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Rhetorical Devices

This document defines and provides examples of various rhetorical devices used in writing and speech. Some of the devices described include alliteration, analogy, antithesis, metaphor, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, parallelism, and simile. Examples are given to illustrate each device, such as "rubber baby buggy bumpers" for alliteration or "the eyes are the windows of the soul" for metaphor.

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377 views

Rhetorical Devices

This document defines and provides examples of various rhetorical devices used in writing and speech. Some of the devices described include alliteration, analogy, antithesis, metaphor, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, parallelism, and simile. Examples are given to illustrate each device, such as "rubber baby buggy bumpers" for alliteration or "the eyes are the windows of the soul" for metaphor.

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Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Rhetorical Devices

Here are examples of rhetorical devices with a definition and an example:

Alliteration - the recurrence of initial consonant sounds - rubber baby buggy


bumpers

Allusion - a reference to an event, literary work or person - I cant do that


because I am not Superman.

Amplification - repeats a word or expression for emphasis - Love, real love,


takes time.

Analogy - compares two different things that have some similar


characteristics - He is flaky as a snowstorm.

Anaphora - repeats a word or phrase in successive phrases - "If you prick us,
do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? (Merchant of Venice,
Shakespeare)

Antanagoge - places a criticism and compliment together to lessen the


impact - The car is not pretty but it runs great.

Antimetabole - repeats words or phrases in reverse order - ask not what your
country can do for you ask what you can do for your country. (J F
Kennedy)

Antiphrasis - uses a word with an opposite meaning - The Chihuahua was


named Goliath.

Antithesis - makes a connection between two things - That's one small step
for a man, one giant leap for mankind. (Neil Armstrong)

Appositive - places a noun or phrase next to another noun for descriptive


purposes - Mary, queen of the land, hosted the ball.

Enumeratio - makes a point with details - Renovation included a spa, tennis


court, pool and lounge.

Epanalepsis - repeats something from the beginning of a sentence at the end


- My ears heard what you said but I couldnt believe my ears.

Epithet - using an adjective or adjective phrase to describe - mesmerizing


eyes

Epizeuxis - repeats one word for emphasis - The amusement park was fun,
fun, fun.

Hyperbole - an exaggeration - I have done this a thousand times.

Litotes - makes an understatement by denying the opposite of a word that


may have been used - The terms of the contract are not disagreeable to me.

Metanoia - corrects or qualifies a statement - You are the most beautiful


woman in this town, nay the entire world.

Metaphor - compares two things by stating one is the other - The eyes are the
windows of the soul.

Metonymy - a metaphor where something being compared is referred to by


something closely associated with it - The knights are loyal to the crown.

Onomatopoeia - words that imitate the sound they describe - plunk, whiz, pop

Oxymoron - a two word paradox - near miss, seriously funny

Parallelism - uses words or phrases with a similar structure - I went to the


store, parked the car and bought a pizza.

Simile - compares one object to another - He smokes like a chimney.

Understatement - makes an idea less important that it really is - The


hurricane disrupted traffic.

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