Tag Archives: trope

Personification

Posted on April 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

Personification: Reference to abstractions or inanimate objects as though they had human qualities or abilities. The English term for prosopopeia (pro-so-po-pe’-i-a) or ethopoeia (e-tho-po’-ia): the description and portrayal of a character (natural propensities, manners and affections, etc.).

That clock on the wall knows what time it is. Pay attention to what it’s saying! It’s telling you that you better leave right now or you’ll miss your bus to Las Vegas.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Hendiadys

Posted on April 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Hendiadys (hen-di’-a-dis): Expressing a single idea by two nouns [joined by a conjunction] instead of a noun and its qualifier. A method of amplification that adds force.

Without star and spangles and spectacles, parties’ political conventions wouldn’t be political conventions. Silly hats, confetti, fog horns, and Tele-prompted speeches! That’s what it’s all about.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Apocarteresis

Posted on April 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Apocarteresis (a-po-car-ter’-e-sis): Casting of all hope away from one thing and placing it on another source altogether.

Once upon a time I trusted my honesty, sincerity, and goodwill to find me friends. I learned quickly that this spelled “sucker” to most of the strangers I met, and I was ripped off more times than I care to say. Now, I trust a private detective to run background checks on everybody I meet.   So far, I haven’t found any friends, but I haven’t been ripped off either!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Periphrasis

Posted on April 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

Periphrasis (per-if’-ra-sis): The substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name (a species of circumlocution); or, conversely, the use of a proper name as a shorthand to stand for qualities associated with it. (Circumlocutions are rhetorically useful as euphemisms, as a method of amplification, or to hint at something without stating it.)

Mother Romney is no Mother Theresa.  She’s no mother Hubbard either. NEVER a Ma Kettle! No my friends, if she’s anybody, she’s  a regular Olivia Walton. The only difference is that Ann has two Cadillacs & Olivia had no Cadillacs.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Synonymia

Posted on April 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

Synonymia (si-no-ni’-mi-a): In general, the use of several synonyms together to amplify or explain a given subject or term. A kind of repetition that adds emotional force or intellectual clarity. Synonymia often occurs in parallel fashion. The Latin synonym, interpretatio, suggests the expository and rational nature of this figure, while another Greek synonym, congeries, suggests the emotive possibilities of this figure.

It’s over for Rick Santorum. He is finished. His campaign is through.

Rick Santorum fought for what he believed in. He tried to sink the liberal Romney frigate. Our conservative Captain waged war until it was clear, apparent, and doubtless that he had to turn his wheel and shift his course a little to the left to win the battle for Admiral of the Republican Fleet.  He was unwilling to chart such a course, and now, continuing on his right-bound course he sails off to glory on the Conservative Tradewinds toward a safe and friendly harbor on cable TV.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Bomphiologia

Posted on April 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

Bomphiologia (bom-phi-o-lo’-gi-a): Exaggeration done in a self-aggrandizing manner, as a braggart.

As a businessman I’ve done so many really wonderful things. I fired 1,000s of people. I made enough money to buy Rhode Island, and I didn’t keep all the money for myself.

Clearly my track record as a businessman qualifies me to be President of the United State of America, Inc.

Just call me “The Profit Mitt: Your Blue Chip Investment in America’s Future.”

(Oh, and by the way, don’t forget my charming smile, the attractive gray stripes on my temples, my incredibly good posture, the fact that I go to bed early every night, and last, but not least, my endearing sense of humor.)

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Charientismus

Posted on April 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Charientismus (kar-i-en-tia’-mus): Mollifying harsh words by answering them with a smooth and appeasing mock.

Willard Mitt Romney! Shame on you! You better be a good little politician and stop saying nasty things about your opponents. If you don’t behave yourself in Pennsylvania, Karl Rove will spank you!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Polysyndeton

Posted on April 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

Polysyndeton (pol-y-syn’-de-ton): Employing many conjunctions between clauses, often slowing the tempo or rhythm. (Asyndeton is the opposite of polysyndeton: an absence of conjunctions.)

They huffed, and puffed, and huffed, and huffed, and huffed, and puffed, and spit, and yelled, and made fair and balanced wise cracks on Fox News, and called it Obamacare, but they couldn’t blow down The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Will the Supreme Court demolish it for them?

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Alliteration

Posted on April 5, 2012 | Leave a comment

Alliteration (al-lit’-er-a’-tion): Repetition of the same letter or sound within nearby words. Most often, repeated initial consonants. Taken to an extreme alliteration becomes the stylistic vice of paroemion where nearly every word in a sentence begins with the same consonant.

Truth will decide what we will do, not the nodding heads of the half asleep sheep we call politicians.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Isocolon

Posted on April 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

Isocolon (i-so-co’-lon): A series of similarly structured elements having the same length. A kind of parallelism.

Allegations. Threats. Misrepresentations. Your PAC is a PAC of lies.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Anamnesis

Posted on March 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

Anamnesis (an’-am-nee’-sis): Calling to memory past matters. More specifically, citing a past author [apparently] from memory.  Anamnesis helps to establish ethos [credibility], since it conveys the idea that the speaker is knowledgeable of the received wisdom from the past.

“Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow.  Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend.” To these three options, Camus could have added a fourth: “Betray me and these boots are going to walk all over you.” However, it wasn’t until 1966 that Nancy Sinatra made explicit and popularized this profoundly negative ‘way of walking’ in her hit song titled “These boots are made for walking.” What remains to be considered, though, is the ethical import of “walking all over” another person and whether betrayal provides justifiable ‘grounds’ for doing so.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Gorgias has inserted the bracketed words [apparently] and [credibility].

Quotation from “The Quotations Page” (quotationspage.com)

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Aporia

Posted on March 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

Aporia (a-po’-ri-a): Deliberating with oneself as though in doubt over some matter; asking oneself (or rhetorically asking one’s hearers) what is the best or appropriate way to approach something [=diaporesis].

Forgive and forget? Forgive and regret? Where do we go from here?

Is the risk of regretting too great to bear the weight of mercy?

Forgive or regret?

Is that the question?

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Deesis

Posted on March 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

Deesis (de’-e-sis): An adjuration (solemn oath) or calling to witness; or, the vehement expression of desire put in terms of “for someone’s sake” or “for God’s sake.”

If elected President, I swear in the name of everything I hold near and dear that I will lower taxes, build a fence around Arizona, and work tirelessly to Michigan-size every tree in the United States of America with chainsaws made in the USA, fueled by Alaska, Texas, Louisiana, and New Jersey, and operated by non-union workers for minimum wage!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Climax

Posted on February 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Climax (cli’-max): Generally, the arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance, often in parallel structure.

There is the kindling, the spark, the flame and the light that faces our fears and and befriends us at night.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Litotes

Posted on February 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

Litotes (li-to’-tees): Deliberate understatement, especially when expressing a thought by denying its opposite. The Ad Herennium author suggests litotes as a means of expressing modesty (downplaying one’s accomplishments) in order to gain the audience’s favor (establishing ethos).

His campaign promises are not unbelievable.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Enantiosis

Posted on February 13, 2011 | Leave a comment

Enantiosis (e-nan-ti-o’-sis): Using opposing or contrary descriptions together, typically in a somewhat paradoxical manner.

Love is a burden that carries you.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Prolepsis

Posted on December 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

Prolepsis (pro-lep’-sis):  (1) A synonym for procatalepsis [refuting anticipated objections];  (2) speaking of something future as though already done or existing. A figure of anticipation.

1. They’re going to say we don’t have the competence or depth of commitment to make this plan succeed. Well, we say that we’ve never yet undertaken a project that we didn’t have the brains to carry through to successful completion. We’re not in the business of proposing to do things that we’re unable to do!  As far as commitment is concerned–we’ve been at this for the past 5 years, forging ahead and making good things happen for this organization.  Given our steady 5-year track record, we don’t think it’s too hard to believe we’re dedicated to the cause and that our resolve is unwavering. Bottom line: same old reservations, same old show them that they’re wrong!

2. The die is cast. There’s no turning back. Tomorrow is tomorrow, but today might as well be tomorrow. It’s all over.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Antisagoge

Posted on July 6, 2010 | Leave a comment

Antisagoge (antis-a-go’-gee): 1. Making a concession before making one’s point (=paromologia); 2. Using a hypothetical situation or a precept to illustrate antithetical alternative consequences, typically promises of reward and punishment.

1. I know it’s a lot of money to spend on a vacation, but it isn’t going to break us.  In fact, I ran the numbers & it looks like it’s well within our means. Besides, we’ve never seen a bee farm before! It’ll be educational!

2. You’re going to be applying to colleges this year. You need to plan ahead:  Imagine you’re applying for college and the application asks if you have any noteworthy extracurricular achievements. If you go ahead and waste another summer partying at the beach, you’ll have nothing worthwhile to write about. On the other hand, just imagine spending the entire summer helping me–AKA your dear dad–build and sell these really cool cinder block birdhouses I invented. You’ll have something worthwhile to say on that application that may make the difference between being accepted and rejected. Come on. What’ll it be? The birdhouses or the beach? College, or who knows what? It seems like a no-brainer to me. Here’s a drill and a cinder block. Let’s get to work!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Catacosmesis

Posted on July 5, 2010 | Leave a comment

Catacosmesis (kat-a-kos-mees’-is): Ordering words from greatest to least in dignity, or in correct order of time.

From start to finish that was the best soccer match I have ever seen!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Thaumasmus

Posted on July 4, 2010 | Leave a comment

Thaumasmus (thau-mas’-mus): To marvel at something rather than to state it in a matter of fact way.

I can’t believe how much oil has poured into the Gulf of Mexico since April! Can it really be 12 million gallons? All that oil from one blown-out well? What a disaster!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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Paromologia

Posted on July 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

Paromologia (par-o-mo-lo’-gi-a): Conceding an argument, either jestingly and contemptuously, or to prove a more important point.  A synonym for concessio.

Yes–you’re absolutely right.  It’s true. I was mistaken. I was mistaken to think that you’re a decent human being! That mistake has been corrected and now it’s time for me to move on. Goodbye.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Hendiadys

Posted on July 2, 2010 | Leave a comment

Hendiadys (hen-di’-a-dis): Expressing a single idea by two nouns [joined by a conjunction] instead of a noun and its qualifier. A method of amplification that adds force. Hendiadys can be considered a specific application of anthimeria, the more general term indicating the substitution of one part of speech for another.  Hendiadys [is realted to polysyndeton–it] increases the use of conjunctions in a sentence in the very act of transforming an adjective-noun combination into two nouns. [In addition,] making an adjective a noun changes it from a subordinate to an ordinate or parallel position, inviting one to consider the nouns as related but distinct. Like hendiadys, paradiastole divides out and distinguishes terms normally considered completely consistent with one another.

In the US on the night of July 4th, everywhere the sky will be filled with fireworks and boom!

vs.

In the US on the night of July 4th, everywhere the sky will be filled with booming fireworks!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Chronographia

Posted on June 30, 2010 | Leave a comment

Chronographia (chro-no-graph’-i-a): Vivid representation of a certain historical or recurring time (such as a season) to create an illusion of reality. A kind of enargia: [the] generic name for a group of figures aiming at vivid, lively description.

Butterflies flutter by. Tree Swallows swallow the sky. It’s humid and hot. The drinks are poured. Summer’s back in town. Time to sit, relax, and look around.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu). Bracketed text added by Gorgias.

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Anthypophora

Posted on June 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

Anthypophora (an’-thi-po’-phor-a): A figure of reasoning in which one asks and then immediately answers one’s own questions (or raises and then settles imaginary objections). Reasoning aloud. Anthypophora sometimes takes the form of asking the audience or one’s adversary what can be said on a matter, and thus can involve both anacoenosis and apostrophe.

Why am I here? Because I care. Why are you here? Because you care. I care. You care. We care! What are we waiting for? Let’s get this thing cleaned up!

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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Tmesis

Posted on June 28, 2010 | Leave a comment

Tmesis (tmee’-sis): Interjecting a word or phrase between parts of a compound word or between syllables of a word.

Today we start Kagan’s Senate confir-nasty-mation hearings–a showcase for partisan politics.

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Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu).

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