Aim: How do rhetorical devices decorate our writing?

Do Now/Quick Write #5: • Describe the style of Lincoln’s

“Gettysburg Address” using only monosyllabic words.

• What is the effect of using this kind of diction?

• Which rhetorical form does it resemble?

Rhetorical Devices: The Gems of Rhetorical Devices: The Gems of WritingWriting

• Metonymy• Synecdoche• Apostrophe• Anaphora• Cataphora• Polysyndeton• Asyndeton• Chiasmus• Diacope• Parallel structure

MetonymyMetonymy

• Another form of metaphor, in which the thing Another form of metaphor, in which the thing chosen for the metaphorical image is closely chosen for the metaphorical image is closely associated with (but not an actual part of) the associated with (but not an actual part of) the subject for which it stands.subject for which it stands.

Hint: “Closely associated with” is the key Hint: “Closely associated with” is the key concept here. concept here.

You can’t fight You can’t fight city hall city hall (A metaphor for the (A metaphor for the mayor, or his subordinates)mayor, or his subordinates)

SynecdocheSynecdoche

• A type of metaphor in which A type of metaphor in which a part a part of a of a subject stands for the subject stands for the whole whole subjectsubject

I saw some new I saw some new facesfaces in the meeting today. in the meeting today.

The word “faces” is the synecdoche and is used The word “faces” is the synecdoche and is used instead of the word “people.” instead of the word “people.”

ApostropheApostrophe

• Interrupts the narrative and directly addresses Interrupts the narrative and directly addresses a person (or idea, or deity). Its most common a person (or idea, or deity). Its most common purpose in prose is to give vent to intense purpose in prose is to give vent to intense emotions. It is used as a kind of formal emotions. It is used as a kind of formal invocation. invocation.

Hint: The interjection “O” or “Oh” usually Hint: The interjection “O” or “Oh” usually appears in this rhetorical device. appears in this rhetorical device.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets…!prophets…!

AnaphoraAnaphora

• The deliberate repetition of the same word (or The deliberate repetition of the same word (or group of words) at the very beginning of group of words) at the very beginning of several consecutive phrases. several consecutive phrases.

Mad Mad world! world! Mad Mad kings! kings! Mad Mad competition! competition! (William Shakespeare, (William Shakespeare, King John, Act 2.1)King John, Act 2.1)

CataphoraCataphora

• Words or phrases like pronouns are Words or phrases like pronouns are cataphoracataphora when they point forwards to something later when they point forwards to something later on in the texton in the text

As he was unaccustomed to it, Jake found the As he was unaccustomed to it, Jake found the pressure very hard to deal with.pressure very hard to deal with.

• Here,Here, it it is cataphoric because it refers is cataphoric because it refers forwards to the noun pressureforwards to the noun pressure

PolysyndetonPolysyndeton

• The use of a conjunction between each phrase The use of a conjunction between each phrase in a series of phrases, and is thus structurally in a series of phrases, and is thus structurally the opposite of asyndeton. The rhetorical the opposite of asyndeton. The rhetorical effect of polysyndeton, however, like effect of polysyndeton, however, like asyndeton, creates a feeling of energetic asyndeton, creates a feeling of energetic enumeration, of building momentum.enumeration, of building momentum.

Example of Polysyndeton

• I said, “Who killed?” I said, “Who killed?” and and he said, “I don’t he said, “I don’t know who killed him, know who killed him, but but he’s dead all right,” he’s dead all right,” and and it was dark it was dark and and there was water standing there was water standing in the street in the street and and no lights or windows broke no lights or windows broke and and boats all up in the town and trees blown boats all up in the town and trees blown down down and and everything all blown everything all blown and and I got a I got a skiff skiff and and went out and found my boat where I went out and found my boat where I had her inside Mango Key…had her inside Mango Key…

(Earnest Hemingway, (Earnest Hemingway, After the Storm)After the Storm)

Asyndeton

• Conjunctions are purposely omitted from a Conjunctions are purposely omitted from a series of related phrases. The rhetorical effect series of related phrases. The rhetorical effect is an energetic one. is an energetic one.

I have done it. You have heard me. The facts I have done it. You have heard me. The facts are before you. I ask for your judgment.are before you. I ask for your judgment.

((Aristotle, Aristotle, Rhetoric, Book III) Rhetoric, Book III)

Chiasmus Chiasmus

A figure of speech employing two phrases (or A figure of speech employing two phrases (or clauses) whereby the order of key words in clauses) whereby the order of key words in the first phrase (or clause) is then reversed in the first phrase (or clause) is then reversed in the second phrase (or clause). the second phrase (or clause).

Ask not what Ask not what your country your country can do for can do for you, you, but but what what you you can do can do for your country. for your country.

DiacopeDiacope

• Uninterrupted repetition of a word or phrase. Uninterrupted repetition of a word or phrase. Or, the repetition of a word or a phrase in Or, the repetition of a word or a phrase in which the repetition is briefly interrupted by which the repetition is briefly interrupted by one or two words. one or two words.

• Hint: The purpose of this device is to Hint: The purpose of this device is to emphasize important words.emphasize important words.

Example of Diacope

• All lost! To prayers, to prayers! All lost! All lost! To prayers, to prayers! All lost! (William Shakespeare, (William Shakespeare, The Tempest)The Tempest)

““All lost” is interrupted; “to prayers” is All lost” is interrupted; “to prayers” is uninterrupted. Both are examples of diacope. uninterrupted. Both are examples of diacope.

ParallelismParallelism

• A series of phrases that displays identical A series of phrases that displays identical characteristics. If those phrases contain verbs, characteristics. If those phrases contain verbs, it is especially important that the tenses of the it is especially important that the tenses of the verbs within each phrase be identical in order verbs within each phrase be identical in order for the entire sequence to be considered truly for the entire sequence to be considered truly parallel. parallel.

He walked He walked down the aisle, through the door, down the aisle, through the door, and into the room. and into the room.

Can you identify the rhetorical devices?

I came, I saw, I conquered (Julius Caesar).

Asyndeton

One should eat to live, not live to eat.

Chiasmus

What about these?

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…

Anaphora

One would have thought that we would find willing ears on the part of the newspapers.

Synecdoche

Can you handle a few more?

• O books who alone are liberal and free, who give to all who ask of you and enfranchise all who serve you faithfully.

• Apostrophe• Patience, Iago, Patience.• Diacope

Your Rhetorical Toolbox is complete!

• Now that you know these terms, we will be using them throughout the year.

• The goal is more than just observation; we want to be able to understand the EFFECT these devices have as apart of a larger analysis of the rhetoric in this year’s course.