Name: Class: _____

Literature Basis 101: Rhetorical Devices

The major rhetorical devices are listed in the table below:
Rhetorical Devices Definition Well-known examples
Alliteration The repetition of sounds at the ‘"Around the rugged rocks the
/əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/ beginning of words and ragged rascals ran.
Điệp âm đầu syllables

Hyperbole Extreme exaggeration "Jack cut his knee rather badly

/haɪˈpɜː(r)bəli/ and lost gallons of blood.
Nói quá
"What’s for lunch? I’m
starving.

"I loved Ophelia. Forty

thousand brothers Could
not, with all their quantity of
love, make up my sum.
(Shakespeare: ‘Hamlet’)

Irony/ Sarcasm Expression of something which "For Brutus is an honourable

Châm biếm is contrary to the intended man.” (He is not)
meaning (Shakespeare: ‘Julius Caesar’)

Simile An explicit comparison ‘"O, my Luve’s like a red rose

/ˈsɪməli/ between two things using "like" that’s newly sprung in June.”
So sánh or "as"
(Robert Burns)

"I wandered lonely as a

cloud.”
(William Wordsworth)

"You look as if you’ve seen a

ghost.”

Metaphor Equates one object or idea "Anna flew downstairs.” (her

with another to enhance speed resembled the speed of
Ẩn dụ expression or understanding. a bird in flight)
Unlike similes, "like" or "as" is "Sleep that knits up the
not used. ravelled sleeve of care.
(Shakespeare: ‘Macbeth’)

"No man is an island, entire of

itself.
(John Donne)

Handout 2: Rhetorical Devices

 Name: Class: _____

Rhetorical Devices Definition Well-known examples

Oxymoron Apparent paradox achieved by "The cruel mercy of the
/ˌɒksiˈmɔːrɒn/ the juxtaposition of words executioner bought him peace
Nghệ thuật chơi chữ which seem to contradict one at last.”
another

Anthropomorphism Attribution of human traits, "Death lays his icy hand on

/ˌænθrəpəˈmɔː(r)fɪsm/ emotions, or intentions to non- kings.
Personification human entities to show an (James Shirley)
Nhân hóa innate tendency of human
psychology

Pun A play on words by calling ‘"Is life worth living?

upon two meanings at once. It depends on the liver.

Rhetorical questions Question and no answer "Do you want to fail your
Câu hỏi tu từ needed exam?

Zeugma Grammatical play on two "She swallowed her pride and

/ˈzjuːɡmə/ applications of a word three dry sherries.

"She went straight home in a

flood of tears and a sedan
chair. Kiệu
(Charles Dickens: ‘The
Pickwick Papers’)

Handout 2: Rhetorical Devices