Rhetorical Rhetorical Devices Rhetorical Devices The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Act III

An Elizabethan Lesson in Rhetoric Rhetoric is the art of public speaking and debate. Rhetoric is the technique of using language effectively and persuasively in spoken or written form. It is an art of discourse, which studies and employs various methods to convince, influence or please an audience.

Rhetorical Devices vs. Figurative Language Rhetorical figures or devices are employed to achieve particular emphasis and effect. Rhetorical devices, however, are different from “figures of speech”. Wherever and whenever a figure of speech is used in written texts and speech, it alters meanings of words. For example, the metaphor used in the expression “He is a tiger,” is a complete altered form of the simple idea “He is brave.”

Rhetorical Devices vs. Figurative Language Try to compare that example to the use of a rhetorical device in the following example: “I am never ever going to rob anyone for you and never, never ever give in to your sinful wish.” The repetition in the example places emphasis on the statement but does not alter the sense of it.

Common Rhetorical Devices: Anaphora The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair…” (Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens)

Common Rhetorical Devices: Anagnorisis The moment of realization of a truth.

Common Rhetorical Devices: Antithesis Opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction. In other words, Antithesis explores and than refutes an idea. “A time to be born and a time to die; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build.” (Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes)        “Brutus: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (Shakespeare, Julius Caesar)

Common Rhetorical Devices: Parallelism Parallelism means giving two or more parts of the sentences a similar form so as to give the whole a definite pattern “Veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered).” a comment reportedly written by (Julius Caesar) "The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessing; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries." (Churchill) "But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." (Amos)

Common Rhetorical Devices: Apostrophe A turn from the general audience to address a specific group or person or personified abstraction absent or present. "For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel. Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him". (Mark Antony in Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare)

Common Rhetorical Devices: Assonance Repetition of the same vowel sounds in words close to each other. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.“ (The Lord's Prayer) “Its quick soft silver bell beating, beating…” (Karl Shapiro, “Auto Wreck”)

Common Rhetorical Devices: Cacophony Harsh joining of sounds "We want no parlay with you and your grisly gang who work your wicked will."  (British Prime Minister Winston Churchill -referring to Hitler.) “A toad the power mower caught, Chewed and clipped of a leg, with a hobbling hop has got” ("The Death of a Toad" by Richard Wilbur)

Common Rhetorical Devices: (Verbal) Irony Expression of something which is contrary to the intended meaning; the words say one thing but mean another. “Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honorable man. “         (Shakespeare's Mark Antony in Julius Caesar)

Common Rhetorical Devices: Metaphor Implied comparison achieved through a figurative use of words; the word is used not in its literal sense, but in one analogous to it.   *Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage. " (Shakespeare, Macbeth ) “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.”  (W. Churchill)

Common Rhetorical Devices: Oxymoron Apparent paradox achieved by the juxtaposition of words which seem to contradict one another. “I must be cruel only to be kind.“ (Shakespeare, Hamlet)        "Hurts so good…“ (John Cougar Melancamp)   “Jumbo Shrimp”

Common Rhetorical Devices: Paradox An assertion seemingly opposed to common sense, but that may yet have some truth in it. “What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young." (George Bernard Shaw)

Common Rhetorical Devices: Rhetorical Question A rhetorical question is asked just for effect or to place emphasis on some point discussed when no real answer is expected.