Common Syntax-Based Rhetorical Devices

Anadiplosis
• Definition: The term literally means “to double back.” It
refers to a repetition of the last word of one phrase,
clause, or sentence at or very near the beginning of
the next sentence.
• Effect: Generally, anadiplosis is used to emphasize the
repeated word or idea, since repetition has a
reinforcing effect. In addition, the repetition shows a
logical progression of and connection to ideas.
• Examples: “Aboard my ship, excellent performance is
standard. Standard performance is sub-standard.
Sub-standard performance is not permitted to exist.”
— Herman Wouk, The Caine Mutiny“Fear leads to
anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
— Yoda, Star Wars
Anaphora
• Definition: The term literally means “carrying back.” It
refers to the repetition of the same word or words at
the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or
sentences, commonly in conjunction with climax and
with parallelism.
• Effect: Anaphora creates a strong emphasis and sense
of continuity between rhetorical points.
• Example: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight
on the landing-grounds, we shall fight in the fields
and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills.” —
Winston Churchill
Antithesis
• Definition: The term literally means “setting opposite.”
It describes the creation of a clear yet contrasting
relationship between two ideas by joining them
together (or juxtaposing them), often in parallel
 structure.
• Effect: Antithesis makes distinctions or clarifies
differences that might be overlooked.
• Example: “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” —
Alexander Pope
Apophasis
• Definition: The term literally means “to say no.” It
describes a process of inductive reasoning that
attempts to define an object or idea by what it is not
rather than by what it is, thus basically suggesting an
idea by denying that it should be suggested.
• Effect: Apophasis makes an audience aware of a
subject while simultaneously creating distance
between the speaker and that subject if it is
dangerous or undesirable. This tactic is used to
distance the writer from the subject, especially if
controversial.
• Example: “I'm not saying I'm responsible for this
country's longest run of uninterrupted peace in 35
years! I'm not saying that from the ashes of captivity,
never has a phoenix metaphor been more
personified! I'm not saying Uncle Sam can kick back
on a lawn chair, sipping on an iced tea, because I
haven't come across anyone man enough to go toe
to toe with me on my best day! It's not about me.” —
Tony Stark, Iron Man 2
Apostrophe
• Definition: The term literally means “turning away.” It
refers to an interruption of discourse in order to
directly address a personified thing.
• Effect: Apostrophe is a way to display intense emotion,
which can no longer be held back.
• Example: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where
is thy victory?” — 1 Corinthians 15:55
Asyndeton
• Definition: The term refers to the deliberate omission
of conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses.
• Effect: Asyndeton speeds up the rhythm and pace,
which creates the effect of improvisational speech to
make an idea more memorable.
• Example: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” — Julius Caesar
Chiasmus
• Definition: Chiasmus is named after the Greek letter
“chi,” indicating a crisscross. The term refers to a
reversal in the order of terms in the second of two
parallel clauses. This is sometimes described as AB-
BA structure.
• Effect: Chiasmus expresses a truth through
complement or contrast in order to provoke thought
in the reader.
• Example: “Ask not what your country can do for you;
ask what you can do for your country.” — John F.
Kennedy
Climax
• Definition: The term comes from the Greek word for
“ladder.” It refers to the arrangement of words,
clauses, or sentences in the order of increasing
importance, weight, or emphasis. Parallelism usually
forms a part of the arrangement, because it offers a
sense of continuity, order, and movement up the
ladder of importance.
• Effect: Climax builds tension or a sense of grandeur,
ultimately placing rhetorical emphasis on the final
word, phrase, or clause.
• Example: “I think we’ve reached a point of great
decision, not just for our nation, not only for all
humanity, but for life upon the earth.” — George
Wald
Epanalepsis
• Definition: The term refers to the repetition of the first
word of a clause (or sentence) at the end.
• Effect: Epanalepsis creates rhetorical emphasis by
beginning and ending the sentence with the same
word or phrase.
• Example: “In the world, ye shall have trials, but be of
good cheer—I have overcome the world.” — John
16:33
Hypophora
• Definition: The term refers to raising one or more
questions and then proceeding to answer them,
typically at some length.
• Effect: Hypophora allows the speaker to anticipate and
answer questions the listener may have, which
allows the speaker to convince the listener of the
importance of questions he or she may have never
considered.
• Example: “Since we have come so far, whom shall be
rash enough to set limits on our future progress?
Who shall say that since we have gone so far, we can
go no farther? Who shall say that the American
dream is ended? For myself, I believe that all we
have done upon this continent is but a prelude to a
future in which we shall become not only a bigger
people but also a wiser people, a better people, an
even greater people.” — Adlai Stevenson
Litotes
• Definition: This term refers to a particular form of
understatement generated by denying the opposite
or contrary of the word which otherwise would be
used.
• Effect: Litotes emphasize an issue or idea through the
use of ironic understatement, which impacts the
 tone.
• Example: “And truly, their suffering was not small.” —
William Bradford “It isn't very serious. I have this tiny
little tumor on the brain.” — J.D. Salinger, The
Catcher in the Rye
Parallelism
• Definition: The term describes any structure that
displays recurrent syntactical similarity.
• Effect: Parallelism shows that the ideas in sentences
are equal in importance. Parallelism also adds
balance, rhythm, and clarity to the sentence.
• Example: “We have petitioned and our petitions have
been scorned. We have entreated and our entreaties
have been disregarded. We have begged and they
have mocked when our calamity came. We beg no
longer. We entreat no more. We petition no more. We
defy them." — William Jennings Bryan
Parenthesis
• Definition: This term comes from the Greek word for
“alongside of.” Parenthesis is the insertion of a word,
phrase, or whole sentence to qualify or elaborate on
an idea in the sentence. Parenthesis can be
circumscribed either by em dashes—to garner a
more dramatic and forceful effect—or by parentheses
(to make the aside less severe).
• Effect: This device can inject humor, elucidate a
concept, or illustrate an idea.
• Example: “The English (it must be owned) are rather a
foul-mouthed nation.” — William Hazlitt, "On
Criticism"
Pleonasm
• Definition: This term refers to the use of more words
than required to express an idea, which results in
being redundant.
• Effect: Pleonasm typically causes a syntactical error,
but it is done deliberately for emphasis.
• Example: “This was the most unkindest cut of all.” —
Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Polysyndeton
• Definition: This term comes from a Greek word
meaning “bound together.” It refers to the use of a
conjunction between each word, phrase, or clause; it
is structurally the opposite of asyndeton.
• Effect: Polysyndeton creates a build-up of energy and
rhythm through the repetition of conjunctions.
• Example: “Let the whitefolks have their money and
power and segregation and sarcasm and big houses
and schools and lawns like carpets, and books, and
mostly—mostly—let them have their whiteness.” —
Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings