RHETORIC

1
RHETORIC       noun 1.The art or science of
all specialized literary uses of language in
prose or verse, including the figures of speech.
2.The study of the effective use of language.
3.The ability to use language effectively.
2
Simile Overt comparison between two unlike
things as though they were similar -- usually
with the words "like" or "as".
Example "I've had some long nights in the
stir. Alone in the dark with nothing but your
thoughts, time can draw out like a blade. That
was the longest night of my life."
3
Alliteration Repetition of initial consonant
letters (or sounds) in two or more different
words across successive sentences, clauses, or
phrases. Two kinds may be distinguished
Immediate juxtaposition occurs when the second
consonant sound follows right after the first --
back-to-back. I need a bigger box. 2)
Non-immediate juxtaposition occurs when the
consonants occur in nonadjacent words. 
"...Well, sir, I'm Jordan Rivers. And these here
are the Soggy Bottom Boys out of...Mississippi --
songs of salvation to salve the soul."
"Isn't that what being an international man of
mystery is all about?"
4
Antimetabole Words in one phrase or clause are
replicated, exactly or closely, in reverse
grammatical order in the next phrase or clause.
"I, too, was born in the slum. But just because
you're born in the slum does not mean the slum is
born in you, and you can rise above it if your
mind is made up."
IMF Contact "And Mr. Hunt, the next time you go
on holiday please be good enough to let us know
where you're going." Tape Message "This
message will self destruct in five seconds. EH
"If I let you know where I'm going, then I won't
be on holiday."
5
Asyndeton Normally occurring conjunctions
(and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) are
intentionally omitted in successive phrases, or
clauses. A string of words not separated by
normally occurring conjunctions.
"We use words like honour, code, loyalty. We use
these words as the backbone of a life defending
something. You use them as a punch line."
6
"The great, large achievement of liberalism in
the 20th century is the welfare State. And that
achievement, today, makes additional liberalism
virtually impossible. By 'additional liberalism'
I mean more of the same -- energetic,
high-spending, and high tax, redistributionist
egalitarian government." -- George F. Will, John
M. Ashbrook Memorial Dinner Address
7
Epitheton Very common figure that uses an
adjective or adjectival phrase to characterize a
person, thing, attribute, or quality.
For if this book is a joke, it is a joke against
me. It recounts my elephantine adventures in
pursuit of the obvious." -- G.K. Chesterton,
Orthodoxy
8
Hyperbole Deliberate exaggeration of a person,
thing, quality, event to emphasize a point
external to the object of exaggeration.
"Why-you got scars and knots on your head from
the top of your head to the bottom of your feet.
And every one of those scars is evidence against
the American white man." -- Malcolm X
"The Pharisees, therefore, said among themselves,
'Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing behold the
world has gone after him." -- John 1219 (KJV)
9
Paradox Figure that employs an apparent
contradiction which, nonetheless, evokes some
measure of truth.
"The next time I have a daughter, I hope it's a
boy."
10
Scesis Onomaton Figure of repetition in which a
set of two or more different words having the
same (or very nearly the same) meaning occurs
within the same sentence.
"For whatever reasons, Ray, call it fate call it
luck call it karma. I believe that everything
happens for a reason."
11
Allusion Figure of explication using a brief or
casual reference to a famous person, historical
event, place, or work of art.
"And I can pledge our nation to a goal When we
see that wounded traveller on the road to
Jericho, we will not pass to the other side." 
12
Antithesis Figure of balance in which two
contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed,
usually through parallel structure.
"I have a dream that my four little children will
one day live in a nation where they will not be
judged by the colour of their skin but by the
content of their character. I have a dream today!"
"...although the surface appears to be...very,
very fine-grained as you get close to it. It's
almost like a powder...Okay, I'm going to step
off the LEM now.  That's one small step for man
one giant leap for mankind."
"Those of us who loved him and who take him to
his rest today pray that what he was to us and
what he wished for others will some day come to
pass for all the world. As he said many times, in
many parts of this nation, to those he touched
and who sought to touch him 'Some men see things
as they are and say why. I dream things that
never were and say why not.'"
13
Antithesis
"I'm the producer of this show. If I didn't step
up, you're nowhere. I put this thing together on
a spit and polish."
14
Enthymeme A figure of reasoning in which one
or more statements of a syllogism (a
three-pronged deductive argument is/are left out
of the configuration. All syllogisms are similar
in that they contain at least three statements --
two premises followed by a conclusion. Ex1 -
All humans are mortal. (major premise)        -
Michael is human. (minor premise)        -
Michael is mortal. (conclusion)

• "If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit."
• If the glove doesn't fit you must acquit. (major
  premise)
• The glove doesn't fit. (minor premise)
• - You must acquit (conclusion)

15
Epizeuxis Figure of emphasis in which the same
word is repeated two or more times over in
immediate succession repetition of the same
word, word, word....
"Here it is! The one and only winner of the
Gemini Croquet contest! This boy is fueled, like
FIRE! So start melting ladies 'cause the boy is
hotter than hot. He's hot Hot! HOT!!
"Rhett, Rhett, Rhett! If you go, where shall I
go? What shall I do?  --
"Warning! Warning! Warning! Alien approaching!
16
Hypophora Figure of reasoning in which one or
more questions is/are asked and then answered,
often at length, by one and the same speaker
raising and responding to one's own question(s).
"Since we have come so far, whom shall be rash
enough to set limits on our future progress?
Who shall say that since we have gone so far, we
can go no farther? Who shall say that the
American dream is ended? For myself, I believe
that all we have done upon this continent is but
a prelude to a future in which we shall become
not only a bigger people but also a wiser people,
a better people, an even greater people."
17
Parallelism Syntactical structure of a set of
words in successive phrases, clauses,
sentences. This figure often occurs public
address with others such as antithesis, anaphora,
asyndeton, climax, epistrophe, and symploce.
"...and that government of the people, by the
people, for the people, shall not perish from the
earth."
18
Sententia Figure of argument in which a wise,
witty, or pithy maxim or aphorism used to sum up
the preceding material
"There has been this tendency to set aside some
of the women, and if they were willing, either to
set themselves aside in a religious service, or
in some dedicated activity where they didn't act
as wives and mothers. Society was willing, then,
to accord them quite a few of the privileges that
were accorded to men, as if it was being said,
either implicitly -- but of course...sometimes
explicitly 'You can't have everything.'"
"I think that if women aspired higher, took on
the problems involved, that they might find
surprising support from men. 'Time marches on.'"
19
Anadiplosis The last word or terms in one
sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or
very near the beginning of the next sentence,
clause, or phrase.
"They call for you the general who became a
slave the slave who became a gladiator the
gladiator who defied an Emperor. Striking story."
20
Aposiopesis Figure in which the speaker
abruptly stops or falls short of completing a
statement stopping short of completing a
statement.
Charlotte Blackwood The MiG-28 does have a
problem with its inverted flight tanks. It won't
do a Negative G push over. The latest
intelligence tells that the most it will do is
one negative --  Excuse me, Lieutenant, is there
something wrong?"
Dr. Petrov "This is most unnerving, Captain. The
reason for having two missile keys is so that no
one man may Captain Ramius "May what?" 
21
Climax Words or phrases or sentences are
arranged in order of increasing intensity or
importance, often in parallel construction.
"And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with
good night, good luck, a merry Christmas, and God
bless all of you, all of you on the good earth."
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God." -- John 11-2
(KJV)
22
Enumeratio A subject is divided into
constituent parts or details, and may include a
listing of causes, effects, problems, solutions,
conditions, and consequences.
K Who's gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It's
chocolate it's peppermint it's delicious. S
That's true. K It's very refreshing!
23
Personification Abstractions or inanimate
objects with human qualities, including physical,
emotional, and spiritual the application of
human attributes or abilities to non-human
entities.
"I'm gonna speak to this mountain -- whether its
a mountain of sickness, whether its a mountain
of debt whether its a mountain of loneliness
whether its a mountain of despair -- whatever
this mountain is. -- T.D. Jakes, All I Have
is a Seed on my Side
24
Simile Two things that share at least one
attribute are explicitly associated with each
other an overt comparison between two unlike
things as though they were similar -- usually
with the words "like" or "as".
"Charging a man with murder in this place was
like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy
500. I took the mission. What the hell else was I
gonna do?"
25
Analogy An extended metaphor or long simile in
which an explicit comparison is made between two
things (events, ideas, people, etc) for the
purpose of furthering a line of reasoning.
Don't worry about the future or worry -- but
know that worrying is as effective as trying to
solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum."
-- Baz Luhrmann, Everybody's Free (to Wear
Sunscreen)
26
Appositio (apposition) Words are placed side
by side (in apposition to) each other with one
word describing or clarifying the other adjacent
nouns or noun substitutes with one elaborating
the other.
"Here, in the great, liberal state of
Massachusetts, the cradle of liberty and
abolitionism, a woman was arrested on a minor
criminal charge." -- Pauli Murray Note Here
is a case of chained appositions with the "great,
liberal state..." set in apposition to "Here" and
the "cradle of liberty" set in apposition to
Massachusetts.
27
Conduplicatio Figure of repetition in which the
key word or words in one phrase, clause, or
sentence is/are repeated at or very near the
beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or
phrases.
"This afternoon, in this room, I testified before
the Office of Independent Council and the Grand
Jury. I answered their questions truthfully,
including questions about my private life --
questions no American citizen would ever want to
answer."
28
Conduplicatio
"These things I have spoken unto you that in me
you might have peace. In the world, ye shall
have tribulation, but be of good cheer -- I have
overcome the world." -- John 1633 (KJV)
29
Exemplum Figure of amplification using an
example, brief or extended, real or fictitious,
to illustrate a point an example.
"Scientists can do more, but we've got to given
them the chance. And that means more funding for
research. Right now, for example, about a quarter
million Americans have a spinal chord injury"
30
Metaphor An implied comparison between two
different things which share at least one
attribute in common.
Colonel Kurtz "Are you an assassin? Captain
Willard "I'm a soldier. Colonel Kurtz
"You're neither. You're an errand boy...sent by
grocery clerks...to collect a bill.
31
Polysyndeton Deliberate and excessive use of
conjunctions in successive words or clauses.
"It's football a way of life, really, to those
particular people who are a part of it. It's more
than a game, and regardless of what level it's
played upon, it still demands those attributes of
courage and stamina and coordinated efficiency
and goes even beyond that for it is a means --
it provides a mental and physical relaxation to
everybody that watches it, like yourself." --
Vince Lombardi
32
Symploce Repetition of the first and last
words in a clause over successive clauses.
"Much of what I say might sound bitter, but it's
the truth. Much of what I say might sound like
it's stirring up trouble, but it's the truth.
Much of what I say might sound like it is hate,
but it's the truth." -- Malcolm X
33
Anaphora Repetition of the initial word(s) over
successive phrases or clauses
"To raise a happy, healthy, and hopeful child, it
takes a family it takes teachers it takes
clergy it takes business people it takes
community leaders it takes those who protect
our health and safety. It takes all of us."
34
Assonance Two or more words with similar vowel
sounds sandwiched between different consonants.
"I feel the need, the need for speed."
35
Diacope The same word or phrase occurs on
either side of an intervening word or phrase
word/phrase x, ..., word/phrase x.
"The people everywhere, not just here in Britain,
everywhere -- they kept faith with Princess
Diana."
36
Epistrophe (Also called Antistrophe) Phrase
is repeated one or more times at the end of
successive sentences.
"The time for the healing of the wounds has come.
The moment to bridge the chasms that divides us
has come."
37
Expletive A single word or short phrase,
usually interrupting normal speech, is used to
lend emphasis to the words on either side of the
expletive.
"We do indeed and have discriminated against
women...." Betty Friedan, Women -- Do we dare not
discriminate
38
Oxymoron Figure that binds together TWO words
that are ordinarily contradictory.
"Safe sex -- now there's an oxymoron. That's like
'tactical Nuke' or 'adult male.'"
39
Rhetorical Question A question whose answer is
obvious or implied.
"It really is time to ask ourselves, 'How can we
allow the rich and powerful, not only to rip off
people as consumers, but to continue to rip them
off as taxpayers?'"
40
Synecdoche Figure of comparison in which a
word standing for part of something is used for
the whole of that thing.
("This is NBC Nightly News with John Chancellor
and David Brinkley.") "Good evening. Elvis
Presley died today. He was 42. Apparently, it
was a heart attack. He was found in his home in
Memphis not breathing. His road manager tried
to revive him he failed. A hospital tried to
revive him -- it failed. His doctor pronounced
him dead at three o'clock this afternoon. --
NBC Nightly News with John Chancellor and David
Brinkley In this case, the whole (hospital)
stands in for one of its parts (the attending
physician and health care workers).