Literary Devices Literary Devices Found in Rhetorical Found in Rhetorical WritingWriting

In Frederick Douglass’ In Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglassthe Life of Frederick Douglass

ALLUSIONALLUSION

Allusion is a reference to a mythological, Allusion is a reference to a mythological, literary, or historical person, place or literary, or historical person, place or thing. thing. Example: When I visited New York last year Example: When I visited New York last year

I visited I visited the site of 9/11the site of 9/11..

AnaphoraAnaphora

The repetition of the same word or group The repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginnings of successive of words at the beginnings of successive clauses.clauses.

Example: Example: We shallWe shall fight on the beaches, fight on the beaches, we shallwe shall fight on the landing-grounds, fight on the landing-grounds, we we shallshall fight in the fields and in the streets, fight in the fields and in the streets, we shallwe shall fight in the hills. fight in the hills. Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill

PolysyndetonPolysyndeton

Polysyndeton is the deliberate use of Polysyndeton is the deliberate use of many conjunctions.many conjunctions.

For example: I said, “Who killed him?” For example: I said, “Who killed him?” andand he said, I don’t know who killed him he said, I don’t know who killed him but he’s dead all right,” but he’s dead all right,” andand it was dark it was dark andand there was water standing in the there was water standing in the street street andand no lights and windows broke no lights and windows broke andand boats all up in the town. boats all up in the town. Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway

AsyndetonAsyndeton

Asyndeton is the deliberate omission of Asyndeton is the deliberate omission of conjunctions between related clauses. It conjunctions between related clauses. It is the opposite of polysyndeton.is the opposite of polysyndeton.

Example: When I go home I turn left, Example: When I go home I turn left, then right, get on the freeway, go south, then right, get on the freeway, go south, ride a long time, exit, drive West and I’m ride a long time, exit, drive West and I’m home.home.

ImageryImagery

Imagery consists of the words or phrases a Imagery consists of the words or phrases a writer uses to represent persons, objects, writer uses to represent persons, objects, actions, feelings and ideas descriptively by actions, feelings and ideas descriptively by appealing to the senses.appealing to the senses.

Example: A walk through the woods is my Example: A walk through the woods is my favorite thing to do. I can smell the leaves, and favorite thing to do. I can smell the leaves, and hear them crunch beneath my boots. The air is hear them crunch beneath my boots. The air is crisp to the skin, yet warming when the sun crisp to the skin, yet warming when the sun shines making me shiver.shines making me shiver.

IronyIrony

Situational irony occurs when a situation Situational irony occurs when a situation turns out differently from what one would turns out differently from what one would normally expect – though the twist is normally expect – though the twist is oddly appropriate.oddly appropriate.

Example: A deep sea diver drowned in Example: A deep sea diver drowned in his bathtub this week.his bathtub this week.

MoodMood

Mood is the atmosphere or predominant Mood is the atmosphere or predominant emotion in a literary work.emotion in a literary work.

Protagonist and Protagonist and AntagonistAntagonist

The protagonist is the central character The protagonist is the central character of a drama, novel, short story, or of a drama, novel, short story, or narrative poem. narrative poem.

Conversely, antagonist is the character Conversely, antagonist is the character who stands directly opposed to the who stands directly opposed to the protagonist.protagonist.

RepetitionRepetition

Repetition is the deliberate use of any Repetition is the deliberate use of any element of language more than once – element of language more than once – sound, word, phrase, sentence, sound, word, phrase, sentence, grammatical pattern, or rhythmical grammatical pattern, or rhythmical pattern.pattern.

Shift or turnShift or turn

Shift or turn refers to a change or Shift or turn refers to a change or movement in a piece resulting from an movement in a piece resulting from an epiphany, realization, or insight gained by epiphany, realization, or insight gained by the speaker, a character, or the reader.the speaker, a character, or the reader.

Ethos, Pathos, LogosEthos, Pathos, Logos

Ethos – Ethical approach – the author Ethos – Ethical approach – the author proves his/her validity in being an expert proves his/her validity in being an expert on the piece.on the piece.

Pathos – Emotional approach – draws on Pathos – Emotional approach – draws on the emotions of the reader.the emotions of the reader.

Logos – Logical approach – uses facts Logos – Logical approach – uses facts and statistics to gain the reader’s and statistics to gain the reader’s acceptance of the piece.acceptance of the piece.

Diction Diction

Diction is the study of word usage within a Diction is the study of word usage within a piece. Specific words are used piece. Specific words are used specifically and with careful choice by the specifically and with careful choice by the author.author.

Example: We’re here to smash the Example: We’re here to smash the Americans.Americans.

SyntaxSyntax

Syntax studies:Syntax studies: Sentence structureSentence structure The use of italics, bold or underlining that is The use of italics, bold or underlining that is

out of place.out of place. Punctuation.Punctuation. Example: Get . . . Out of here! I told you – I Example: Get . . . Out of here! I told you – I

told you so many times to leave me ALONE.told you so many times to leave me ALONE.

Extended MetaphorExtended Metaphor

A comparison of two unlike things that A comparison of two unlike things that extends into more than one sentence.extends into more than one sentence.

Example: He was a greek god in my Example: He was a greek god in my eyes, strong, tall, and gorgeous. He eyes, strong, tall, and gorgeous. He swept me away on his stallion to the swept me away on his stallion to the point where I lost all sense.point where I lost all sense.

Poetry: A Douglass Poetry: A Douglass Inspired PoemInspired Poem

Choose a topic: Cruelty, desire, death, hope, Choose a topic: Cruelty, desire, death, hope, helplessness, loss of innocence, love, loss, etc.helplessness, loss of innocence, love, loss, etc.

Choose one of Douglass’ literary sentences, Choose one of Douglass’ literary sentences, such as “I have often wished myself a beast,” such as “I have often wished myself a beast,” but make sure that the line corresponds with but make sure that the line corresponds with your topic.your topic.

Build a poem based on Douglass’ line and your Build a poem based on Douglass’ line and your topic. Use the line somewhere in the poem. topic. Use the line somewhere in the poem.

Use a minimum Use a minimum of five literary elements of five literary elements in in your poem.your poem.

Make sure to title the poem.Make sure to title the poem.