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Rhetrorical Devices

The document discusses various literary techniques used in descriptive writing such as similes, metaphors, personification, and onomatopoeia. It provides examples of each technique and analyzes how a passage uses techniques like simile, personification, and oxymoron to create a vivid description. The document also discusses persuasive language techniques politicians use in speeches, such as flattery, personal pronouns, imperatives, triples, emotive language, and rhetorical questions. It analyzes a speech by William Wallace where he uses techniques like personal pronouns and rhetorical questions to convince his audience.

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Nipuni Fernando
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71 views5 pages

Rhetrorical Devices

The document discusses various literary techniques used in descriptive writing such as similes, metaphors, personification, and onomatopoeia. It provides examples of each technique and analyzes how a passage uses techniques like simile, personification, and oxymoron to create a vivid description. The document also discusses persuasive language techniques politicians use in speeches, such as flattery, personal pronouns, imperatives, triples, emotive language, and rhetorical questions. It analyzes a speech by William Wallace where he uses techniques like personal pronouns and rhetorical questions to convince his audience.

Uploaded by

Nipuni Fernando
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Descriptive language is used to help the reader feel almost as if

they are a part of the scene or event being described. Description


is useful because it helps readers engage with the world of the
story, often creating an emotional response. It can help a reader
visualise what a character or a place is like.
There are a number of literary techniques that can make
descriptions more vivid and creative. Here are some examples:
Technique Examples

Simile - compares one


thing with another The trees stood as tall as towers.
using 'as' or 'like'.

Metaphor - uses an
image or idea to The circus was a magnet for the
represent something children.
else.

Personification - a
metaphor attributing The sun smiled at the hills, ready to begin
human feelings to an a new day.
object.

Onomatopoeia -
The autumn leaves and twigs cracked
words sound like the
and crunched underfoot.
noises they represent.

Alliteration - The seahorse spiralled, seeking safety
repetition of a and solace.
consonant sound in a
Technique Examples

series of words.

Assonance - repetition
He sneezed and wheezed, could hardly
of a vowel sound in a
breathe.
series of words.

Oxymoron - a phrase
combining two or
There was a deafening silence
more contradictory
terms.

Antithesis - putting
two opposite ideas ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant
together to highlight leap for mankind.’ (Neil Armstrong)
contrasts.

Parenthesis - a phrase Jess, who was fifteen, loved her English


that adds extra detail. lessons.
Example
In the example below, look at how the writer uses literary
techniques to create a vivid description.
The ground crumbled like icing sugar under my feet as I heaved
towards the summit. The trees below were dots to my squinting
eyes. The sun was relentless and beat down on my back as I
wiped drips of salty sweat from my neckline. The deafening
silence of the chasm below filled me with dread. Suddenly,
eagles came into view, breaking the silence, screeching in
hunger.
Analysis
The writing opens with a simile to show the texture of the
ground. The sun is personified: it is described as ‘relentless’,
giving it a ruthless personality. The silence is described as
‘deafening’, an oxymoron that helps emphasise how unbearable
the situation is for the character. Pathetic fallacy has also been
used here - the uncomfortable heat mirrors the character’s
struggle as she continues on her journey. These literary
techniques make the writing more interesting and draw the
reader into the details of the scene.
Persuasive language is used for many reasons, for example, to
help to sell products or services, or to convince people to accept
a view or idea. Politicians often use rhetorical devices in their
speeches. These techniques can be powerful tools for getting
what you want.
Here are some types of rhetorical techniques and examples of
how they can be used:
Technique Examples

A person of your
Flattery - complimenting
intelligence deserves much better than
your audience.
this.

Hyperbole - exaggerated It is simply out of this worldstrong> –


language used for effect. stunning!
Technique Examples

You are the key to this entire idea


Personal pronouns - ‘I’,
succeeding - we will be with you all
‘you’ and ‘we’.
the way. I can’t thank you enough!

Imperatives -
Get on board and join us!
instructional language.

Safer streets means comfort,


Triples - grouping reassurance and peace of
language in threes. mind for you, your family and your
friends.

Emotive language -
There are thousands of animals at
language that appeals to
the mercy of our selfishness.
the emotions.

Statistics and figures -


80% of people agreed that this would
factual data used in a
change their community for the better.
persuasive way.

Rhetorical question - a
question which implies Who doesn’t want success?
its own answer.
Example
William Wallace led the Scottish rebellion against Edward I in
the fourteenth century. His exploits were made into the
film Braveheart. In this extract from his speech about freedom,
notice the techniques he uses to convince his audience.
I am William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my
countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny! You have come to
fight as free men. And free men you are! What will you do
without freedom? Will you fight? Yes! Fight and you may die.
Run and you will live at least awhile. And dying in your bed
many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days
from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come
back here as young men and tell our enemies that they may take
our lives but they will never take our freedom!
William Wallace, Braveheart
Analysis
Wallace uses personal pronouns (‘I, you, our’) to make the
audience feel as though he is speaking to them on an individual
level. The repeated use of ‘free’ emphasises the main themes of
his speech. He also uses rhetorical questions, one after the other
to impact the audience - they feel that they must fight to protect
their freedom. The closing sentence is highly emotive and asks
his listeners to imagine a future version of themselves. He ends
his speech with the key word ‘freedom’ making his point once
again.

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