Rhetorical Devices - AP LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION

A rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect. "Never let a fool kiss you, or a kiss fool you."

• synecdoche

• litotes

• asyndeton

• chiasmus

A figure of speech in which a term for a part of something refers to the whole of something or vice versa (The word "suits" refers to businessmen)

• syllogism

• simile

• synecdoche

• eponym

A form of logical reasoning that joins two or more premises to arrive at a conclusion. For example: "All birds lay eggs. A swan is a bird. Therefore, a swan lays eggs."

• rhetoric

• syllogism

• logos

• parallelism

Uses words or phrases with a similar structure - I went to the store, parked the car and bought a pizza.

• parallelism

• imagery

• similarities

• diction

This represents credibility or an ethical appeal which involves persuasion by the character involved.

• credulity

• ethos

• characterization

• logos

A metaphor where something being compared is referred to by something closely associated with it - "coke" or "soda" for a soft drink.

• juxtaposition

• metaphorical

• paradox

• metonymy

The person for whom a writer writes, or composer composes.

• speaker

• poet

• audience

• persona

A figure of speech in which a writer raises a question and then immediately provides an answer to that question.

• speaker

• tone

• interrogation

• hypophora

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth. "Your enemy's friend is your enemy."

• eulogy

• contradiction

• allegory

• paradox

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.

• chiasmus

• synecdoche

• metonymy

• litotes