Let us march on poverty. Let us march on march on poverty. Let us march on ballot boxes.”ballot boxes.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.


Antimetabole: The repetition of Antimetabole: The repetition of certain words in reverse ordercertain words in reverse order

““Whether it is better to be loved Whether it is better to be loved rather than feared or feared rather rather than feared or feared rather than loved”than loved”

MachiavelliMachiavelli


Climax/Gradation: Arrangement of Climax/Gradation: Arrangement of words or phrases in order of words or phrases in order of ascending powerascending power

““Some men are born great, some Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” greatness thrust upon them.” (Shakespeare, Twelfth Night)(Shakespeare, Twelfth Night)


Epistrophe: A word or expression is Epistrophe: A word or expression is repeated at the end of successive phrases, repeated at the end of successive phrases, clauses or lines. The reverse of anaphora.clauses or lines. The reverse of anaphora.

““Of the people, by the people, and for the Of the people, by the people, and for the people” From Abe Lincoln people” From Abe Lincoln

"If ever two were one, then surely we. "If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee; If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee; If ever wife was happy in a man, Compare If ever wife was happy in a man, Compare

me me with ye women if you can." From Anne with ye women if you can." From Anne BradstreetBradstreet


Oxymoron: Similar to antithesis. Oxymoron: Similar to antithesis. Brings together two contradictory Brings together two contradictory formsforms

Jumbo ShrimpJumbo ShrimpCivil WarCivil War


Synonym: Use of words with the Synonym: Use of words with the same or similar meaningssame or similar meanings

““I hate inconstancy-I loathe, detest,I hate inconstancy-I loathe, detest,Abhor, condemn, abujure, the mortal Abhor, condemn, abujure, the mortal

mademade

Of such quicksilvery clay.Of such quicksilvery clay.

From Lord From Lord Byron, Byron, Don JuanDon Juan

Sentence/Phrase LeveSentence/Phrase Leve

Anadiapolis: Repeat at the beginning Anadiapolis: Repeat at the beginning of the sentence the last word or of the sentence the last word or phrase of the preceding sentence.phrase of the preceding sentence.

Joseph Mazzini said, “And love, Joseph Mazzini said, “And love, young men, love and venerate young men, love and venerate the the ideal. ideal. The ideal The ideal is the word of is the word of God.”God.”

Sentence/Phrase LevelSentence/Phrase Level

Chiasmus: The grammatical Chiasmus: The grammatical structure of the first clause or phrase structure of the first clause or phrase reversed in the second, sometimes reversed in the second, sometimes repeating the same words.repeating the same words.

And so my fellow Americans, And so my fellow Americans, ask not whatask not what your country can do your country can do for you; for you; ask what you can doask what you can do for for your country” (John F. Kennedy, Jr.)your country” (John F. Kennedy, Jr.)


Ellipsis: A word or phrase in a Ellipsis: A word or phrase in a sentence is omitted though implied sentence is omitted though implied by the contextby the context

““A mighty maze! But not without a A mighty maze! But not without a plan” plan” From Pope, An From Pope, An Essay on ManEssay on Man


Epanalepsis: The repetition at the Epanalepsis: The repetition at the end of a clause of the word that end of a clause of the word that occurred in the beginning.occurred in the beginning.

BloodBlood hath brought hath brought bloodblood, and , and blowsblows answer’d answer’d blowsblows::

Strength Strength match’d with match’d with strengthstrength, , and and powerpower confronted confronted powerpower

(Shakespeare, King John II.I)(Shakespeare, King John II.I)


Inversion: The usual word order is Inversion: The usual word order is rearranged, often for the effect of rearranged, often for the effect of emphasis or to maintain the meteremphasis or to maintain the meter

““There’ll be dancing in the streetThere’ll be dancing in the street

A chance new folk to meet”A chance new folk to meet”

From Martha and the From Martha and the

VandellasVandellas


Hyberbole: Obvious exaggeration for Hyberbole: Obvious exaggeration for emphasis or effectemphasis or effect

““There did not seem to be brains enough There did not seem to be brains enough in the entire nursery, so to speak, to bait a in the entire nursery, so to speak, to bait a fishhook with.” From Mark Twain, fishhook with.” From Mark Twain, A A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's CourtConnecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Why does a boy who’s fast as a jet Why does a boy who’s fast as a jet Take all day—and sometimes two—Take all day—and sometimes two— To get to school?To get to school? ——John Ciardi, "Speed Adjustments"John Ciardi, "Speed Adjustments"


Imagery: Sensory pictures that a piece of Imagery: Sensory pictures that a piece of literature evokesliterature evokes

Can be tactile words (relating to touch, Can be tactile words (relating to touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste)smell, sight, hearing, and taste)

Can be similes and metaphors that evoke Can be similes and metaphors that evoke picturespictures

““A red wheelbarrowA red wheelbarrow glazed with rainwaterglazed with rainwater

beside the white chickens”beside the white chickens”From William Carlos From William Carlos

WilliamsWilliams


Parallelism: The repetition of Parallelism: The repetition of identical or similar elementsidentical or similar elements

The coach told the players The coach told the players that they that they should getshould get a lot of sleep, a lot of sleep, that they that they should not eatshould not eat too much, and too much, and that that they should dothey should do some warm-up some warm-up exercises before the game. exercises before the game.


Tricolon: Division of an idea into Tricolon: Division of an idea into three harmonious parts, usually of three harmonious parts, usually of increasing power.increasing power.

In a larger sense, In a larger sense, we cannot we cannot didicate—we cannot consecrate—didicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallowwe cannot hallow this ground.” this ground.” (Abe Lincoln)(Abe Lincoln)


Paradox: A daring statement which Paradox: A daring statement which unites seemingly contradictory words unites seemingly contradictory words but which upon closer examination but which upon closer examination proves to have unexpected meaning proves to have unexpected meaning and truthand truth

““He worked hard at being lazy.”He worked hard at being lazy.”


Personification: Animals, ideas, Personification: Animals, ideas, abstractions or inanimate objects are abstractions or inanimate objects are endowed with human characteristicsendowed with human characteristics

To fit its sides, and crawl between, To fit its sides, and crawl between, Complaining all the whileComplaining all the whileIn horrid, hooting stanza;In horrid, hooting stanza;Then chase itself down hill Then chase itself down hill

The Train by Emily DicksinsonThe Train by Emily Dicksinson

All OthersAll Others

Diction: Word ChoiceDiction: Word Choice

Denotation/ConnotationDenotation/Connotation Words in unusual combinationsWords in unusual combinations Degree of difficulty or complexity of a Degree of difficulty or complexity of a

wordword Level of formality of a wordLevel of formality of a word Tone of a word (emotional charge it Tone of a word (emotional charge it

carries)carries)


Syntax: Sentence arrangement or word Syntax: Sentence arrangement or word orderorder Type of Sentence: Simple or complexType of Sentence: Simple or complex Type of Sentence: Questions, exclamations, Type of Sentence: Questions, exclamations,

declarative, commands, rhetorical questionsdeclarative, commands, rhetorical questions Length of sentenceLength of sentence Subtle shifts of abrupt changes in sentence Subtle shifts of abrupt changes in sentence

lengths and patternslengths and patterns Punctuation UsePunctuation Use Use of repetitionUse of repetition Language patterns/cadence/rhymeLanguage patterns/cadence/rhyme The use of active or passive voiceThe use of active or passive voice


Allusion: A reference in a work of Allusion: A reference in a work of literature to something outside the literature to something outside the work of literature, especially to a well-work of literature, especially to a well-known historical or literary event, known historical or literary event, person or workperson or work

In the room the women come and go In the room the women come and go Talking of Michelangelo.Talking of Michelangelo.

From T.S. EliotFrom T.S. EliotThe Love Song of J. The Love Song of J. Alfred PrufrockAlfred Prufrock


Antithesis: Opposition or contrast of Antithesis: Opposition or contrast of ideas or words in a parallel ideas or words in a parallel construction; explores and then construction; explores and then refutesrefutes

““Not that I have loved Caesar less, Not that I have loved Caesar less, but that I love Rome more”but that I love Rome more”

From Shakespeare’s Julius CaesarFrom Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar


Apostrophe: Addressing an absent person, Apostrophe: Addressing an absent person, a god, or a personified abstraction.a god, or a personified abstraction.

Roll on thou dark and deep blue ocean." Roll on thou dark and deep blue ocean." from "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" by Lord from "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" by Lord ByronByron

"Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend, / "Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend, / More hideous when thou show'st thee in a More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child / Than the sea-monster." from King child / Than the sea-monster." from King Lear by William ShakespeareLear by William Shakespeare


Connotation: Feelings the word Connotation: Feelings the word evokesevokes

Smells, scent, etc.Smells, scent, etc.House is a neutral word. Home has a House is a neutral word. Home has a

positive connotation, which brings positive connotation, which brings about warm fuzzies. about warm fuzzies.


Denotation: Dictionary DefinitionDenotation: Dictionary DefinitionHouse is a dictionary definition. House is a dictionary definition.

Home is a positive connotation. Home is a positive connotation. Hovel is a negative connotation. Hovel is a negative connotation.


Devices of Sound: These devices are used Devices of Sound: These devices are used for many reasons, including creating a for many reasons, including creating a pleasant or discordant effect or reflect a pleasant or discordant effect or reflect a certain meaning. They are defined at certain meaning. They are defined at other places in this presentation.other places in this presentation.

RhymeRhyme AlliterationAlliteration AssonanceAssonance ConsonanceConsonance OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

All OthersAll Others Euphemism: Substitution of an agreeable or at least non-Euphemism: Substitution of an agreeable or at least non-

offensive expression for one whose other meaning might be offensive expression for one whose other meaning might be harsh or unpleasantharsh or unpleasant

Die becomes “pass away”Die becomes “pass away” Euphemism for FAT:Euphemism for FAT:

chubby, plump, big-boned, chunky, fluffychubby, plump, big-boned, chunky, fluffy

Euphemism for THIN:Euphemism for THIN:stick, twiggy, pretzel, bread stick, celery stickstick, twiggy, pretzel, bread stick, celery stick

Euphemism for MONEY:Euphemism for MONEY:bread, clams, fiver, ten spot, Washington, green backbread, clams, fiver, ten spot, Washington, green back

Euphemism for TV:Euphemism for TV:idiot box, electronic babysitter idiot box, electronic babysitter


Figurative Langauge: These are used Figurative Langauge: These are used to mean something other than the to mean something other than the literal meaning. literal meaning.

Metaphor: Comparison not using like Metaphor: Comparison not using like or asor as

Simile: Comparison using like or asSimile: Comparison using like or as Irony: Opposite of what you thinkIrony: Opposite of what you think


Juxtaposition: The arrangement of Juxtaposition: The arrangement of two or more ideas, characters, two or more ideas, characters, actions, settings, phrases or words actions, settings, phrases or words side by side in order to side by side in order to compare/contrast the twocompare/contrast the two


Narrative Techniques: The methods Narrative Techniques: The methods involved in telling a storyinvolved in telling a story Point of ViewPoint of View

A single Character or Multiple CharactersA single Character or Multiple CharactersFirst PersonFirst PersonThird PersonThird PersonOmniscient: The narrator can know, see and report Omniscient: The narrator can know, see and report

whatever he chooses.whatever he chooses.

Manipulation of TimeManipulation of Time

DialogueDialogue

Interior MonologueInterior Monologue


Rhetorical Question: A question asked Rhetorical Question: A question asked merely for effect with no answer merely for effect with no answer

expected. expected. It is really time to ask ourselves, ‘How It is really time to ask ourselves, ‘How

can we allow the rich and powerful, can we allow the rich and powerful, not only to rip off people as not only to rip off people as

consumers, but to continue to rip them consumers, but to continue to rip them off as off as

taxpayers? (Ralph Nader, taxpayers? (Ralph Nader, 2000 NAACP 2000 NAACP Convention Address)Convention Address)


Satire: Writing that seeks to arouse Satire: Writing that seeks to arouse a reader’s disapproval of an object a reader’s disapproval of an object by ridicule, holds up to contempt the by ridicule, holds up to contempt the faults of individuals or groups faults of individuals or groups

Setting: Time and placeSetting: Time and place


Structure: The arrangement of Structure: The arrangement of materials within a work, the materials within a work, the relationship of the parts of a work to relationship of the parts of a work to the whole, the logical divisions of a the whole, the logical divisions of a work. The most common units of work. The most common units of structure are play: scene, act; novel: structure are play: scene, act; novel: chapter; poem: line, stanza. chapter; poem: line, stanza.


Style: The mode or expression in Style: The mode or expression in language. Stylistic techniques refer language. Stylistic techniques refer to such things as diction, syntax, to such things as diction, syntax, figurative language, imagery, figurative language, imagery, selection of detail, sound effects and selection of detail, sound effects and tone.tone.


Symbol: Something that is Symbol: Something that is simultaneously itself and a sign of simultaneously itself and a sign of something else. something else.

Winter, darkness, and cold are real Winter, darkness, and cold are real things, but they also may be used as things, but they also may be used as symbols of death.symbols of death.

The color green is real and yet it The color green is real and yet it might represent environmental might represent environmental issues or money.issues or money.


Theme: The main thought expressed Theme: The main thought expressed by a work. What is the message the by a work. What is the message the author is trying to give us?author is trying to give us?

To Kill a Mockingbird—empathy or To Kill a Mockingbird—empathy or loss of innocenceloss of innocence


Tone: Writer’s ability to create an Tone: Writer’s ability to create an attitude toward the subject matter. attitude toward the subject matter. Tone is the result of things like Tone is the result of things like allusion, diction, figurative language, allusion, diction, figurative language, imagery, irony, symbol, syntax, and imagery, irony, symbol, syntax, and style, among others.style, among others.


Understatement: An attempt to Understatement: An attempt to minimize something.minimize something.

““It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on my brain.”little tumor on my brain.”

The Catcher in the Rye. J.D. SalingerThe Catcher in the Rye. J.D. Salinger

The EndThe End

Look for these rhetorical devices as a Look for these rhetorical devices as a way that authors add meaning to way that authors add meaning to their works. their works.

Literature and poetry become much Literature and poetry become much more fascinating studying them from more fascinating studying them from the perspective of the writer.the perspective of the writer.

rhetorical devices what are they and why are they used?

Documents

rhetorical devices thats

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