Rhetorical Devices

1. Hyperbole (noun) Synonyms- embellishment and rhetoric

• exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
• you can bring life into a boring joke/story into a funny one

 (example- He is as skinny as a toothpick.) (example- She is so dumb, she thinks)

• they can make people buy products studies have shown that 75% of ads use at least one figure of speech

 (example- "adds amazing luster for infinite mirror-like shine")

2. Hypophora (noun) (Origin from a Greek IPOFORA- meaning carrying under or putting under) Syn.- antipophora

• figure of speech in which the speaker poses a question & then answers the question.

 (example- What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously.)

• it is similar to a rhetorical question only it gets answered while a rhetorical question doesn't.

3. Hypotaxis (noun) (Origin from a Greek word subjection) Syn.- parataxis

• the subordination of one clause to another 

(example- One December morning near the end of the year when snow was falling moist and heavy for miles all around, so that the earth and the sky were indivisible, Mrs. Bridge emerged from her home and spread her umbrella.)

• gives off an emotional cast to the writing points clearly at what is important and what should be read with the most weight. 

(examples related to us- I had to drink because I was thirsty.) (When I go out, I feel happy.)

4. Litotes (noun) (Origin from a Greek word SIMPLE)

• ironical understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary.
• emphasize an idea or situation rather then minimizing their importance. 

(example- "You won't be sorry", meaning you'll be glad.)

• employs an understatement by using double negatives or in other words positive statements is expressed by negating its opposite expressions

(example- The ice cream was not to bad) (Your apartment is not unclean.)

5. Metabasis Syn.- Transition (Origin from a Greek word METABAIO meaning to pass over)

• a change from one subject to another 
• a transitional statement in which one explains what has been and what will be said or done.

(example- You have heard how the proposed plan will fail; now consider how an alternative might succeed)