Rhetorical Toolbox

Marissa Glessman AP Language and Composition Rhetorical Toolbox Marissa Glessman AP Language and Composition Rhetorical Toolbox ALLITERATION Repitition of the same sound beginning several words in sequence Ex. [L]et us go forth to lead the land we love. ALLUSION Brief reference to a person, event, or place, real or fictitious, or to a work of art Ex. Let both sides unitre to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah. ANAPHORA repitition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines Ex. not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need - not as a call to battle, though embattled we are ANTIMETABOLE repitition of words in reverse order Ex. [A]sk not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. ANTITHESIS Opposition, or contrast, of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction Ex. [W]e shall support any friend, oppose any foe. ARCHAIC DICTION Old-fashioned or outdated choice of words Ex. beliefs for which our forebears fought ASYNDETON Omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words Ex. [W]e shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any fore to assure the survival and the success of liberty. CUMULATIVE SENTENCE Sentence that completes the main idea at the beginning of the sentence, and then builds and adds on. Ex. But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from out present course - both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly arom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war. HORTATIVE SENTENCE Sentence that exhorts, advises, calls to action Ex. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. IMPERATIVE SENTENCE Sentence used to command, njoin, implore, or entreat Ex. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. INVERSION Inverted order of words n a sentence (variation of the subject-verb-object order) Ex. United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do. JUXTAPOSITION Placement of two things closely together to emphasize ciomparisons or contrasts Ex. [W]e are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth...that the torh has been passed to a new generation of Americans - born in this country. [emphasis added] METAPHOR figure of speech that says one thing is another in order to explain by comparison Ex. And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion. METONYMY Using a single feature to represent the whole Ex. In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. OXYMORON Paradoxical juxtaposition of words that seem to contradict one another Ex. but this peaceful revolution PARALLELISM Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses Ex. Let both sides explore...Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals...Let both sides seek to invoke...Let both sides unite to heed PERIODIC SENTENCE Sentence whose main clause is withheld until the end Ex. To that world assemblye of sovereign stats, the Unites Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support. PERSONIFICATION Attribution of a lifelike quality to an inanimate object or idea Ex. with history the final judge of our deeds RHETORICAL QUESTION Figure of speech in the form of a question posed for thetorical effect rather than for the purpose of getting an answer Ex. Will you join in that historic effort? ZEUGMA Use of two different words in a grammatically similar way but producting different, often inconguous, meanings Ex. Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need - not as a call to battle, though embattled we are - but a call to bear the burden.