Persuasion ProjectTerms

Rhetorical question

• A rhetorical question is asked just for effect or to lay emphasis on some point discussed when no real answer is expected. A rhetorical question may have an obvious answer but the questioner asks rhetorical questions to lay emphasis to the point. In literature, a rhetorical question is self-evident and used for style as an impressive persuasive device.

• Broadly speaking, a rhetorical question is asked when the questioner himself knows the answer already or an answer is not actually demanded. So, an answer is not expected from the audience. Such a question is used to emphasize a point or draw the audience’s attention.

Example

The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare also has the effective use of rhetorical questions. Following are some of the most famous rhetorical questions by Shylock in the play.

Shylock: “If you prick us, do we not bleed?If you tickle us, do we not laugh?If you poison us, do we not die?And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?”

The questions don’t necessarily need an answer. They are neither questions nor plain statements rather something in between the two.

Repetition

• Repetition is a literary device that repeats the same words or phrases a few times to make an idea clearer. There are several types of repetitions commonly used in both prose and poetry. As a rhetorical device, it could be a word, a phrase or a full sentence or a poetical line repeated to emphasize its significance in the entire text. Repetition is not distinguished solely as a figure of speech but more as a rhetorical device.

Example

A horse is a horse, of course, of course,And no one can talk to a horse of courseThat is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed.”

These lines are among the repetition examples from the theme song of Mr. Ed, a 1960s TV program.

Parallelism

• Parallelism is the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter. Parallelism examples are found in literary works as well as in ordinary conversations.

• This method adds balance and rhythm to sentences giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be persuasive because of the repetition it employs. For example, “Alice ran into the room, into the garden, and into our hearts.” We see the repetition of a phrase that not only gives the sentence a balance but rhythm and flow as well. This repetition can also occur in similar structured clauses e.g. “Whenever you need me, wherever you need me, I will be there for you.”

Common Parallelism Examples

• Like father, like son.

• The escaped prisoner was wanted dead or alive.

• Easy come, easy go.

• Whether in class, at work or at home, Shasta was always busy.

• Flying is fast, comfortable, and safe.

Example

We see William Blake employ Parallelism in his poem “The Tyger”:

“What the hammer? what the chain?In what furnace was thy brain?What the anvil? what dread graspDare its deadly terrors clasp?”

The use of parallel structures, starting with “what”, creates a beautiful rhythm in the above lines.

Elevated or Charged Diction

• The term “charged/elevated" refers to words, phrases, and overall verbal and written communication that is intended to inspire emotion in the reader or listener. This usage of language to appeal to emotion is used in everyday conversation and is often used by politicians, public figures, advertisers and corporations. 

Some examples include:

• Bureaucrat vs. public servant

• Pro-death vs. pro-choice

• Regime vs. government

• Elitist vs. expert

• Infanticide or child murder vs. abortion

• Put up with vs. tolerate

• Put at a loss vs. bewilder

Antithesis

• Antithesis, literal meaning opposite, is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.

• Antithesis emphasizes the idea of contrast by parallel structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses, i.e. the structures of phrases and clauses are similar in order to draw the attention of the listeners or readers.

Common Antithesis Examples

• Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.

• Man proposes, God disposes.

• Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing.

• Speech is silver, but silence is gold.

• Patience is bitter, but it has a sweet fruit.

• Money is the root of all evils: poverty is the fruit of all goodness.

• You are easy on the eyes, but hard on the heart.

Function of Antithesis

• A literary device like antithesis uses words to convey ideas in different ways from the common words and expressions of daily life. Thus, it conveys meaning more vividly than ordinary speech. When contrasting ideas are brought together, the idea is expressed more emphatically.

• As a literary device, antithesis makes contrasts in order to examine pros and cons of a subject under discussion and helps to bring forth judgment on that particular subject.

Resources

• Literary Devices. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2015.