Rhetorical Terms (pt. 2)

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analogy

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A comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. Example: 'Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you are going to find.'

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simile

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A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'It was as hot as an oven this morning.'

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hyperbole

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An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally. Example: 'The plate shattered into a million pieces.'

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antithesis

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A rhetorical device that contrasts opposing ideas in a balanced way. Example: 'No pain, no gain.'

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meiosis

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A form of understatement that intentionally downplays a situation. Example: 'We must put an end to this peculiar institution.'

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metaphor

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A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'Time is a thief.'

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personification

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Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities or objects. Example: 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

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alliteration

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The repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words. Example: 'She sells seashells by the sea shore.'

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oxymoron

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A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction. Example: 'Deafening silence.'

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paradox

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A statement that appears self-contradictory but may reveal a deeper truth. Example: 'Less is more.'