Advanced Features of Great Rhetoric Advanced Features of Great Rhetoric Rhetoric: the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially through the exploitation of figures of speech Rhetoric: the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially through the exploitation of figures of speech Personal pronouns / personal appeal Personal pronouns / personal appeal It is up to us to solve this problem: you and me. It is up to us to solve this problem: you and me. Emotive language & appeal Emotive language & appeal We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. Triplets / power of three Triplets / power of three life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness Asyndeton – removal of conjunctions to improve pace and Asyndeton – removal of conjunctions to improve pace and impact of message. impact of message. Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered Metaphor and simile Metaphor and simile We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream righteousness like a mighty stream Rhetorical question & Hypophora – posing & answering your Rhetorical question & Hypophora – posing & answering your own question own question You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land, and air, with all our might and with all the strength we can land, and air, with all our might and with all the strength we can muster. muster. Antithesis and juxtaposition – balanced and opposite ideas Antithesis and juxtaposition – balanced and opposite ideas to create greater impact to create greater impact That's one small step for [a] man; one giant leap for That's one small step for [a] man; one giant leap for mankind." mankind." Anaphora (repetition at the start of a phrase) we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, Anaphora (repetition at the start of a phrase) we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, Epistrophe – repetition of a word or phrase at the end of each Epistrophe – repetition of a word or phrase at the end of each thought. thought. Your government failed you; those entrusted with protecting Your government failed you; those entrusted with protecting you failed you; and I failed you. you failed you; and I failed you. Hyperbole (formal) Hyperbole (formal) The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Climax – weighting ideas with the most impressive at the end Climax – weighting ideas with the most impressive at the end "it’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s Superman!" "it’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s Superman!" A few more you might have heard of: anecdotes; quotes, A few more you might have heard of: anecdotes; quotes, facts, and figures; emotional appeal; promises/threats; facts, and figures; emotional appeal; promises/threats; humour; colloquialisms; humour; colloquialisms;
