Rhetorical Devices

Allusion

• the combination of two words of opposite meaning for dramatic, comedic or provocative effect.

• an obvious, intended exaggeration.

• a brief reference to a famous person or event—often from literature, history, Greek mythology, or the Bible. Can help to simplify complex ideas.

• a type of metaphor in which non-human objects or ideas are given human qualities. Example: “The wind whispered her name.”

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.L.7.5A

CCSS.RL.8.4

Euphemism

• comparison using 'like' or 'as'

• the combination of two words of opposite meaning for drama>c, comedic or provocative effect. Example: “Dark comedy” or “open secret.”

• a mild or pleasant term used in place of an unpleasant or offensive one. Example: “Sanitation engineer” instead of “garbage man.”

• a question that's not meant to be answered

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

Hyperbole

• Several parts of a sentence or several sentences expressed in similar grammatical form to show that the ideas are equal in importance. Can add balance, rhythm and emphasis to ideas

• obvious, intended exaggeration

• a statement that says less than it means

• a repeated word or phrase, used for emphasis

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Juxtaposition

• the combination of two words of opposite meaning for drama>c, comedic or provocative effect. Example: “Dark comedy” or “open secret.”

• comparison without using 'like' or 'as'

• giving an inanimate object human characteristics

• putting two contrasting elements together that are so unlike that the effect is surprising, witty, or even startling

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

Metaphor

• comparison without using 'like' or 'as'

• comparison using 'like' or 'as'

• giving an inanimate object human characteristics

• repetition at the beginning of a line

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Oxymoron

• repetition at the end of a line

• the combination of two words of opposite meaning for dramatic effect

• putting two contrasting elements together that are so unlike that the effect is witty, dramatic, or startling

• a statement that says less than it means

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5A

Parallelism

• putting two contrasting elements together that are so unlike that the effect is dramatic, witty, or startling

• several parts of a sentence or several sentences expressed in similar grammatical form to show that the ideas are equal in importance. Can add balance, rhythm and emphasis to ideas.

• a repeated word or phrase, used for emphasis.

• a brief reference to a famous person or event—often from literature, history, Greek mythology, or the Bible. Can help to simplify complex ideas.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Personification

• a comparison using 'like' or 'as'

• giving an inanimate object human characterstics

• a question not meant to be answered

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

anaphora

• repetition at the beginning of a line

• repetition at the end of a line

• comparison without using 'like' or 'as'

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Epistrophe

• repetition at the beginning of a line

• repetition at the end of a line

• a mild or pleasant term used in place of an unpleasant or offensive one

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4