Rhetorical Terms#20-25

By Sami, Ang, and Stuart

20. Irony

• The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect

Irony Examples

• A man who is a traffic cop gets his license suspended for unpaid parking ticket

• The Titanic was promoted as being 100% unsinkable; but in 1912 the ship sank on its maiden voyage

21. Metaphor/Simile

• Metaphor: a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance

• Simile: a figure of speech in which two unalike things are explicitly compared, using “like” or “as”

Metaphor/Simile Examples

• Metaphor: He has a heart of gold.

• Simile: His face was as red as a tomato

22. Metonymy

• A figure of speech that consists of the use of the name of one object or concept for that of another to which it is related, or of which it is a part

Metonymy Examples

Words functioning as metonymy

• The crown (as in royalty)

• I could use a hand (meaning I need help)

23. Oxymoron

• A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms

Oxymoron Examples

• Jumbo shrimp

• Clearly confused

24. Paradox

• A self-contradictory and false proposition

Paradox Examples

• Why do you drive in the parkway and park in the driveway?

• Sometimes in order to save money, you need to spend it.

25. Parallelism

• A parallel or comparison in a sentence

Parallelism Examples

• The girl was running, swimming, and jumping.

• The dog barked, howled, and played in the park.

Which Rhetorical Terms?

1. People love to eat, dance, and sleep2. The pen is mightier that the sword3. This assignment was a breeze4. Cowardly lion5. If you get this message, call me; if

you don’t, don’t worry about it6. Beating my sister at chess was like

taking candy from a baby7. You study all week for a spelling

test, then misspell your name on the test

A.IronyB.MetaphorC.SimileD.MetonymyE.OxymoronF. ParadoxG.Parallelism