AP Language Rhetorical Devices

“synthetic nature” or “cruel kindness”

The tiny Christmas Elves make a mean short-bread. 

an ice-cold can of pop gorgeously beaded with condensation

He was a mountain climber, navigator, skipper, tactician, airplane pilot, and adventurer.

Leonardo DaVinci had a good idea or two.

Having “God-like” knowledge

Donald Trump isn't the most humble individual

I got a new set of wheels for my birthday

“an inch more of rain and this country would be paradise-- an Eden on Earth."

Using “he” or “she” pronouns 

What if I am rich, and another is poor—strong, and he is weak—elevated, and he is depraved?

“Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina” -MLK Jr.

Implied comparison of seemingly unlike things

The opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite in parallel structure

I am so thirsty I could drink the whole ocean

A brief story that is significant to the topic at hand and adds personal knowledge/experience

This book cover is an example of what rhetorical device?

Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears.  

I work, and I eat, and I sing, and I play. 

"seriously handicap our efforts to prevent an inflationary spiral from eating up pensions”

"I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination."

A figure of speechusing deliberate exaggeration or overstatement

Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art

the fact that only teams from the U.S. and Canada play in the World Series

From the clamor and the clangor of the bells!  

The highways edges weren’t like picture-perfect postcards

The opening of an argument where the author/speaker establishes credibility

An exaggeration of a person’s distinctive physical features for comic effect

“One should eat to live, not live to eat.”—Moliere

She sat there paler and whiter than anyone in the vast ocean of anxious faces about her. 

We shall pay any price, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival of liberty.

Targets human vices, follies, social institutions, and conventions for reform or ridicule

Intellectually amusing language

Make no mistake, they’re the enemy, and they won’t stop until we’re all destroyed.

The implied meaning of a term

Who could pretend that a history of migration has immunized the United States against bigotry?

Parting is such sweet sorrow

“such imagination as Hawthorne’s, such wisdom as Emerson’s, such poetry as Longfellow’s...”

Ms. Klause, we agreed, was a not unclever, unattractive young woman.

By-and-by Pap got too handy with his hick'ry, and I could't stand it. I was allover withwelts.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...”

She had an obstinate chin, a cruel mouth and small arrogant eyes.

direct or indirect reference to something historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical

All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is a mortal. 

The people became so silent you could hear a beating heart from across the room.

Saying "pre-owned" instead of "used"

And it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights and windows broken.

It takes a family; it takes teachers; it takes business people; it takes community leaders. 

This blessed plot this earth, this realm, this England, this teeming womb of royal kings.

I can resist anything but temptation. 

"though the mind here a cookie-cutter and the land were dough"

The big sycamore by the creek was gone. The willow tangle was gone. The bluegrass was gone.