Definition of Isocolon Isocolon is a rhetorical device that involves a succession of sentences, phrases, and clauses of grammatically equal length. In this figure of speech, a sentence has a parallel structure that is made up of words, clauses, or…
Author: admin
Hypotaxis
Definition of Hypotaxis Hypotaxis is subordination of one clause to another, or when the clauses are coordinated or subordinated to one another within sentences. Hypotaxis is defined as a grammatical arrangement of constructs that work in the same way, but…
Exemplum
Definition of Exemplum Exemplum is a rhetorical device that is defined as a short tale, narrative, or anecdote used in literary pieces and speeches to explain a doctrine, or emphasize a moral point. They are generally in the forms of…
Eristic
Definition of Eristic Eristic is a derivative of the Greek word eris, which means “to create strife,” or “to wrangle.” It is defined as a literary device in which the writers and speakers engage in a heated argumentation without reaching…
Antiphrasis
Definition of Antiphrasis Antiphrasis originated from the Greek word antiphrasis, which means “opposite word.” Antiphrasis is a figurative speech in which a phrase or word is employed in a way that is opposite to its literal meaning, in order to…
Tmesis
Definition of Tmesis Tmesis is derived from the Greek word tmesis, which means “to cut.” It is a rhetorical device that involves the breaking down of a phrase or a word into two parts. In simpler words, tmesis is an…
Antanaclasis
Definition of Antanaclasis Antanaclasis is a rhetorical device in which a phrase or word is repeatedly used, though the meaning of the word changes in each case. It is the repetition of a similar word in a sentence with different…
Anacoluthon
Definition of Anacoluthon Anacoluthon is derived from the Greek word anakolouthos, which means “lacking sequence.” It is a stylistic device defined as a syntactic deviation, and interruption within a sentence from one structure to another. In this interruption, the expected…
Adynaton
Definition of Adynaton Adynaton is from the Greek word adunaton, which means “impractical,” or “impossible.” It is a rhetorical device that is a form of hyperbole in which exaggeration is taken to a great extreme where it seems impossible. In…
Antistrophe
Definition of Antistrophe Antistrophe is a derivative of a Greek word that means “turning back.” It is a rhetorical device that involves the repetition of the same words at the end of consecutive phrases, clauses, sentences, and paragraphs. Like in…
Trimeter
Definition of Trimeter Trimeter is a poetic device that is defined as a meter or a line that consists of three iambic feet. It is one of the five main types of iamb. An iamb is a foot that contains…
Zoomorphism
Definition of Zoomorphism Zoomorphism is a derivative of the Greek words zōon, which means “animal,” and morphē, which means “form,” or “shape.” It is a literary technique in which animal attributes are imposed upon non-animal objects, humans, and events; and…
Hypophora
Definition of Hypophora Hypophora is a figure of speech in which a writer raises a question, and then immediately provides an answer to that question. Commonly, a question is asked in the first paragraph, and then the paragraph is used…
End-Stopped Line
Definition of End-Stopped Line An end-stopped line is a poetic device in which a pause comes at the end of a syntactic unit (sentence, clause, or phrase). This pause can be expressed in writing as a punctuation mark, such as…
Dysphemism
Definition of Dysphemism Dysphemism is originated from the Greek word dys, means “miss,” or “none,” and pheme, which means “reputation,” or “speech.” It is a figure of speech that is defined as the use of disparaging or offensive expressions instead…
Aphorismus
Definition of Aphorismus Aphorismus is borrowed from a Greek word that means “marking off,” “banishment,” or “rejection.” It is a figure of speech that brings into question the meaning of words, in case the words are used inappropriately. Aphorismus often…
Archaism
Definition of Archaism Archaism is the derivative of the Greek word archaïkós, which means “beginning,” or “ancient.” It is a figure of speech in which a used phrase or word is considered very old fashioned and outdated. It can be…
Tragicomedy
Definition of Tragicomedy Tragicomedy is a literary device used in fictional works. It contains both tragedy and comedy. Mostly, the characters in tragicomedy are exaggerated, and sometimes there might be a happy ending after a series of unfortunate events. It…
Polyptoton
Definition of Polyptoton Polyptoton is a stylistic device that is a rhetorical repetition of the same root word. However, each time the word is repeated in a different way, such as the words luppiter, lovi, lovis, and lovem are derived…
Periphrasis
Definition of Periphrasis Periphrasis originates from the Greek word periphrazein, which means “talking around.” It is a stylistic device that can be defined as the use of excessive and longer words to convey a meaning which could have been conveyed…