rhetorical device
technique that an author or speaker uses with the goal of persuading
hyperbole
exaggeration as rhetorical device
discrediting tactic
personal attack against a public figure intended to discourage people from believing in the figure or supporting their cause
antithesis
something that is the opposite of something else
parallelism
literary style of forming sentences of the same grammar structure
oral-formulaic composition
theory about the formulation of epic poetry by oral poets
think of the children
a cliché that evolved into a rhetorical tactic
rhetorical answer
an answer to a rhetorical question
stylistic device
technique used to give an auxiliary meaning, idea, or feeling to a literal message, including assonance, consonance and alliteration
asyndeton
literary scheme in which one or several conjunctions are deliberately omitted from a series of related clauses
trilemma
difficult choice from three options, each of which is (or appears) unacceptable or unfavourable
loaded language
rhetoric used to influence an audience
Praise sandwich
rhetorical technique to deliver criticism
dilemma
problem offering two possibilities, neither of which is unambiguously acceptable or preferable
rhetorical question
figure of speech in the form of a question, asked to make a point rather than to elicit an answer
hendiadys
conjunction for emphasis
Gish Gallop
rhetorical technique using mere volume and rapidity of arguments
polysyndeton
ancient Greek word for "many"
understatement
stylistic device
Dissociation
rhetorical device where speaker splits concept considered unitary
confessional
stylistic device of reality television
Pathos
Greek rhetorical term meaning “passion”
literary trope
use of figurative language – via word, phrase, or even an image – for artistic effect in literary works
translation
rhetorical device
pars pro toto
Latin for a part (taken) for the whole
invective
abusive, reproachful, or venomous language used to express blame or censure
Enantiosis
rhetorical device of juxtaposition of opposites for contrast
literary topos
standardized method of treating a theme in literature