Stylistic Devices/Figurative Language

The repetition of the same initial sound in two or more words.

• anaphora

• alliteration

• apostrophe

• asyndeton

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses for emphasis.

• assonance

• antithesis

• anaphora

• alliteration

Expressions of strong contrast balanced against each other for emphasis.

• apostrophe

• chiasmus

• asyndeton

• antithesis

An exclamatory address to an imaginary or absent person or thing as if it were alive.

• apostrophe

• synecdoche

• antithesis

• paranomasia

The omission of conjunctions in a series of words or phrases.

• asyndeton

• polysyndeton

• synchesis

• synecdoche

A crisscross word or grammatical order ABBA.

• zeugma

• chiasmus

• hendiadys

• litotes

The use of two nouns connected by a conjunction instead of a noun and a modifier.

• hyperbaton

• hyperbole

• hendiadys

• hysteron proteron

An arrangement of words in an unusual order.

• hyperbole

• hysteron proteron

• hendiadys

• hyperbaton

An arrangement of words (meaning) where the logical order is reversed.

• tmesis

• hyperbole

• hyperbaton

• hysteron proteron

The affirmative is expressed by denying its opposite.

• litotes

• paranomasia

• oxymoron

• zeugma