Rhetorical Devices

A rhetorical device that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds..." — Winston Churchill.

A rhetorical device that references a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.

"Let both sides explore what problems unite us..." — John F. Kennedy.

A rhetorical device that places two or more ideas, characters, or places side by side to develop comparisons and contrasts.

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." — Martin Luther King Jr.

A rhetorical device that involves exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

"I’ve told you a million times not to exaggerate!" — Unknown.

A rhetorical device that involves using the same grammatical structure in multiple parts of a sentence or series of sentences.

"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." — John F. Kennedy.