Rhetorical Devices Flashcards
Hyperbole
a figure of speech that exaggerates
ex. that school has an army of children
Foreshadowing
Using hints/clues to suggest what will happen later in the story
Example: Early in the movie, at a simple visit to the store, the car won’t start. Later in the movie, when the star attempts to escape danger, the car won’t start.
Situational Irony
The opposite of what you/the audience expects to happen happens
ex. no rain even though there was a 90% chance on the weather forecast
Verbal Irony
Saying the opposite of what you
mean.
ex. Nice shirt! (Sarcastic tone – you
mean the opposite)
Dramatic Irony
When the reader or audience
knows more than the characters
know
ex. audicence sees where the killer is hiding, but the characters can’t
Metaphor
Compares two unlike things that
have something in common (without “like”/”as”).
ex. her eyes are stars
Onomatopoeia
The use of words to imitate
sounds.
ex. the cymbols clanged together
Oxymoron
Contradictory terms presented
or written side by side.
ex. Deafening silence, jumbo shrimp
Personification
Inanimate objects or abstract concepts given human or animal qualities
ex. The rain danced.
Symbolism
Concrete (tangible) objects used
to represent abstract (intangible)
thoughts, feelings or concepts.
ex. dove = peace, heart = love, eagle = power and strength
Simile
A comparison between
two unlike things that have
something in common using “like” or “as”
ex. Tom moved like an elephant.
Allusion
A reference to a famous person,
place, thing or event in life or
fiction.
ex. he’s as smart as Sherlock Holmes
