Rhetorical Devices

A reference in a work of literature to a character, place, or situation from history, music, or another work of literature.

• anaphora

• foreshadowing

• analogy

• allusion

Repetition of successive lines in separate sentences of phrases in a text.

• aphorism

• anecdote

• repetition

• anaphora

A short pointed statement that expresses a wise or clever observation about the human experience. They are often metaphors.

• aphorism

• anecdote

• anaphora

• analogy

The use of a series of words, phrases, or sentences that have similar grammatical form.

• anaphora

• analogy

• repetition

• parallelism

The recurrence of sounds, words, phrases, lines, or stanzas in a speech.

• repetition

• anaphora

• parallelism

• rhetorical question

It doesn't matter that I loved you yesterday. It doesn't matter that I kissed you last night. It doesn't matter that one summer day brought us together...because you just tore us apart.

• Rhetorical question

• Sensory details

• Parallel structure

• Repetition

Writer asks a question but expects no answer, or writer clearly directs the reader to one desired answer.

• Rhetorical question

• Parallel structure

• Metaphor

• Repetition

Would I ever believe in myself again?

• Parallel structure

• Repetition

• Simile

• Rhetorical question

I like to run in the dark, swim in the sun, play at dawn, and watch the sky at night.

• Parallel structure listing nouns

• Repetition

• Rhetorical question

• Parallel structure listing verbs

I love the smell of bacon, smoked turkey, pine needles, chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven, cinnamon rolls, and melted caramel. The world is filled with smells.

• Parallel structure listing nouns

• Rhetorical question

• Repetition

• Parallel structure listing verbs