Stylistic and rhetorical devices
Metaphor (C)
- A comparison between two things which basically are quite unlike each other
- The metaphor says that something is something else
- A metaphor never uses the words “as” or “like” to make the comparison
- E.g.: A mighty fortress is our God. He has a heart of stone.
- Usage: Shakespeare writes metaphorically when he says… Another metaphor can be found in ll. …
Simile (C)
- Another type of comparison
- The simile says that something is like something else and uses the words “as” or “like”
- E.g.: He is as strong as a lion. She smells like a rose.
- Usage: His style is rich in simile. He uses interesting similes.
Symbol (C)
- A word or phrase that stands not only for itself but also for a certain idea.
- As in the case of the metaphor and the simile the meaning goes beyond the literal
- E.g.: Red is a symbol of danger.
Synecdoche ( U or C)
- A figure of speech using one part for the whole or something special for something general
- E.g.: saying “ten sail” for ten ships or “Croesus” for a rich man
- Another example Shakespeare repeatedly made use of is using the word “board” to imply a stage
- Another expression for synecdoche : pars pro toto
Onomatopoeia (U)
- The formation of words from sounds which seem to suggest their meaning
- E.g.: pocketa, pocketa ; bang ; hiss ; buzz
- Usage: An example of onomatopoeia can be found in line 35: …
Oxymoron (C)
- Two contradictory words or phrases are combined
- E.g.: fiery ice, screaming silence ; foul is fair ; very tragical mirth
- Usage: Shakespeare makes use of several oxymorons in this extract
Plurisignation (U)
- Use of ambiguities (words or expressions with more than one meaning)
- Usage: The following statement is plurisignificant : …
Euphemism (U or C)
- Use of a mild word for one thought to be rough or offensive
- E.g.: “pass away” for die
- Usage: He writes euphemistically when he describes his mother’s death
Redundancy (C)
- Writing (talking) more than the required minimum, repetitive.
- E.g.: Full of vexation come I, with complaint against my child, my daughter Hermia
- Usage: The following paragraph is full of redundancies. His speech is full of redundant words.
Pleonasm (C)
- Use of more words than necessary.
- E.g.: 4 quarters, two twins
- Usage: Pleonasms should be avoided.
Litotes (C - plural same form)
- An ironically moderate speech, rhetorical under-statement
- E.g.: That’s not half bad. He’s no amateur.
- Usage: He is a master of litotes.
Hyperbole (U)
- Exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis.
- E.g.: I’ve waited an eternity. He had a hangover that made his head feel like the spot on the fortress that’s just been hit by a thirty-foot battering ram.
- Usage: Shakespeare loves to employ hyperbole.
Enjambment (U or C)
- The continuation of the sentence into the next line.
- Effect: It makes the speech sound more natural
- E.g.: But see! The angry victor hath recalled His ministers of vengeance and pursuit Back to the gates of Heaven.
Chiasmus (C pl. -mi)
- Contrasted terms are arranged crosswise, the word order in the first phrase is reversed in the second.
- E.g.: Flowers are lovely, love is flowerlike Fair is foul, and foul is fair Weigh oath with oath and you will nothing weigh
Anacoluthon (C pl. -a)
- A broken sentence construction, lacking a grammatical sequence
- In so far the anacoluthon is unintentionally used by the speaker ➙ unwillingly
- Usage: The anacolutha in the following lines are supposed to emphasize Richard’s mental confusion.
Ellipsis (C pl. -es)
- An incomplete sentence construction.
- The ellipsis is used deliberately by its speaker (e.g. for emphasis) ➙ willingly
Anaphora (U)
- The repetition of a word or a phrase at the beginning of two or more successive lines, sentences etc.
- E.g.: And she forgot the stars, the moon, the sun And she forgot the blue above the trees (…)
Epiphora (U)
- The repetition of a word or a phrase at the end of two or more successive lines, sentences etc.
- E.g.: We are born to sorrow, pass our time in sorrow, end our days in sorrow.
Asyndeton (C pl. -a)
- Words or phrases presented in series, separated by commas only, without conjunctions
- E.g.: Veni, vidi, vici. He has provided the poor with jobs, food, money.
Polysyndeton (C pl. -a)
- Words or phrases presented in series separated by “end”, “as well as”, etc.
- E.g.: und es wallet und siedet und brauset und zischt.
Exclamation (C)
- E.g. : What a strange idea !
Address (C)
- But always - do not forget this, Winston - always there will be the thrill of victory …
Request (C)
- Polite or formal appeal
- E.g.: Why don’t we all go to…? Let’s…
Urgent appeal (C)
- It’s stronger form of request
- E.g.: For heaven’s sake, come and help me now!
Climax (C pl. -es)
- A figure consisting of a series of of related ideas so arranged that each is stronger than the proceeding one
- E.g.: Berlin-, Deutschland-, Weltnachrichten
Personification (U)
- A figure of speech in which a lifeless object is spoken of as if alive
- E.g.: My blood speaks in your veins. And when she weeps, weeps every little flower.
- Usage: In “Romeo and Juliet” the personification of the stars is unforgettable . In this poem of Keats’ autumn is personified.
Gemination (U)
- The immediate repetition of a word or phrase for rhetorical effect
- E.g.: And when she weeps, weeps every little flower.
- Usage: Shakespeare often employs gemination as a means of realizing his iambic pentameter.
Allusion (C)
- An allusion is a reference to another author or historical figure or event.
- E.g.: Oberon’s: “A fair vestal throned by the west” doubtlessly alluded to Queen Elizabeth I, who watched the play herself
Pun (C)
- With puns Shakespeare shows his exceptional wit
- Puns work through ambiguities, often caused by homophones (i.e. words that sound the same)
- E.g.: There is mettle in death. (mettle = courage; at the same the word suggests the homophone metal, a synecdoche for sword, a weapon causing death)
- Very often Shakespeare makes use of sexual puns (also called innuendoes)
- Here textual notes are often not very helpful…
- E.g.: My cherry lips have often kissed thy stones. (the character is referring to the stones in a wall, but to the Elizabethans “stones” were also testicles …)
Parallelism (C)
- Any parallel structure
- E.g.: To watch the night in storms, the day in cold.
Alliteration
- Repetition of the inititial consonant sound
Assonance
- Repetition of vowel sounds
Consonance
- Similarity of end consonants Their common aims:
- Increase pleasure in hearing and catch the listener’s attention
Masculine rhyme
- One-syllable rhyme
Feminine rhyme
- Two-(or more) syllable rhyme
Off-rhyme
- Rhyme is not quite exact ,but listener still feels it
Internal rhyme
- Rhyme within one line
Volta
- Change in argumentation
- It always follows after the 8 line of a sonnet
Final complet
- These are the two final lines of a sonnet
- They always contain a message
- It always lays a certain stress on it
Meter
- The length of a line of verse, measured by counting the stresses, is called the metre
Pentameter
- When there are five stresses the line is called a pentameter