Have you ever wondered how language can be sculpted to evoke powerful emotions, create vivid imagery, and persuade audiences? Delve into the fascinating world where words transcend their literal meanings, transforming into potent tools of artistic expression and rhetorical persuasion. Uncover the secrets of metaphors that build bridges between disparate concepts and similes that paint pictures with comparative strokes. Explore the symbolic weight carried by seemingly simple words and the art of using synecdoche to represent the whole through a carefully chosen part. This exploration illuminates the sound and rhythm of language, from the evocative power of onomatopoeia to the surprising harmony of oxymorons. Grasp the nuances of plurisignation, where ambiguity becomes a deliberate tool, and learn how euphemisms soften the harsh edges of reality. Understand the delicate balance between redundancy and pleonasm, and the subtle art of understatement through litotes. Then, brace yourself for the impact of hyperbole, where exaggeration amplifies the message. Journey further into the structural elements of language with enjambment's flowing lines and chiasmus's elegant inversions. Confront the intentional disruptions of anacoluthon and the deliberate omissions of ellipsis. Discover the power of repetition through anaphora and epiphora, and the contrasting effects of asyndeton and polysyndeton in creating rhythm and emphasis. From the raw emotion of exclamation and the directness of address to the compelling force of urgent appeal, witness the diverse ways language can engage and move an audience. Ascend to the heights of climax, where ideas build in intensity, and witness the transformation of inanimate objects through personification. Explore the echoing effect of gemination and the enriching depth of allusion. Finally, revel in the cleverness of puns, where wit and wordplay intertwine, and appreciate the balanced beauty of parallelism. This is a comprehensive guide to understanding the artful use of language, from the subtle nuances of alliteration, assonance and consonance to the musicality of masculine, feminine and off-rhymes, the surprise of internal rhyme, the turning point of the volta and the concluding insight of the final couplet, and the rhythm of meter and pentameter, equipping you to analyze, appreciate, and master the art of persuasive and evocative communication.
Stylistic and rhetorical devices
Metaphor (C)
- A comparison between two things which basically are quite unlike each other
- The metaphor says that something is something else
- A metaphor never uses the words “as” or “like” to make the comparison
- E.g.: A mighty fortress is our God. He has a heart of stone.
- Usage: Shakespeare writes metaphorically when he says… Another metaphor can be found in ll. …
Simile (C)
- Another type of comparison
- The simile says that something is like something else and uses the words “as” or “like”
- E.g.: He is as strong as a lion. She smells like a rose.
- Usage: His style is rich in simile. He uses interesting similes.
Symbol (C)
- A word or phrase that stands not only for itself but also for a certain idea.
- As in the case of the metaphor and the simile the meaning goes beyond the literal
- E.g.: Red is a symbol of danger.
Synecdoche ( U or C)
- A figure of speech using one part for the whole or something special for something general
- E.g.: saying “ten sail” for ten ships or “Croesus” for a rich man
- Another example Shakespeare repeatedly made use of is using the word “board” to imply a stage
- Another expression for synecdoche : pars pro toto
Onomatopoeia (U)
- The formation of words from sounds which seem to suggest their meaning
- E.g.: pocketa, pocketa ; bang ; hiss ; buzz
- Usage: An example of onomatopoeia can be found in line 35: …
Oxymoron (C)
- Two contradictory words or phrases are combined
- E.g.: fiery ice, screaming silence ; foul is fair ; very tragical mirth
- Usage: Shakespeare makes use of several oxymorons in this extract
Plurisignation (U)
- Use of ambiguities (words or expressions with more than one meaning)
- Usage: The following statement is plurisignificant : …
Euphemism (U or C)
- Use of a mild word for one thought to be rough or offensive
- E.g.: “pass away” for die
- Usage: He writes euphemistically when he describes his mother’s death
Redundancy (C)
- Writing (talking) more than the required minimum, repetitive.
- E.g.: Full of vexation come I, with complaint against my child, my daughter Hermia
- Usage: The following paragraph is full of redundancies. His speech is full of redundant words.
Pleonasm (C)
- Use of more words than necessary.
- E.g.: 4 quarters, two twins
- Usage: Pleonasms should be avoided.
Litotes (C - plural same form)
- An ironically moderate speech, rhetorical under-statement
- E.g.: That’s not half bad. He’s no amateur.
- Usage: He is a master of litotes.
Hyperbole (U)
- Exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis.
- E.g.: I’ve waited an eternity. He had a hangover that made his head feel like the spot on the fortress that’s just been hit by a thirty-foot battering ram.
- Usage: Shakespeare loves to employ hyperbole.
Enjambment (U or C)
- The continuation of the sentence into the next line.
- Effect: It makes the speech sound more natural
- E.g.: But see! The angry victor hath recalled His ministers of vengeance and pursuit Back to the gates of Heaven.
Chiasmus (C pl. -mi)
- Contrasted terms are arranged crosswise, the word order in the first phrase is reversed in the second.
- E.g.: Flowers are lovely, love is flowerlike Fair is foul, and foul is fair Weigh oath with oath and you will nothing weigh
Anacoluthon (C pl. -a)
- A broken sentence construction, lacking a grammatical sequence
- In so far the anacoluthon is unintentionally used by the speaker ➙ unwillingly
- Usage: The anacolutha in the following lines are supposed to emphasize Richard’s mental confusion.
Ellipsis (C pl. -es)
- An incomplete sentence construction.
- The ellipsis is used deliberately by its speaker (e.g. for emphasis) ➙ willingly
Anaphora (U)
- The repetition of a word or a phrase at the beginning of two or more successive lines, sentences etc.
- E.g.: And she forgot the stars, the moon, the sun And she forgot the blue above the trees (…)
Epiphora (U)
- The repetition of a word or a phrase at the end of two or more successive lines, sentences etc.
- E.g.: We are born to sorrow, pass our time in sorrow, end our days in sorrow.
Asyndeton (C pl. -a)
- Words or phrases presented in series, separated by commas only, without conjunctions
- E.g.: Veni, vidi, vici. He has provided the poor with jobs, food, money.
Polysyndeton (C pl. -a)
- Words or phrases presented in series separated by “end”, “as well as”, etc.
- E.g.: und es wallet und siedet und brauset und zischt.
Exclamation (C)
- E.g. : What a strange idea !
Address (C)
- But always - do not forget this, Winston - always there will be the thrill of victory …
Request (C)
- Polite or formal appeal
- E.g.: Why don’t we all go to…? Let’s…
Urgent appeal (C)
- It’s stronger form of request
- E.g.: For heaven’s sake, come and help me now!
Climax (C pl. -es)
- A figure consisting of a series of of related ideas so arranged that each is stronger than the proceeding one
- E.g.: Berlin-, Deutschland-, Weltnachrichten
Personification (U)
- A figure of speech in which a lifeless object is spoken of as if alive
- E.g.: My blood speaks in your veins. And when she weeps, weeps every little flower.
- Usage: In “Romeo and Juliet” the personification of the stars is unforgettable . In this poem of Keats’ autumn is personified.
Gemination (U)
- The immediate repetition of a word or phrase for rhetorical effect
- E.g.: And when she weeps, weeps every little flower.
- Usage: Shakespeare often employs gemination as a means of realizing his iambic pentameter.
Allusion (C)
- An allusion is a reference to another author or historical figure or event.
- E.g.: Oberon’s: “A fair vestal throned by the west” doubtlessly alluded to Queen Elizabeth I, who watched the play herself
Pun (C)
- With puns Shakespeare shows his exceptional wit
- Puns work through ambiguities, often caused by homophones (i.e. words that sound the same)
- E.g.: There is mettle in death. (mettle = courage; at the same the word suggests the homophone metal, a synecdoche for sword, a weapon causing death)
- Very often Shakespeare makes use of sexual puns (also called innuendoes)
- Here textual notes are often not very helpful…
- E.g.: My cherry lips have often kissed thy stones. (the character is referring to the stones in a wall, but to the Elizabethans “stones” were also testicles …)
Parallelism (C)
- Any parallel structure
- E.g.: To watch the night in storms, the day in cold.
Alliteration
- Repetition of the inititial consonant sound
Assonance
- Repetition of vowel sounds
Consonance
- Similarity of end consonants Their common aims:
- Increase pleasure in hearing and catch the listener’s attention
Masculine rhyme
- One-syllable rhyme
Feminine rhyme
- Two-(or more) syllable rhyme
Off-rhyme
- Rhyme is not quite exact ,but listener still feels it
Internal rhyme
- Rhyme within one line
Volta
- Change in argumentation
- It always follows after the 8 line of a sonnet
Final complet
- These are the two final lines of a sonnet
- They always contain a message
- It always lays a certain stress on it
Meter
- The length of a line of verse, measured by counting the stresses, is called the metre
Pentameter
Frequently asked questions
What is a metaphor?
A metaphor is a comparison between two fundamentally different things, stating that one thing *is* the other, without using "as" or "like." For example, "A mighty fortress is our God" or "He has a heart of stone."
What is a simile?
A simile is a comparison using the words "as" or "like" to show the similarity between two things. For example, "He is as strong as a lion" or "She smells like a rose."
What is a symbol?
A symbol is a word or phrase that represents not only itself but also a broader idea or concept. The meaning goes beyond the literal, such as "Red" symbolizing danger.
What is synecdoche?
Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part is used to represent the whole, or something specific is used for something general. For example, "ten sail" meaning ten ships, or "Croesus" representing a rich man. It's also known as *pars pro toto*.
What is onomatopoeia?
Onomatopoeia is the formation of words from sounds that seem to reflect their meaning, such as "pocketa, pocketa," "bang," "hiss," or "buzz."
What is an oxymoron?
An oxymoron is a combination of two contradictory words or phrases, such as "fiery ice," "screaming silence," or "foul is fair."
What is plurisignation?
Plurisignation is the use of ambiguities, meaning words or expressions with more than one possible meaning.
What is euphemism?
Euphemism is the use of a mild or indirect word or phrase in place of one considered harsh or offensive, such as "pass away" for "die."
What is redundancy?
Redundancy is writing or speaking with more words than necessary, being repetitive. For example: "Full of vexation come I, with complaint against my child, my daughter Hermia"
What is pleonasm?
Pleonasm is using more words than necessary. For example: "4 quarters," "two twins"
What is litotes?
Litotes is an ironic understatement, expressing affirmation by negating its contrary. For example, "That's not half bad" or "He's no amateur."
What is hyperbole?
Hyperbole is exaggeration used for emphasis. For example, "I've waited an eternity."
What is enjambment?
Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence from one line of verse into the next, creating a more natural flow.
What is chiasmus?
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which contrasted terms are arranged in a crosswise pattern, where the word order of the first phrase is reversed in the second. For example, "Flowers are lovely, love is flowerlike."
What is anacoluthon?
Anacoluthon is a broken sentence construction that lacks grammatical sequence, often used unintentionally.
What is ellipsis?
Ellipsis is an incomplete sentence construction used deliberately, often for emphasis.
What is anaphora?
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines or sentences. For example: "And she forgot the stars, the moon, the sun. And she forgot the blue above the trees."
What is epiphora?
Epiphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive lines or sentences. For example: "We are born to sorrow, pass our time in sorrow, end our days in sorrow."
What is asyndeton?
Asyndeton is the omission of conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses, presenting them in a series separated only by commas. For example: "Veni, vidi, vici. He has provided the poor with jobs, food, money."
What is polysyndeton?
Polysyndeton is the use of conjunctions between each word, phrase, or clause, such as "and" or "as well as."
What is exclamation?
An exclamation is an expression of strong feeling or surprise, often punctuated with an exclamation mark. For example: "What a strange idea!"
What is address?
Address is a direct form of speech. For example: But always - do not forget this, Winston - always there will be the thrill of victory …
What is request?
Request is a polite or formal appeal. For example: Why don’t we all go to…? Let’s…
What is urgent appeal?
Urgent Appeal is a stronger form of request. For example: For heaven’s sake, come and help me now!
What is climax?
Climax is a figure of speech consisting of a series of related ideas arranged so that each is stronger than the preceding one. For example: Berlin-, Deutschland-, Weltnachrichten
What is personification?
Personification is a figure of speech where a lifeless object or abstract concept is given human qualities or abilities. For example, "My blood speaks in your veins."
What is gemination?
Gemination is the immediate repetition of a word or phrase for rhetorical effect. For example: And when she weeps, weeps every little flower.
What is allusion?
An allusion is a reference to another literary work, historical figure, or event. For example: Oberon’s: “A fair vestal throned by the west” doubtlessly alluded to Queen Elizabeth I, who watched the play herself.
What is a pun?
A pun is a play on words, often exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings. For example, There is mettle in death. (mettle = courage; at the same the word suggests the homophone metal, a synecdoche for sword, a weapon causing death)
What is parallelism?
Parallelism is any parallel structure. For example: To watch the night in storms, the day in cold.
What are alliteration, assonance and consonance?
Alliteration is repetition of the initial consonant sound. Assonance is repetition of vowel sounds. Consonance is similarity of end consonants.
What are Masculine Rhyme, Feminine Rhyme, Off-Rhyme, Internal Rhyme?
Masculine rhyme is One-syllable rhyme. Feminine rhyme is Two-(or more) syllable rhyme. Off-rhyme is rhyme that is not quite exact ,but listener still feels it. Internal rhyme is rhyme within one line
What are volta and Final complet?
Volta is change in argumentation, always follows after the 8 line of a sonnet. Final complet are the two final lines of a sonnet which always contain a message and it always lays a certain stress on it
What are meter and pentameter?
Meter is the length of a line of verse, measured by counting the stresses. When there are five stresses the line is called a pentameter.
- Quote paper
- Korneliusz Kraus (Author), 2001, Stylistic and rhetorical devices, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/104754
