Introduction
Rhetorical devices are literary devices though their functions are, somewhat, different. These devices are used to persuade and communication. They also engage an audience through various forms of communication such as speeches, essays, or literature.
These rhetorical devices include devices such as similes, metaphors, alliteration, and parallelism, as well as strategies like ethos, pathos, and logos. One thing among all is common that they emphasize, evoke emotions, and enhance the impact of the message.
Types of Rhetorical Devices
| Rhetorical Device | Definition | Example | Role in Rhetoric |
| Simile | This literary device is also a rhetorical device. It compares two different things using “like” or “as” | “Her smile was as bright as the sun.” | Adds imagery and helps readers picturize things. |
| Metaphor | This is also a literary device that equates one thing to another unrelated thing | “The world is a stage.” | Evokes emotions and facilitates deeper understanding including direct picturization of things or objects. |
| Alliteration | It shows the repetition of initial consonant sounds | “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” | Creates a rhythmic and attention-grabbing effect. |
| Hyperbole | This rhetorical device shows an exaggerated statement or claim. | “I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!” | Adds emphasis and humor to a message. |
| Repetition | This rhetorical device shows using words, phrases, or ideas. | “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” | Strengthens key messages and aids in memory. |
| Anaphora | This rhetorical device shows repeating words at the beginning of clauses/sentences. | “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds…” | Creates rhythm and emphasizes specific ideas. |
| Epistrophe | This rhetorical device shows using repeated words at the end of clauses/sentences. | “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child.” | Provides closure and reinforces central themes. |
| Parallelism | This rhetorical device shows using similar grammatical structures. | “Easy come, easy go.” | Enhances rhythm and organizes complex ideas. |
| Antithesis | It shows uxtaposing contrasting ideas or phrases. | “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” | Emphasizes differences to create a strong contrast. |
| Chiasmus | This rhetorical device shows reversing the order of words or phrases. | “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” | Adds an artistic and memorable quality to a statement. |
| Climax | It means arranging words in ascending order of importance. | “I came, I saw, I conquered.” | Builds anticipation and leads to a powerful conclusion. |
| Antimetabole | This rhetorical device shows repeating words in reverse order. | “Eat to live, not live to eat.” | Adds emphasis and encourages reflection. |
| Apostrophe | It shows addressing an absent person or inanimate object. | “O, Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?” | Expresses intense emotions and creates intimacy. |
| Epanalepsis | It shows repeating words at the beginning and end. | “Water alone dug this giant canyon, water alone.” | Draws attention to a specific point and reinforces it. |
| Litotes | This rhetorical device shows understatement expressed by negating its opposite. | “She’s not unkind.” | Softens the impact of a statement or adds emphasis. |
| Polysyndeton | It shows using multiple conjunctions in a sentence. | “He ran and jumped and laughed and danced.” | Creates a sense of accumulation and urgency. |
| Asyndeton | This rhetorical device shows omitting conjunctions in a series of words | “I came, I saw, I conquered.” | Creates speed and directness in the message. |
These rhetorical devices are powerful tools that writers and speakers use to convey their messages effectively, engage their audience, and persuade them to their point of view. Each device serves a specific role in rhetoric, helping to create impact, emotion, and memorable communication.
Functions of Rhetorical Devices in Rhetoric
1. Adding Vivid Imagery and Engagement:
- Simile: This rhetorical device shows compares two things using “like” or “as” to create vivid images.
- Metaphor: It equates one thing to another unrelated thing, engaging the audience’s imagination.
2. Creating Rhythmic and Attention-Grabbing Effects:
- Alliteration: This rhetorical device shows the repetition of initial consonant sounds for a rhythmic effect.
- Anaphora: It shows repeating words at the beginning of clauses/sentences for rhythm.
3. Evoking Emotions and Facilitating Understanding:
- Metaphor: This rhetorical device shows engagesment of emotions and helps the audience comprehend complex ideas.
- Hyperbole: It exaggerates for emphasis, making the message more impactful.
4. Enhancing Emphasis and Memorable Messages:
- Hyperbole: This rhetorical device shows adds emphasis to critical points and makes them memorable.
- Repetition: It strengthens key messages and aids in memory retention.
5. Creating a Sense of Order and Symmetry:
- Parallelism: This rhetorical device shows similar grammatical structures to organize complex ideas.
- Chiasmus: It reverses word order for a balanced and symmetrical structure.
6. Emphasizing Contrasts and Building Powerful Statements:
- Antithesis: It juxtaposes contrasting ideas to create strong statements.
- Climax: It arranges words in ascending order for a powerful conclusion.
7. Drawing Attention and Encouraging Reflection:
- Antimetabole: This rhetorical device shows repeated words in reverse order to emphasize points.
- Epanalepsis: It repeats words at the beginning and end for focus.
8. Creating Dramatic Effect and Intimacy:
- Apostrophe: It shows addressing an absent person or object for emotional impact.
- Litotes: It understates to create a subtle form of emphasis.
9. Adding Artistic Quality and Memorable Phrases:
- Chiasmus: It adds an artistic and memorable quality to a statement.
- Epanalepsis: This rhetorical device repeates a rhythmic and memorable pattern.
10. Expressing Intensity and Urgency:
- Apostrophe: It expresses intense emotions and urgency.
- Polysyndeton: It uses multiple conjunctions for a sense of urgency.
11. Creating Speed and Directness:
- Asyndeton: It means omitting conjunctions for a fast-paced message.
- Polysyndeton: It enhances rhythm and adds urgency to a message.
12. Engaging Audience and Persuasion:
- Simile: It engages the audience by relating to familiar images.
- Apostrophe: This rhetorical device creates a sense of intimacy and connection with the audience.
Suggested Readings of Books about Rhetorical Devices
- Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research. 4th ed., University of Chicago Press, 2016.
- Corbett, Edward P. J., and Robert J. Connors. Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student. 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 1998.
- Kennedy, George A., and Aristotle. Aristotle On Rhetoric: A Theory of Civic Discourse. Oxford University Press, 1991.
- Lanham, Richard A. A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms. 2nd ed., University of California Press, 1991.
- Foss, K. Sonja. Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and Practice. 5th ed., Waveland Press, 2020.
- Weaver, Richard M. Ideas Have Consequences. University of Chicago Press, 2013.
