Tool Kit for Rhetorical Analysis
accismus
Coyness: a form of irony in which a person feigns a lack of interest in something that he or she actually desires.
Coyness: a form of irony in which a person feigns a lack of interest in something that he or she actually desires.
accumulation
Figure of speech in which a speaker or a writer gathers scattered points and lists them together.
allegoryFigure of speech in which a speaker or a writer gathers scattered points and lists them together.
Extending a metaphor so that objects, persons, and actions in a text are equated with meanings that lie outside the text.
alliteration
Repetition of initial consonant sound.
Repetition of initial consonant sound.
allusion
A brief, usually indirect reference to a person, place, or event--real or fictional.
A brief, usually indirect reference to a person, place, or event--real or fictional.
ambiguity
The presence of two or more possible meanings in any passage.
The presence of two or more possible meanings in any passage.
amplification
General term for all of the ways that an argument, an explanation, or a description can be expanded and enriched.
General term for all of the ways that an argument, an explanation, or a description can be expanded and enriched.
anadiplosis
Repetition of the last word of one line or clause to begin the next.
Repetition of the last word of one line or clause to begin the next.
analogy
Reasoning or arguing from parallel cases.
Reasoning or arguing from parallel cases.
anaphora
Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses.
Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses.
anticipation
General name for argumentative strategies whereby a speaker or writer foresees and replies to objections.
General name for argumentative strategies whereby a speaker or writer foresees and replies to objections.
anticlimax
An abrupt shift from a noble tone to a less exalted one--often for comic effect.
An abrupt shift from a noble tone to a less exalted one--often for comic effect.
antirrhesis
Rejecting an argument because of its insignificance, error, or wickedness.
Rejecting an argument because of its insignificance, error, or wickedness.
antithesis
Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases.
Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases.
antonomasia
Substitution of a title, epithet, or descriptive phrase for a proper name (or of a personal name for a common name) to designate a member of a group or class.
Substitution of a title, epithet, or descriptive phrase for a proper name (or of a personal name for a common name) to designate a member of a group or class.
aphorism
(1) A tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion. (2) A brief statement of a principle.
(1) A tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion. (2) A brief statement of a principle.
aporia
The expression of real or simulated doubt or perplexity.
The expression of real or simulated doubt or perplexity.
aposiopesis
An unfinished thought or broken sentence.
An unfinished thought or broken sentence.
apostrophe
(1) Mark of punctuation used to indicate possessive case or omission of a letter. (2) Rhetorical term for breaking off discourse to address some absent person or thing.
(1) Mark of punctuation used to indicate possessive case or omission of a letter. (2) Rhetorical term for breaking off discourse to address some absent person or thing.
apposition
Placing side-by-side two coordinate elements, the second of which serves as an explanation or modification of the first.
Placing side-by-side two coordinate elements, the second of which serves as an explanation or modification of the first.
arrangement
The parts of a speech or the structure of a text.
The parts of a speech or the structure of a text.
assonance
Identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighboring words.
Identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighboring words.
asyndeton
Omission of conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses (opposite of "polysyndeton").
Omission of conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses (opposite of "polysyndeton").
auxesis
A gradual increase in intensity of meaning with words arranged in ascending order of force or importance.
A gradual increase in intensity of meaning with words arranged in ascending order of force or importance.
bdelygmia
A litany of abuse--a series of critical epithets, descriptions, or attributes.
A litany of abuse--a series of critical epithets, descriptions, or attributes.
boosting
An adverbial construction used to support a claim or express a viewpoint more assertively and convincingly.
An adverbial construction used to support a claim or express a viewpoint more assertively and convincingly.
categoria
Direct exposure of an adversary's faults.
Direct exposure of an adversary's faults.
chiasmus
A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed.
A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed.
chleuasmos
A sarcastic reply that mocks an opponent, leaving him or her without an answer.
A sarcastic reply that mocks an opponent, leaving him or her without an answer.
climax
Mounting by degrees through words or sentences of increasing weight and in parallel construction with an emphasis on the high point or culmination of a series of events.
Mounting by degrees through words or sentences of increasing weight and in parallel construction with an emphasis on the high point or culmination of a series of events.
commonplace
Any statement or bit of knowledge that is commonly shared among a given audience or a community.
Any statement or bit of knowledge that is commonly shared among a given audience or a community.
commoratio
Repetition of a point several times in different words.
Repetition of a point several times in different words.
confirmation
The main part of a speech or text in which logical arguments in support of a position are elaborated.
The main part of a speech or text in which logical arguments in support of a position are elaborated.
concession
Argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer concedes a disputed point or leaves a disputed point to the audience or reader to decide.
Argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer concedes a disputed point or leaves a disputed point to the audience or reader to decide.
connotation
The emotional implications and associations that a word may carry.
The emotional implications and associations that a word may carry.
copia
Expansive richness as a stylistic goal.
Expansive richness as a stylistic goal.
crot
Verbal bit or fragment used as an autonomous unit without transitional devices.
Verbal bit or fragment used as an autonomous unit without transitional devices.
deduction
A method of reasoning in which a conclusion follows necessarily from the stated premises.
A method of reasoning in which a conclusion follows necessarily from the stated premises.
dehortatio
Dissuasive advice given with authority.
Dissuasive advice given with authority.
deliberative
Speech or writing that attempts to persuade an audience to take (or not to take) some action.
Speech or writing that attempts to persuade an audience to take (or not to take) some action.
delivery
One of the five traditional parts or canons of rhetoric, concerned with control of voice and gestures.
One of the five traditional parts or canons of rhetoric, concerned with control of voice and gestures.
demonstrative rhetoric
See epideictic: persuasion that deals with values that bring a group together; the rhetoric of ceremony, commemoration, declamation, demonstration, play, and display.
See epideictic: persuasion that deals with values that bring a group together; the rhetoric of ceremony, commemoration, declamation, demonstration, play, and display.
denotation
The direct or dictionary meaning of a word, in contrast to its figurative or associated meanings.
The direct or dictionary meaning of a word, in contrast to its figurative or associated meanings.
diacope
Repetition broken up by one or more intervening words.
Repetition broken up by one or more intervening words.
diatyposis
Recommending useful precepts or advice to someone else.
Recommending useful precepts or advice to someone else.
distinctio
Explicit references to various meanings of a word--usually for the purpose of removing ambiguities.
Explicit references to various meanings of a word--usually for the purpose of removing ambiguities.
dysphemism
Substitution of a more offensive or disparaging word or phrase for one considered less offensive.
Substitution of a more offensive or disparaging word or phrase for one considered less offensive.
effectio
Personal description; a head-to-toe inventory of a person's physical attributes or charms.
Personal description; a head-to-toe inventory of a person's physical attributes or charms.
ellipsis
Omission of one or more words, which must be supplied by the listener or reader.
Omission of one or more words, which must be supplied by the listener or reader.
encomium
Tribute or eulogy in prose or verse glorifying people, objects, ideas, or events.
Tribute or eulogy in prose or verse glorifying people, objects, ideas, or events.
enthymeme
An informally stated syllogism with an implied premise.
An informally stated syllogism with an implied premise.
epanalepsis
Repetition at the end of a clause or sentence of the word or phrase with which it began.
Repetition at the end of a clause or sentence of the word or phrase with which it began.
epicrisis
Circumstance in which a speaker quotes a passage and comments on it.
Circumstance in which a speaker quotes a passage and comments on it.
epideictic
Speech or writing that praises or blames.
Speech or writing that praises or blames.
epimone
Frequent repetition of a phrase or question; dwelling on a point.
Frequent repetition of a phrase or question; dwelling on a point.
epiphora
Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of several clauses.
Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of several clauses.
epiplexis
Asking questions to reproach rather than to elicit answers.
Asking questions to reproach rather than to elicit answers.
epithet
Using an appropriate adjective (often habitually) to characterize a person or thing.
Using an appropriate adjective (often habitually) to characterize a person or thing.
epizeuxis
Repetition of a word for emphasis (usually with no words in between).
Repetition of a word for emphasis (usually with no words in between).
erotesis
A rhetorical question implying strong affirmation or denial.
A rhetorical question implying strong affirmation or denial.
ethopoeia
Putting oneself in place of another so as to both understand and express his or her feelings more vividly.
Putting oneself in place of another so as to both understand and express his or her feelings more vividly.
ethos
Persuasive appeal based on the projected character of the speaker or narrator.
Persuasive appeal based on the projected character of the speaker or narrator.
euphemism
Substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit.
Substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit.
euphuism
Elaborately patterned prose style
Elaborately patterned prose style
evidence
Facts, documentation, or testimony used to strengthen a claim or reach a conclusion.
Facts, documentation, or testimony used to strengthen a claim or reach a conclusion.
exordium
The introductory part of an argument in which a speaker or writer establishes credibility (ethos) and announces the subject and purpose of the discourse.
The introductory part of an argument in which a speaker or writer establishes credibility (ethos) and announces the subject and purpose of the discourse.
exuscitatio
Emotional utterance that seeks to move hearers to a like feeling.
Emotional utterance that seeks to move hearers to a like feeling.
fable
A short narrative meant to teach a moral lesson.
A short narrative meant to teach a moral lesson.
figures of speech
The various uses of language that depart from customary construction, order, or significance.
The various uses of language that depart from customary construction, order, or significance.
gradatio
Sentence construction in which the last word of one clause becomes the first of the next, through three or more clauses.
Sentence construction in which the last word of one clause becomes the first of the next, through three or more clauses.
hyperbole
An extravagant statement; the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect.
An extravagant statement; the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect.
hypophora
Raising questions and answering them.
Raising questions and answering them.
hypotaxis
An arrangement of phrases or clauses in a dependent or subordinate relationship.
An arrangement of phrases or clauses in a dependent or subordinate relationship.
identification
Any of the wide variety of means by which an author may establish a shared sense of values, attitudes, and interests with his or her readers.
Any of the wide variety of means by which an author may establish a shared sense of values, attitudes, and interests with his or her readers.
induction
Method of reasoning by which a rhetor collects a number of instances and forms a generalization that is meant to apply to all instances.
Method of reasoning by which a rhetor collects a number of instances and forms a generalization that is meant to apply to all instances.
invective
Denunciatory or abusive language; discourse that casts blame on somebody or something.
Denunciatory or abusive language; discourse that casts blame on somebody or something.
invention
The discovery of the resources for persuasion inherent in any given rhetorical problem.
The discovery of the resources for persuasion inherent in any given rhetorical problem.
irony
Use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. A statement or situation where the meaning is directly contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.
Use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. A statement or situation where the meaning is directly contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.
isocolon
A succession of phrases of approximately equal length and corresponding structure.
A succession of phrases of approximately equal length and corresponding structure.
judicial
Speech or writing that considers the justice or injustice of a certain charge or accusation.
Speech or writing that considers the justice or injustice of a certain charge or accusation.
kairos
The opportune time and/or place, the right time to say or do the right thing.
The opportune time and/or place, the right time to say or do the right thing.
litotes
A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite.
A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite.
logos
In classical rhetoric, the means of persuasion by demonstration of the truth, real or apparent.
In classical rhetoric, the means of persuasion by demonstration of the truth, real or apparent.
meiosis
To belittle, use a degrading epithet, often through a trope of one word; rhetorical understatement.
To belittle, use a degrading epithet, often through a trope of one word; rhetorical understatement.
memory
One of the traditional five parts or canons of rhetoric, that which considers methods and devices to aid and improve the memory.
One of the traditional five parts or canons of rhetoric, that which considers methods and devices to aid and improve the memory.
metaphor
An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually have something important in common.
An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually have something important in common.
metonymy
A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated (such as "crown" for "royalty").
A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated (such as "crown" for "royalty").
narratio
The part of an argument in which a speaker or writer provides a narrative account of what has happened and explains the nature of the case.
The part of an argument in which a speaker or writer provides a narrative account of what has happened and explains the nature of the case.
onomatopoeia
The formation or use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.
The formation or use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.
oxymoron
A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side.
A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side.
parable
A short and simple story that illustrates a lesson.
A short and simple story that illustrates a lesson.
paradox
A statement that appears to contradict itself.
A statement that appears to contradict itself.
paralepsis
Emphasizing a point by seeming to pass over it. See apophasis.
Emphasizing a point by seeming to pass over it. See apophasis.
parallelism
Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.
Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.
parataxis
Phrases or clauses arranged independently: a coordinate, rather than a subordinate, construction.
Phrases or clauses arranged independently: a coordinate, rather than a subordinate, construction.
parenthesis
(1) Either or both of the upright curved lines, ( ), used to mark off explanatory or qualifying remarks in writing. (2) The insertion of a verbal unit that interrupts the normal flow of the sentence.
(1) Either or both of the upright curved lines, ( ), used to mark off explanatory or qualifying remarks in writing. (2) The insertion of a verbal unit that interrupts the normal flow of the sentence.
pathos
The means of persuasion in classical rhetoric that appeals to the audience's emotions.
The means of persuasion in classical rhetoric that appeals to the audience's emotions.
periodic sentence
Long and frequently involved sentence, marked by suspended syntax, in which the sense is not completed until the final word--usually with an emphatic climax.
Long and frequently involved sentence, marked by suspended syntax, in which the sense is not completed until the final word--usually with an emphatic climax.
peroration
The closing part of an argument.
The closing part of an argument.
persona
Voice or mask that an author or speaker or performer puts on for a particular purpose.
Voice or mask that an author or speaker or performer puts on for a particular purpose.
personification
A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities.
A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities.
ploce
Repetition of a word with a new or specified sense, or with pregnant reference to its special significance.
Repetition of a word with a new or specified sense, or with pregnant reference to its special significance.
polyptoton
Repetition of words derived from the same root but with different endings.
Repetition of words derived from the same root but with different endings.
polysyndeton
A style that employs a great many conjunctions (opposite of "asyndeton").
A style that employs a great many conjunctions (opposite of "asyndeton").
prolepsis
(1) Foreseeing and forestalling objections in various ways. (2) Figurative device by which a future event is presumed to have already occurred.
(1) Foreseeing and forestalling objections in various ways. (2) Figurative device by which a future event is presumed to have already occurred.
proverb
Short, pithy statement of a general truth, one that condenses common experience into memorable form.
Short, pithy statement of a general truth, one that condenses common experience into memorable form.
pun
A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words.
A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words.
refutation
The part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.
The part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.
rhetor
(1) A speaker or writer. (2) A teacher of rhetoric.
(1) A speaker or writer. (2) A teacher of rhetoric.
rhetoric
The study and practice of effective communication.
The study and practice of effective communication.
rhetorical canons
In classical rhetoric, the five overlapping offices or divisions of the rhetorical process.
In classical rhetoric, the five overlapping offices or divisions of the rhetorical process.
rhetorical question
A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected.
A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected.
rhetorical situation
The context of a rhetorical act; minimally, made up of a rhetor, an issue, and an audience.
The context of a rhetorical act; minimally, made up of a rhetor, an issue, and an audience.
running style
Sentence style that appears to follow the mind as it worries a problem through.
Sentence style that appears to follow the mind as it worries a problem through.
series
A list of three or more items, usually arranged in parallel form.
A list of three or more items, usually arranged in parallel form.
simile
A stated comparison (usually formed with "like" or "as") between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common.
A stated comparison (usually formed with "like" or "as") between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common.
sprezzatura
The rehearsed spontaneity, the studied carelessness, the well-practiced naturalness that lies at the center of convincing discourse of any sort.
The rehearsed spontaneity, the studied carelessness, the well-practiced naturalness that lies at the center of convincing discourse of any sort.
style
Narrowly interpreted as those figures that ornament speech or writing; broadly, as representing a manifestation of the person speaking or writing.
Narrowly interpreted as those figures that ornament speech or writing; broadly, as representing a manifestation of the person speaking or writing.
syllogism
A form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.
A form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.
synecdoche
A figure of speech is which a part is used to represent the whole, the whole for a part, the specific for the general, the general for the specific, or the material for the thing made from it.
A figure of speech is which a part is used to represent the whole, the whole for a part, the specific for the general, the general for the specific, or the material for the thing made from it.
tapinosis
Undignified language that debases a person or thing.
Undignified language that debases a person or thing.
tenor
The underlying idea or the principal subject that is the meaning of a metaphor.
The underlying idea or the principal subject that is the meaning of a metaphor.
testimony
A person's account of an event or state of affairs.
A person's account of an event or state of affairs.
tetracolon climax
A series of four members.
A series of four members.
tricolon
Series of three parallel words, phrases, or clauses.
Series of three parallel words, phrases, or clauses.
trope
Rhetorical device that produces a shift in the meaning of words--traditionally contrasted with a scheme, which changes only the shape of a phrase.
Rhetorical device that produces a shift in the meaning of words--traditionally contrasted with a scheme, which changes only the shape of a phrase.
understatement
Figure of speech in which a writer deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.
Figure of speech in which a writer deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.
vehicle
In a metaphor, the figure itself. A metaphor carries two ideas: the vehicle and the tenor, or underlying idea.
In a metaphor, the figure itself. A metaphor carries two ideas: the vehicle and the tenor, or underlying idea.
voice
The quality of a verb that indicates whether its subject acts (active voice) or is acted upon (passive voice).
The quality of a verb that indicates whether its subject acts (active voice) or is acted upon (passive voice).
zeugma
Use of a word to modify or govern two or more words although its use may be grammatically or logically correct with only one.
Use of a word to modify or govern two or more words although its use may be grammatically or logically correct with only one.