Rhetorical Devices

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

• Oxymoron

• Alliteration

• Allusion

• Metonymy

An indirect reference to something (usually a literary text, although it can be other things commonly known, such as plays, songs, historical events) with which the reader is supposed to be familiar.

• Oxymoron

• Alliteration

• Allusion

• Metonymy

A comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Comparison

• Analogy

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, phrases, or clauses.

• Anaphora

• Repetition

• Parallelism

• Antithesis

A brief recounting of a relevant episode. Often inserted into fictional or non-fictional texts as a way of developing a point or injecting humor.

• Anecdote

• Testimonial

• Metonymy

• Antithesis

A literary device that refers to the juxtaposition of two opposing elements through parallel grammatical structure.

• Anecdote

• Anaphora

• Oxymoron

• Antithesis

A persuasive technique designed to make people feel that a product or idea is popular and that everyone else is doing it. People feel like they’re missing out or falling behind if they don’t join the crowd and be a part of the trend.

• Plain Folks

• Bandwagon Appeal

• Testimonial

• Anecdote

A boldly overstated or exaggerated claim or statement that adds emphasis without the intention of being literally true. Often used for serious, comic, or ironic effect.

• Metonymy

• Synecdoche

• Hyperbole

• Litotes

a figure of speech featuring a phrase that utilizes negative wording or terms to express a positive assertion or statement.

• Metonymy

• Synecdoche

• Hyperbole

• Litotes

Replacing an actual word or idea, with a related word or concept.

• Metonymy

• Synecdoche

• Hyperbole

• Litotes