Rhetorical stylistic devices are not only practical for examining a literary work for its effect, but can also help you when writing your own texts or when giving lectures.
If you want to become a real stylistic device expert, then check out the articles on the individual rhetorical devices here on !
Rhetorical stylistic devices – definition
Rhetorical stylistic devices are design elements of language. They are also called, among other things rhetorical figures, linguistic means and characters of speech designated.
Rhetorical stylistic devices, linguistic stylistic devices and stylistic devices are often used as synonyms. In a narrower sense, however, stylistic devices can be described as a supercategory, since they can also relate to pieces of music. Linguistic means can also refer to texts and rhetorical stylistic devices to spoken language.
The word «rhetoric» comes from the Greek word rhetoric ab and means translated «oratory«. Even then, in ancient times, a successful and persuasive speech was considered an art. People saw it as a way of convincing one’s counterpart with what was said. Because the Greeks investigated early on how speeches can be influenced by stylistic devices, most Designations for rhetorical stylistic devices can be traced back to Greek words.
Rhetorical stylistic devices can not only be used in Talk are used, but in all spoken and written texts. You can find them in all literary genresin the epic, drama and lyric. Especially in oral presentations, rhetorical devices are used to give what is said a stronger effect.
are rhetorical devices linguistic design tools, with which one can influence the language in its effect. They can be used in any type of text.
Types of rhetorical devices
Since there are so many different rhetorical stylistic devices, it is easy to lose track. Linguists therefore divide them into different categories according to occurrence and effect.
The tropics
First of all, rhetorical devices can be divided into two large groups. The first group is named «tropics» summarized.
Tropics create pictorial descriptions that are not meant to be taken literally. You will also as linguistic images designated. The sentence or the word is exchanged and one finds one transmission of meaning instead of.
«I’m heartbroken!» is a common saying when it comes to breakups. The heart is not literally broken here, however. One uses the «broken heart» as a metaphor to emphasize their hurt feelings.
The statement is one metaphor, which in turn belongs to the tropics. A metaphor represents one Comparison without a comparison word (i.e. a comparison without the words «like» or «as»).
Other examples of tropics include the ironythe allegorythe personification and the synecdoche.
The figures
The second and significantly larger group is formed by the «characters«.
characters change the sentence or individual clauses on a formal level and thus achieve a certain effect, such as an increased perception of a certain statement.
To achieve these different effects, sentences or phrases are:
- switched,
- exchanged,
- added, or
- omitted.
In the sentence «I told you that very clearly!» is a alliteration to find. Alliterations belong to the figures, more precisely, to the sound figures and contain consecutive words with the same initial letter.
«Klip and klar» would be the alliteration that draws the listener’s attention to the two similar-sounding words.
Since the group of linguistic figures is very large, these are further in sentence figures, sound figures, word figures and figures of thought assigned.
subgroups of linguistic figures
The number of individual rhetorical stylistic devices is immense. Therefore, they are divided according to their function and effect four other categories a. However, it is generally difficult to ascribe a specific function or effect to each stylistic device. You can tell by the fact that some stylistic devices are very similar in their effect.
The sentence figures
Sentence figures change the sentence or the sentence structure (also called syntax) as a whole, which then deviates from the usual structure. The sentence is designed in a more ornate way and the text appears more lively as a result.
The stylistic device»ellipse» belongs to the sentence figures and denotes a shortened, grammatically incomplete sentence.
«Work before pleasure»
In this example, the statement should be somewhat abbreviated. The verb «comes» is missing twice before the respective article.
Other examples of sentence figures include the exclamationthe chiasm and the inversion.
The sound figures
Sound figures affect the sound of consecutive sentences, clauses or words.
A popular stylistic device in everyday language is the «sarcasm«. This is intended to express a covert but biting mockery.
«You think you’re very clever!»
Sarcasm is a special kind of humor. In literature, it is often used in satires, where sarcastic remarks are used to make fun of a personal characteristic of a person. In spoken language, the sarcastic utterance is pronounced with an exaggerated intonation.
Other examples of sound figures are the anaphorthe epipherthe assonance and the elision.
The Word Figures
Word figures are used to change the sense and meaning of individual words or pairs of words. The words are repeated in a specific way or aligned in relation to each other to clarify the effect of the sentence.
The «climax« belongs to the word figures. It consists of a (often three-part) series of words with increased content and thus creates more tension.
«I came, I saw, I conquered»
The quote is from Julius Caeser about the Battle of Zela (47 BC, from a letter to Gaius Matius)
In the quote, the climax increases the tension of what is said and the emphasis is on the last part of the increase.
Other examples of word figures include the accumulationthe Diminutivethe paronomasia and the neologism.
The Figures of Thought
Figures of thought structure the train of thought within one or more sentences.
the antithesis belongs to the figures of thought. As the name suggests, it forms a counter-thesis to a previously formulated thesis.
«It was dark, the moon shone brightly.»
By juxtaposing two contradictory theses, the thought appears clearly structured.
Other examples of thought figures are the allusion, the cynicism, the symbol and the oxymoron.
If you want to take a closer look at the individual types of figures, then have a look at the related articles on .
The effect of rhetorical stylistic devices
As already mentioned at the beginning of the article, rhetorical devices help to consciously influence the meaning of a sentence or text.
In principle, stylistic devices always increase the recipient’s attention in relation to what has been said or written. In texts, the flow of reading is briefly interrupted by unusual sentence structures, words that sound the same, or omissions, and the reader stays a moment longer at a certain point. For example, he/she can be encouraged to think.
Rhetorical devices can:
- attract attention
- give more expression to texts
- transport feelings,
- make texts more entertaining,
- increase persuasion
- make the text more memorable.
A fundamental effect is attributed to each stylistic device. In the following list you can see some of these effects:
Rhetorical stylistic deviceExplanation ExampleEffect Hyperbole Strong exaggeration «sky high» It becomes clear to the reader what is meant. Anaphoric unison of successive sentence beginnings»I feel good. I feel strong.»Repetition of the word increases memorability.Metaphoric comparison without «like» or «as»»broken heart»Comprehension is strengthened, the text becomes clearer.Rhetorical questionA question , which is not followed by an answer.»Who is perfect?» The reader feels compelled to answer and thinks more about the question.
But beware! Rhetorical stylistic devices must always be in use context of the text to be viewed as. Sometimes their basic effect deviates from the text-bound effect.
The most important rhetorical devices
Depending on the definition, there are many stylistic devices. Because that’s quite a lot, the following list will introduce you to the five most important and at the same time most frequently used stylistic devices.
The Anaphora
The anaphor comes from the ancient Greek word anaphora (translated «return») and belongs to the sound figures. It is based on the repetition of words and ensures that the beginnings of consecutive sentences, stanzas or verses sound the same. This can happen in the form of the first letter or even entire sentences.
«I feel safe. I hear your heartbeat. I feel your love.»
Here «I» is repeated at the beginning of each sentence.
On the one hand, the anaphora causes the Consonance of the beginnings of sentences. In this way, she ensures that the reader perceives the text as a unit. On the other hand, one or more words are repeated, which are then better remembered.
The alliteration
Alliteration comes from the Latin words on (translated «to») and literature (translated «letter») and is also one of the sound figures. Through an alliteration, consecutive words have the same first letter.
«Sabine sang very loudly.»
Here the first three words begin with «s».
Similar to anaphora, alliteration causes the reader to perceive the sentence as a unit. In addition, the reading flow is influenced because several words in a row with the same initial letter are rather unusual.
The ellipse
The ellipse comes from ancient Greek ellipsis (translated «omit») and belongs to the sentence figures. This will be an ellipse Omitting certain parts of a sentence designated. The predicate is often omitted.
«Is there anything else?»
Colloquially, this question is often used in this way, although the prefix «Would you like to» is missing.
Leaving out parts of the sentence that are not needed for understanding draws more attention to the content.
The metaphor
The metaphor comes from the ancient Greek term «metaphorá» (translated «transmission») and belongs to the tropes. It replaces a certain word with another word. This one pictorial comparison occurs without the comparative words «like» or «as».
«Pink glasses»
The rose-colored glasses is a metaphor for someone who only sees the good things without being realistic about noticing bad things as well. It’s like he’s wearing glasses that only see pink (meaning positive) things through.
The metaphor allows the reader to better understand the content and makes the text more expressive.