1.
Alliteration: Repetition of the same letter or sound within nearby words. Most often, repeated initial consonants
Ex. When to the sessions of sweet silent thought...."
2.
Anadiplosis: Figure of repetition that occurs when the last word or terms in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of the next sentence, clause, or phrase.
Ex.My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain.
3.
Analogy: A kind of extended metaphor or long simile in which an explicit comparison is made between two things (events, ideas, people, etc) for the purpose of furthering a line of reasoning or drawing an inference; a form of reasoning employing comparative or parallel cases.
Writing a book of poetry is like dropping a rose petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo
4.
Anaphora: Figure of repetition that occurs when the first word or set of words in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases; repetition of the initial word(s) over successive phrases or clauses.
Ex. "Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition!"
5.
Anesis: Adding a concluding sentence that diminishes the effect of what has been said previously.
Ex. She had set more track records than any woman in the country. She had more stamina, skill, and perseverance than many of the best, but she had broken her leg and would not be competing this year
6.
Antimetabole: Figure of emphasis in which the words in one phrase or clause are replicated in reverse which identical words are repeated and inverted (A-B, B-A).
Ex. When the going gets tough, the tough get going
7.
Antithesis: Figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel structure; a contrasting of opposing ideas in adjacent phrases, clauses, or sentences.
Ex. "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more."
8.
Aporia: expression of doubt (often feigned) by which a speaker appears uncertain as to what he should think, say, or do
Ex. "Uh, how do I say this without being offensive? Marge, there ain't enough booze in this place to make you look good."
9.
Aposiopesis: Figure in which the speaker abruptly stops or falls short of completing a statement; stopping short of completing a statement.
Ex. Secondly, the tactics of our--as you know, we don't have relationships with Iran. I mean that's -- ever since the late 70's, we have no contacts with them, and we've totally sanctioned them
10.
Apostrophe: A sudden turn from the general audience to address a specific group or person or personified abstraction absent or present
Ex. "Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art"
11.
Apposition: Figure of addition in which words are placed side by side (in apposition to) each other with one word describing or clarifying the other; adjacent nouns or noun substitutes with one elaborating the other.
Ex. The man, a leather-clad hoodlum, bolted from the scene when the police showed up.
12.
Assonance: Figure of repetition in which different words with the same or similar vowel sounds occur successively in words with different consonants; two or more words with similar vowel sounds sandwiched between different consonants.
Ex. "Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage, against the dying of the light."
13.
Asyndeton: Figure of omission in which normally occurring conjunctions (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) are intentionally omitted in successive phrases, or clauses; a string of words not separated by normally occurring conjunctions.
"Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, (missing "and")
Shrunk to this little measure?"
14.
Cacophony: harsh joining of sounds
Ex. We want no parlay with you and your grisly gang who work your wicked will.
15.
Catachresis: Figure of association in which a highly unusual or outlandish comparison is made between two things. This figure moves beyond a metaphor by degrees -- the language used for comparative purposes is strikingly at odds with conventional usage.
Ex. I will speak daggers to her.
The little old lady turtled along at ten miles per hour
16.
Chiasmus: Do not repeat the same words and phrases, but invert a sentence's grammatical structure or ideas.
Ex. It is boring to eat: it is fulfilling to sleep.
It is boring to eat; to sleep is fulfilling
17.
Conduplicatio: Figure of repetition in which the key word or words in one phrase, clause, or sentence is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases; repetition of a key word over successive phrases or clauses.
Ex. The strength of the passions will never be accepted as an excuse for complying with them; the passions were designed for subjection.
18.
Diacope: repetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase:usually to express deep feeling
Ex. "Put out the light, and then put out the light."
We give thanks to Thee, 0 God, we give thanks
19.
Distinctio: Eliminating ambiguity surrounding a word by explicitly specifying each of its distinct meanings.
Ex -"If by light you mean 'clear,' I
am glad you do see them; if by light you mean of 'no weight,' I am sorry you do not feel them."
20.
Enthymeme: is a syllogism (a three-part deductive argument) with an unstated assumption which must be true for the premises to lead to the conclusion. In an enthymeme, part of the argument is missing because it is assumed.
Ex. There is no law against composing music when one has no ideas whatsoever. (premise)
Wagner has no ideas. (implicit premise) (The missing part of the three part syllogism)
The music of Wagner, therefore, is perfectly legal. (conclusion)
21.
Enumeratio: Figure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details, and may include a listing of causes, effects, problems, solutions, conditions, and consequences; the listing or detailing of the parts of something.
Ex. I love her eyes, her hair, her nose, her cheeks, her lips
22.
Epanalepsis: repeats the beginning word of a clause or sentence at the end. The beginning and the end are the two positions of strongest emphasis in a sentence, so by having the same word in both places, you call special attention to it:
Ex. To report that your committee is still investigating the matter is to tell me that you have nothing to report
23.
Epistrophe: Figure of repetition that occurs when the last word or set of words in one sentence, clause, or phrase is repeated one or more times at the end of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases.
Ex. "I'll have my bond!
Speak not against my bond!
I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond."
24.
Epitheton: Very common figure that uses an adjective or adjectival phrase to characterize a person, thing, attribute, or quality; the use of a qualifying word or phrase to further describe something (e.g., "fun ride," "bad omen," "cheerful giver," "good and decent man")
Ex. rosy-fingered dawn; swift-footed Achilles
25.
Epizeuxis: Figure of emphasis in which the same word is repeated two or more times over in immediate succession; repetition of the same word, word, word....
Ex. The best way to describe this portion of South America is lush, lush, lush.
What do you see? Wires, wires, everywhere wires
26.
Euphemism: Figure used to transform an unpleasant, distasteful or repulsive expression into more socially acceptable terms
27.
Exemplum: Figure of amplification using an example, brief or extended, real or fictitious, to illustrate a point; an example.
28.
Expletive: Figure of emphasis in which a single word or short phrase, usually interrupting normal speech, is used to lend emphasis to the words on either side of the expletive. Typical examples include: in fact, of course, to be sure, indeed, I suppose, I hope, you know, you see, clearly, in any event, in effect, certainly, remarkably.
Ex. But the lake was not, in fact, drained before April.
In short, the cobbler had neglected his soul.
It was a hot day indeed.
29.
Hendiadys: use of two words connected by a conjunction, instead of subordinating one to the other, to express a single complex idea.
30.
Hyperbaton: separation of words which belong together, often to emphasize the first of the separated words or to create a certain image.
Ex. She had a personality indescribable
From his seat on the bench he saw the girl content-content with the promise that she could ride on the train again next week.
31.
Hyperbole: deliberate exaggeration of a person, thing, quality, event to emphasize a point external to the object of exaggeration; intentional exaggeration for rhetorical effect.
Ex. I've told you a million times not to exaggerate
32.
Hypophora: Figure of reasoning in which one or more questions is/are asked and then answered, often at length, by one and the same speaker; raising and responding to one's own question.
Ex. There is a striking and basic difference between a man's ability to imagine something and an animal's failure. . . . Where is`
33.
Litotes: understatement, for intensification, by denying the contrary of the thing being affirmed. (Sometimes used synonymously with meiosis.)
Ex. It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.
34.
Metonymy: substitution of one word for another which it suggests.
Ex. The pen is mightier than the sword
35.
Onomatopoeia: use of words to imitate natural sounds; accommodation of sound to sense.
36.
Oxymoron: Figure that binds together TWO words that are ordinarily contradictory; a TWO WORD paradox; two words with contrary or apparently contradictory meanings occurring next to each other, and, which, nonetheless, evoke some measure of truth; the figure conjures a new way of seeing or understanding, a novel meaning.
Ex. The Sounds of Silence
37.
Paradox: Figure that employs an apparent contradiction which, nonetheless, evokes some measure of truth; a statement which seems at one level to be nonsensical because it moves against a normalcy. At another level, however, the figure conjures a new way of seeing or understanding, a novel meaning.
Ex. Whosoever loses his life, shall find it
38.
Parallelism: Figure of balance identified by a similarity in the syntactical structure of a set of words in successive phrases, clauses, sentences; successive words, phrases, clauses with the same or very similar grammatical structure.
parallelism of words:
Ex. She tried to make her pastry fluffy, sweet, and delicate
39.
Paraprosdokian: surprise or unexpected ending of a phrase or series.
40.
Paronomasia: use of similar sounding words; often etymological word-play
41.
Personification: Figure which represents abstractions or inanimate objects with human qualities, including physical, emotional, and spiritual; the application of human attributes or abilities to nonhuman entities.
Ex. I can't get the fuel pump back on because this bolt is being uncooperative
42.
Polysyndeton: Figure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) not normally found in successive words, phrases, or clauses; the deliberate and excessive use of conjunctions in successive words or clauses.
Ex. They read and studied and wrote and drilled. I laughed and played and talked and flunked
43.
rhetorical question: usually defined as any question asked for a purpose other than to obtain the information the question asks..
Ex. For if we lose the ability to perceive our faults, what is the good of living on?
44.
Scesis Onomaton: Figure of repetition in which a set of two or more different words having the same (or very nearly the same) meaning occurs within the same sentence; a successive series of words or phrases whose meanings are generally equivalent.
Ex. Wendy lay there, motionless in a peaceful slumber, very still in the arms of sleep.
May God arise, may his enemies be scattered, may his foes flee before him
45.
Syllepsis: use of a word with two others, with each of which it is understood differently
46.
Symploce: A combination of Anaphora and Epistrophe in which the first and last word or words in one phrase, clause, or sentence are repeated in one or more successive phrases, clauses, or sentences; repetition of the first and last words in a clause over successive clauses.
Ex. "Against yourself you are calling him,
against the laws you are calling him,
against the democratic constitution you are calling him.
47.
Synecdoche: Figure of comparison in which a word standing for part of something is used for the whole of that thing or vice versa; any part or portion or quality of a thing used to stand for the whole of the thing or vice versa -- genus to species or species to genus.
Ex. Listen, you've got to come take a look at my new set of wheels.
One refers to a vehicle in terms of some of its parts, "wheels"
48.
Tautology: repetition of an idea in a different word, phrase, or sentence.
