Saturday, 5 September 2026, 11:04 AM
Site: edulabs.org academy
Course: Activity Examples (Activity Examples)
Glossary: Rhetorical Glossary ( Mike Green)
A
Alliteration repetition of the same sound beginning several words in sequence. Let us go forth to lead the land we love. J. F. Kennedy, Inaugural Viri validis cum viribus luctant. Ennius Veni, vidi, vici. Julius Caesar |
Anacoluthon lack of grammatical sequence; a change in the grammatical construction within the same sentence. Agreements entered into when one state of facts exists -- are they to be maintained regardless of changing conditions? J. Diefenbaker |
Anadiplosis ("doubling back") the rhetorical repetition of one or several words; specifically, repetition of a word that ends one clause at the beginning of the next. Men in great place are thrice servants :servants of the sovereign or state; servants of fame; and servants of business. Francis Bacon Senatus haec intellegit, consul videt; hic tamen vivit. Vivit? Immo vero etiam in senatum venit. Cicero, In Catilinam Aeschines 3.133 |
Anaphora the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines. We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender. Churchill. Nihil agis, nihil moliris, nihil cogitas, quod non ego non modo audiam, sed etiam videam planeque sentiam. Cicero, In Catilinam Lysias, Against Eratosthenes 21 Demosthenes, On the Crown 48 |
Anastrophe transposition of normal word order; most often found in Latin in the case of prepositions and the words they control. Anastrophe is a form of hyperbaton. The helmsman steered; the ship moved on; yet never a breeze up blew. Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Isdem in oppidis, Cicero Demosthenes, On the Crown 13 |
Antistrophe repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses. In 1931, ten years ago, Japan invaded Manchukuo -- without warning. In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia -- without warning. In 1938, Hitler occupied Austria -- without warning. In 1939, Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia -- without warning. Later in 1939, Hitler invaded Poland -- without warning. And now Japan has attacked Malaya and Thailand -- and the United States --without warning. Franklin D. Roosevelt Aeschines, Against Ctesiphon 198 |
Antithesis opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction. Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. Barry Goldwater Brutus: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Shakespeare, Julius Caesar The vases of the classical period are but the reflection of classical beauty; the vases of the archaic period are beauty itself." Sir John Beazley Demosthenes, Olynthiac 2.26 |
Aporia expression of doubt (often feigned) by which a speaker appears uncertain as to what he should think, say, or do. Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do?' Luke 16 Demosthenes, On the Crown 129 |
Aposiopesis a form of ellipse by which a speaker comes to an abrupt halt, seemingly overcome by passion (fear, excitement, etc.) or modesty. Demosthenes, On the Crown 3 |
Apostrophe a sudden turn from the general audience to address a specific group or person or personified abstraction absent or present. For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel. Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him. Shakespeare, Julius Caesar |