Scheme
Scheme
• An artful deviation from the ordinary
arrangement of words
Trope
Trope
• An artful deviation from the ordinary
significance of a word
Parallelism
Parallelism
• Similarity of structure in a pair or series
of related words, phrases, or clauses
[adds balance, rhythm and clarity]
Climactic Parallelism
Climactic Parallelism
• The arrangement of w/p/c in an order of
increasing importance, often in parallel
structure.
Isocolon
Isocolon
• A series of similarly structured elements
having the same length, emphasizing
similarity of elements.
Antithesis
Antithesis
• Contrast of ideas or words in a
balanced or parallel construction [useful
for making distinctions or for clarifying
differences which might be otherwise
overlooked by a careless thinker or
casual reader]
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition
• A device in which normally
unassociated ideas, words, or phrases
are placed next to one another,
especially for comparison or contrast
[often creates an effect of surprise and
wit]
Paradox
Paradox
• A self-contradictory statement that
reveals a deeper truth
Oxymoron
Oxymoron
• Placing two ordinarily opposing terms
adjacent to one another
Listing
Listing
• A series of items one after the other,
designed to create a feeling of plenty
Ellipsis
Ellipsis
• Omission of a word or shot phrase
easily understood in context
Asyndeton
Asyndeton
• Omission of conjunctions between
coordinate phrases, clauses, or words,
often resulting in a hurried rhythm or
vehement effect. (the counterpart to
polysyndeton) [often used for strong
and direct climactic effect]
Paralepsis
Paralepsis
• Emphasizing a point by seeming to
pass over it [allows the speaker to make
the listener assume a difficult point]
Rhetorical Question
Rhetorical Question
• A question that does not need to be
answered, because the answer is
obvious, and is usually just yes or no
[used to provoke the audience to your
conclusion]
Rhetorical Fragment
Rhetorical Fragment
• A sentence fragment [used deliberately
for persuasive purpose]
Repetition
Repetition
• A device in which words, sounds, and
ideas are used more than once [used to
enhance rhythm and to create emphasis]
Synonymia
Synonymia
• The use of several synonyms together
to amplify or explain a subject or term
Anadiplosis
Anadiplosis
• Repetition of a word (or phrase) from
the previous line, clause, or sentence at
the beginning of the next. [next for
emphasis of a main idea]
Anaphora
Anaphora
• Repetition of a word, phrase, group of
words at the beginning of successive
clauses
Epanalepsis
Epanalepsis
• Repetition at the end of a line, phrase,
clause or sentence of the word that
occurred at the beginning of the same
line, phrase, clause, or sentence [calls
special attention to a word]
Epimone
Epimone
• Frequent repetition of a phrase or
question; dwelling on a point
Epistrophe
Epistrophe
• Repetition of a word or phrase at the
end of successive clauses [adds
emphasis to an important concept]
Parenthesis
Parenthesis
• Insertion of some word or clause in a
position that interrupts the normal
syntactic flow of the sentence (asides
are emphatic examples of this) [creates
the effect of immediacy: you are relating
some fact when suddenly something
very important arises, or else you
cannot resist an instant comment, so
you just stop the sentence]
Polysyndeton
Polysyndeton
• The repetition of conjunction in a series
of coordinate words, phrases, or
clauses, often slowing the tempo or
rhythm [used to attempt to encompass
something complex, highlight quantity or
mass of detail or to create flowing,
continuous sentence pattern]
Chiasmus / Antimetabole
Chiasmus / Antimetabole
• A sentence strategy in which the
arrangement of ideas in the second
clause in a reversal of the first
Stichomythia
Stichomythia
• Dialogue in which the endings and
beginnings of each line echo each
other, taking on a new meaning with
each new line
Zeugma
Zeugma
• The use of a verb that has two different
meanings with objects that complement
both meanings