This document defines and provides examples of various rhetorical devices and figures of speech that can be used when crafting speeches or other written works. It discusses alliteration, assonance, simile, metaphor, analogy, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, paradox, personification, understatement, pun, comparison, parallelism, imagery, rhetorical question, epistrophe/antistrophe, antithesis, hyperbole, and enumeratio. Examples are provided for each term to illustrate its proper use.
1. Wording Speeches
Rhetorical devices,
wording techniques,
figures of speech, and
phrasing methods
2. Alliteration
repetition of consonant sounds at the
beginning of words or accented
syllables
"She sells sea shells by the sea shore"
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers"
slithering snake
patently preposterous policy
3. Assonance
the repetition of similar vowel sounds
...the broad circumference
Hung on his shoulders like the Moon, whose Orb
Through Optic Glass the Tuscan Artist views
At ev'ning from the top of Fesole...
In this case, the assonance involves the sound u and o.
4. Simile
comparison of two things using "like"
or "as”
And his eyes were like holes poked in a snowbank.
My love is like a red, red rose.
His hair was as smooth as a bird's breast.
Her hair was like gravy, running brown off her head
and clumping up on her shoulders.
5. Metaphor
comparisons of two things that don't
use like or as…trick is to watch out
for cliches
Metaphors:
Love: old flame, ring of fire
Metaphorical Cliches:
the calm before the storm
he’s the apple of her eye
6. Analogy
explicit comparison is made between two
things (events, ideas, people, etc) to further
a line of reasoning or drawing an inference
Withdrawal of U.S. troops will become like salted peanuts to the
American public; the more U.S. troops come home, the more
will be demanded.
I don't think there's anything certainly more unseemly than the
sight of a rock star in academic robes. It's a bit like when people
put their King Charles spaniels in little tartan sweats and hats.
It's not natural, and it doesn't make the dog any smarter. (--
Bono, 2004 Commencement Address of the University of
Pennsylvania)
Remember this, ladies and gentlemen. It's an old phrase,
basically anonymous. Politicians are a lot like diapers: You
should change them frequently and for the same reason. Keep
that in mind next time you vote. Good night.
7. Onomatopoeia
formation or use of words that imitate
the sounds associated with the objects
or actions they refer to
hiss; murmur; smack
Tlot-tlot; tlot-tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hoofs
ringing clear…
Ding dong! the bells are gonna chime…
Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is!
8. Oxymoron
figure of speech in which incongruous or
contradictory terms appear side by
side
O miserable abundance, O beggarly riches!
act naturally, found missing, alone together, peace
force, terribly pleased, ill health, jumbo shrimp, alone
together, small crowd, and clearly misunderstood
the sounds of silence
9. Paradox
statement that appears to contradict
itself
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
I do not love you except because I love you;
I go from loving to not loving you,
From waiting to not waiting for you
My heart moves from cold to fire.
10. Personification
figure of speech in which an inanimate
object or abstraction is endowed with
human qualities or abilities
Because I could not stop for Death--
He kindly stopped for me
An optimist is the human personification of spring.
Fear knocked on the door. Faith answered. There
was no one there.
11. Understatement
figure of speech in which a writer or a
speaker deliberately makes a situation
seem less important or serious than it
is
The grave's a fine and private place,
But none, I think, do there embrace.
I have to have this operation…It isn't very serious. I
have this tiny little tumor on the brain.“ (Holden
Caulfield in The Catcher In The Rye, by J. D.
Salinger)
"It's just a flesh wound.“ (Black Knight, after having
both of his arms cut off, in Monty Python and the Holy
Grail)
12. Pun
play on words, sometimes on different
senses of the same word and
sometimes on the similar sense or
sound of different words
What food these morsels be!
It is better to be looked over than to be overlooked.
A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead
possums. The flight attendant looks at him and says,
"I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per
passenger."
13. Comparison
how something compares and contrasts
with other similar/dissimilar items
Administrative work is like juggling a chain saw: once
in a while you pull it off and really wow people.
Health is a greater good than justice, because while
people can be content with the mere reputation for
being just, they prefer being healthy to only seeming
healthy.
14. Parallelism
similarity of structure in a pair or series
of related words, phrases, or clauses
parallelism of words:
She tried to make her pastry fluffy, sweet, and
delicate.
parallelism of phrases:
Singing a song or writing a poem is joyous.
parallelism of clauses:
Perch are inexpensive; cod are cheap; trout are
abundant; but salmon are best.
15. Imagery
words or phrases that appeal to one or
more of the five senses
Touch: gripped their chilled drinks; showered with
freezing cold Gatorade
Hear: cried in excitement
Taste: it tastes sweet yet spicy at once, with a tinge
of orange taste
Smell: the air smells like going to the countryside--
fresh and green--no smell of smoke but the fresh
waters and the leaves
Sight: the rose is bright red; yellow and black bees
buzzing
16. Rhetorical Question
a question whose answer is obvious or
implied
Can anyone look at the record of this administration
and say, "Well done"?
Can anyone compare the state of our economy when
the Carter administration took office with where we
are today and say, "Keep up the good work"?
Can anyone look at our reduced standing in the world
today and say, "Let's have four more years of this"?
(Ronald Reagan, 1980 Republican National Convention Acceptance Address)
17. Epistrophe/Antistrophe
repetition that occurs when the last word
or set of words in one sentence,
clause, or phrase is repeated one or
more times at the end of successive
sentences, clauses, or phrases
...and that government of the people, by the people,
for the people shall not perish from the earth
The minister who has been called by God, ordained
by God, appointed by God, and anointed by God, is
assumed guilty until proven innocent.
18. Antithesis
contrasting of opposing ideas in
adjacent phrases, clauses, or
sentences
I have a dream that my four little children will one day
live in a nation where they will not be judged by the
color of their skin but by the content of their
character. I have a dream today!
The world will little note, nor long remember, what we
say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
That's one small step for [a] man; one giant leap for
mankind."
19. Hyperbole
intentional and deliberate exaggeration
of a person, thing, quality, event to
emphasize a point external to the
object of exaggeration
So first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only
thing we have to fear is fear itself.
The only place where democracy comes before work
is in the dictionary.
20. Enumeratio
figure of amplification in which a subject is
divided into constituent parts or details, and
may include a listing of causes, effects,
problems, solutions, conditions, and
consequences
It is true that this international union is a strong,
militant organization. This international union is
comprised of 17 trade divisions, an executive board
of 15 individuals, 13 Vice Presidents...."
Kramer: "Who's gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It's
chocolate; it's peppermint; it's delicious…it's very
refreshing!”
