RHETORICAL DEVICES

ANAPHORA repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines ex. "Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition!" (King John)

ANAPHORA How does anaphora persuade? The primacy effect says that things at the beginning are remembered. Repetition also enhances memory. Anaphora thus has a powerful effect on hammering home an important point. MORE EXAMPLES Now is the time for action. Now is the time to take up arms. Now is the time to fight for your country. Blessed are the good and blessed are the poor.

ANTITHESIS opposition or juxtaposition of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction ex. "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." (Julius Caesar)

ANTITHESIS How does antithesis persuade? Antithesis uses the contrast principle to draw attention to something. When an opposite to what might be expected is given, it is usually a surprise and hence causes the listener to slow down and figure out the puzzle presented. MORE EXAMPLES It has been said we are good, but I say we are bad. In many ways, the old are young. She is very intelligent -- far from stupid.

ASYNDETON uh-sin-duh-tin the absence of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words ex. "Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, / Shrunk to this little measure?" (Julius Caesar)

ASYNDETON How does asyndeton persuade? Conjunctions join clauses into complete sentences and include words such as although, and, as, after, before, because, but, if, nor, since, that, until, unless, yet. They send signals about how the clauses work together. When then are omitted, they cause a certain amount of confusion, forcing the person to review what was just said. Asyndeton can thus be used as a form of light emphasis. Asyndeton done well is typically terse and direct. Done badly, it is harsh staccato.

MORE EXAMPLES OF ASYNDETON I came, I saw, I conquered. (Julius Caesar) ...we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender... (Winston Churchill) I will buy you a drink; you do not deserve it.

PARALIPSIS pretending to omit something by drawing attention to it ex. A politician says, “I will not even mention the fact that my opponent was a poor student.”

PARALIPSIS How does paralipsis work? -When we say little about something that obviously deserves more, we leave the unsaid things hanging in the air for all to know. In this way we can avoid embarrassing or difficult discussion in we might be challenged. -In saying that we will not talk about something, we have to mention that thing, thus drawing attention to it.

MORE EXAMPLES OF PARALIPSIS I will speak only about his good side. Not to mention her family, of course.

PARALLELISM repetition of a key word over successive phrases or clauses “We will have difficult times. We've had difficult times in the past. And we will have difficult times in the future.” Robert F. Kennedy’s Eulogy for Martin Luther King, Jr. (1968)

PARALLELISM How does parallelism work? The use of parallel structures in speech or writing allows speakers and writers to maintain a consistency within their work and create a balanced flow of ideas. Moreover, it can be employed as a tool for persuasion as well because of the repetition it uses.

MORE EXAMPLES OF PARALLELISM “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.”

SYNECDOCHE SIN-ECK-DUH-KEY a part or quality of something which is used in substitution of the larger whole, or vice versa, The hospital worked for hours to revive him (referring to the doctors and nurses inside the hospital). She took us outside to look at her new set of wheels‖(referring to her new car).

SYNECDOCHE How does synecdoche persuade? By representing one thing as another thing, the listener has to pause and think hard about the association, especially when it is tenuous and conceptual, as synecdoche may be.

MORE EXAMPLES OF SYNECDOCHE Let me see thy righteous spirit! We're out here, looking for the big cats. For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

RHETORICAL QUESTION a question that is posed for emphasis, not requiring an answer ex. "Art thou mad? Is not the truth the truth?"

RHETORICAL QUESTION How do rhetorical questions persuade? 1. Gains agreement Rhetorical questions are often intended to make the listener agree with the speaker as the answer is obviously yes. Even if the listener does not say the word, they will think it. And once they start agreeing they are more likely to keep doing so. EXAMPLES: Is the Pope a Catholic? Is the sky blue? Is this a great product?

RHETORICAL QUESTION 2. Allows disagreement We use rhetorical questions sometimes when we want to make a statement but are not confident enough to assert a point. The question format thus allows others to disagree, but is not necessarily seeking agreement. EXAMPLES: Isn't that wonderful? Is it a shade of blue?