Rhetorical Devices Flashcards

Grade 9 · English · Flashcards

Master the rhetorical devices you need to identify and use in Grade 9 English.

Flashcards

Anaphora: Repetition of the same word/phrase at the start of successive sentences — builds intensity
Antithesis: Contrasting ideas in parallel grammatical structure: 'Ask not what your country can do for you...'
Parallelism: Using matching grammatical structures for rhythm and balance: 'We came, we saw, we conquered'
Rhetorical Question: A question asked for effect — the implied answer is more persuasive than a direct statement
Metaphor: A direct comparison stating one thing IS another — no 'like' or 'as'
Simile: A comparison using 'like' or 'as': 'brave as a lion'
Hyperbole: Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis: 'I've told you a million times'
Alliteration: Repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words
Personification: Giving human qualities to nonhuman things: 'the wind whispered secrets'
Epiphora: Repetition of the same word or phrase at the END of successive sentences (opposite of anaphora)
Chiasmus: Reversing the order of words in parallel clauses: 'Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country'
Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words: 'the rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain'