Rhetorical Devices Cards

RULE OF THREE ALLUSION
Definition: a list of three words, Definition: a figure of speech that makes a reference to a place,
phrases, clauses or larger text person, literary work or historical event.
chunks (points / ideas).
Example: “the invisible enemy” – a
Example: “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” reference to the Coronavirus threat,
– the American Declaration of Independence
Or “June 1” – an allusion to the International
Effect: Ideas presented in threes are inherently more interesting, more Children’s Day.
enjoyable, and more memorable for your audience. Information
Effect: gives a deeper meaning to a story by referring
presented in a group of three sticks in our head better than other
to something that most are familiar with; offers the audience new
groups.
ways to look at an idea or deepen understanding about a topic.
EMOTIVE LANGUAGE REPETITION
Examples: Definition: the act of repeating or

restating something more than once:
• Non-emotive version: Another person in the bar was injured by individual letters and sounds, single words, phrases, or even ideas.
the man's glass.
• Emotive version: An innocent bystander suffered facial injuries
when the thug launched his glass across the bar. Example: Martin Luther King’s speech ‘I have a dream’.
Effect: influences audience’s opinions Effect: strengthens message

RHETORICAL QUESTION HUMOUR,
sometimes self-
Definition: a question which does not
deprecating
expect an answer.
Definition: the
Examples: ‘Do I look like I was born
quality of being
yesterday?’
amusing or comic,
‘Who is asking you?’ especially as
expressed in
‘Am I the only one seeing something wrong here?’ literature or speech.
Effect: causes the audience to question the other side and, Example: ‘I’ve always taken humour seriously.’
ultimately, accept your side; used to attract attention and gain
interest. Effect: provokes laughter, provides amusement and lightens the
mood.
IDIOMATIC LANGUAGE UNDERSTATEMENT
Definition: informal language, in which Definition: expression with less

expressions have a meaning different from the strength than expected,
meaning of the individual words in them. deliberately representing
Idioms don't mean exactly what the words say. something as less important than
it really is.
Example: ‘I’m here for keeps’ (meaning: for
very long, possibly forever) Example: ‘Bill Gates has a little

money.’
Effect: reinforces the message by making it more interesting;
conveys cultural associations; appeals to the audiences’ emotions. Effect: used to highlight the stronger claim; sometimes adds humour
or irony to a serious situation.
PARALLEL STRUCTURES HYPERBOLE

(Parallelism)
Definition: overstatement, exaggeration
Definition: repetition of a chosen grammatical (opposite of understatement).
form within a sentence: an item or idea in your sentence follow the
same grammatical pattern.
Example: That food was so hot, my ears were smoking!
Example: Joe loved playing chess, video games and soccer.
Effect: emphasizes a point.
Effect: intensifies the rhythm of language or elaborates an idea.
USE OF PRONOUNS HYPERBOLE
Effect: Personal pronouns are used to
engage with the listener, to make Definition: overstatement, exaggeration
that person out there feel an (opposite of understatement).
intimacy with the speaker.
Especially effective are the uses of the first-person pronouns “I”
and “We”.
Example: That food was so hot, my ears were smoking!
The conventions of public speaking call for identifying with the
Effect: emphasizes a point
audience and this is one of the best ways to do it.
METAPHOR COLLOQUIAL DICTION
Definition: a figure Definition: informal language for
of speech casual communication; can include
containing implied idiomatic expressions and/or slang.
comparison.
Example: ‘I just don’t get it.’ (meaning: ‘I don’t understand’)
Example: ‘My sister is the devil. She is always flaring up my

Effect: creates an intimate, warm, informal atmosphere; resonates
temper.’ (illustrates a point by comparing a person to a hellish
with younger audiences.
creature).
Effect: creates strong images and leaves lasting impressions.

COMMANDS (CALLS ANAPHORA
FOR ACTION)
Definition: a figure of speech in which
words repeat at the beginning of
successive clauses, phrases, or sentences.
Example: ‘Stand up for your own rights!’
Example: "So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New
Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Effect: inspires a desired response / outcome.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania..."
- Martin Luther King
Effect: expresses a strong feeling; more clearly link two or more ideas
through the repeated phrasing; makes a phrase more memorable
for the reader/listener; gives structure to a lengthy list.

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RULE OF THREE ALLUSION

EMOTIVE LANGUAGE REPETITION

Examples: Definition: the act of repeating or

Effect: influences audience’s opinions Effect: strengthens message

Definition: informal language, in which Definition: expression with less

very long, possibly forever) Example: ‘Bill Gates has a little

PARALLEL STRUCTURES HYPERBOLE

METAPHOR COLLOQUIAL DICTION

Definition: a figure Definition: informal language for

of speech casual communication; can include

containing implied idiomatic expressions and/or slang.

Example: ‘My sister is the devil. She is always flaring up my

Effect: creates strong images and leaves lasting impressions.

- Martin Luther King

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