Rhetorical Devices

A deliberate exaggeration

A statement that minimizes the effect of something

Putting two contrasting elements together

A brief reference to a famous person, event, or literary work.

A short, self-contained story with a message

Successive words or phrases with a similar grammatical structure

A combination of two opposite words

Repeating words or phrases to add emphasis

Saying something by negating its contrary

"Life is like a box of chocolates"

"He was a real Romeo with the ladies"

"I have the best team in the whole world!"

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

"The flame from the candle danced in the breeze."

"One child, one teacher, one pen, and one book can change the world."

"See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"

"Vertically challenged" instead of short

"That was not my favorite way to spend an evening."

"We have a small problem. All of our engines have failed. "