Questions & Answers About Rhetoric and Style
Responses to readers' questions about rhetorical strategies, figures of speech, and stylistic devices.
What Is an Analogy?
"Analogies prove nothing, that is true" wrote Sigmund Freud, "but they can make one feel more at home." In this article, we examine the characteristics of effective analogies and consider the value of using analogies in our writing.
"Analogies prove nothing, that is true" wrote Sigmund Freud, "but they can make one feel more at home." In this article, we examine the characteristics of effective analogies and consider the value of using analogies in our writing.
What Is Aporia?
"Aporia" is just one of the terms that might be used to describe Homer Simpson's typically baffled state of mind. Here's an example from around the Simpsons' breakfast table.
"Aporia" is just one of the terms that might be used to describe Homer Simpson's typically baffled state of mind. Here's an example from around the Simpsons' breakfast table.
What Is a Cliché?
From 1939 until his death in 1966, Brian O'Nolan commanded a satiric weekly column for The Irish Times called "Cruiskeen Lawn." In several of those columns, O'Nolan presented "a unique compendium of all that is nauseating in contemporary writing." Here then, as evidence of the "murder" of his "beloved English language," are excerpts from the Myles na Gopaleen Catechism of Cliché.
From 1939 until his death in 1966, Brian O'Nolan commanded a satiric weekly column for The Irish Times called "Cruiskeen Lawn." In several of those columns, O'Nolan presented "a unique compendium of all that is nauseating in contemporary writing." Here then, as evidence of the "murder" of his "beloved English language," are excerpts from the Myles na Gopaleen Catechism of Cliché.
What Is an Essay?
Since Montaigne adopted the term "essay" in the 16th century to describe his "attempts" at self-portrayal, this slippery form has resisted any sort of precise, universal definition. But that won't stop us from making our own attempt in this brief article.
Since Montaigne adopted the term "essay" in the 16th century to describe his "attempts" at self-portrayal, this slippery form has resisted any sort of precise, universal definition. But that won't stop us from making our own attempt in this brief article.
What Is the Value of the Figures of Speech?
Over a century ago, a popular Canadian novelist and professor of rhetoric, James De Mille, offered several good reasons for studying the figures of speech. Though we might word them a bit differently today, the points he made in 1878 still hold true.
Over a century ago, a popular Canadian novelist and professor of rhetoric, James De Mille, offered several good reasons for studying the figures of speech. Though we might word them a bit differently today, the points he made in 1878 still hold true.
What Is Invective?
The following short essay by British critic and literary journalist Desmond McCarthy identifies the strengths and ultimate weaknesses of invective.
The following short essay by British critic and literary journalist Desmond McCarthy identifies the strengths and ultimate weaknesses of invective.
What Is Irony?
To encourage further speculation (rather than reduce this complex trope to simple-minded explanations), we've gathered a variety of definitions and interpretations of irony, both ancient and modern.
To encourage further speculation (rather than reduce this complex trope to simple-minded explanations), we've gathered a variety of definitions and interpretations of irony, both ancient and modern.
What Is a Maxim?
Maxim, proverb, gnome, aphorism, apothegm, sententia--all mean essentially the same thing: a short, easily remembered expression of a basic principle, general truth, or rule of conduct. Think of a maxim as a little nugget of wisdom--or of apparent wisdom.
Maxim, proverb, gnome, aphorism, apothegm, sententia--all mean essentially the same thing: a short, easily remembered expression of a basic principle, general truth, or rule of conduct. Think of a maxim as a little nugget of wisdom--or of apparent wisdom.
What Is a Metaphor?
Some metaphors--such as the comparison of life to a journey--are so common (or "conventional") that we may overlook the fact that they are metaphors. Here we look at some different kinds of metaphors, with examples drawn from poems, essays, songs, speeches, and advertisements.
Some metaphors--such as the comparison of life to a journey--are so common (or "conventional") that we may overlook the fact that they are metaphors. Here we look at some different kinds of metaphors, with examples drawn from poems, essays, songs, speeches, and advertisements.
What Is a Mixed Metaphor?
As defined in our glossary, a mixed metaphor is a succession of incongruous or ludicrous comparisons. When two or more metaphors (or cliches) are jumbled together, often illogically, we say that these comparisons are "mixed."
As defined in our glossary, a mixed metaphor is a succession of incongruous or ludicrous comparisons. When two or more metaphors (or cliches) are jumbled together, often illogically, we say that these comparisons are "mixed."
What Is Monologophobia?
An overwhelming fear of using a word more than once in a single sentence, or even in a single paragraph.
An overwhelming fear of using a word more than once in a single sentence, or even in a single paragraph.
What Is Personification?
In essays and advertisements, poems and stories, personification is used to convey attitudes, promote products, and illustrate ideas. Here we define the figure of personification and look at examples of its use in advertising and literature.
In essays and advertisements, poems and stories, personification is used to convey attitudes, promote products, and illustrate ideas. Here we define the figure of personification and look at examples of its use in advertising and literature.
What Are the Progymnasmata?
In the fourth edition of "Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student," Corbett and Connors characterize the progymnasmata as "one of the most influential teaching methods to arise from the rhetorical tradition."
In the fourth edition of "Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student," Corbett and Connors characterize the progymnasmata as "one of the most influential teaching methods to arise from the rhetorical tradition."
What Is a Rhetorical Question?
The purpose of this figure of speech is not to secure a response but to assert or deny a point implicitly. A rhetorical question may serve as a subtle way of insinuating an idea that might be challenged by an audience if asserted directly.
The purpose of this figure of speech is not to secure a response but to assert or deny a point implicitly. A rhetorical question may serve as a subtle way of insinuating an idea that might be challenged by an audience if asserted directly.
What Is the Running Style?
In contrast to the periodic sentence style, with its carefully layered subordinate clauses, the running style offers a relentless succession of simple and compound structures. As Richard Lanham observes, the running style gives the appearance of a mind at work, making things up as it goes along, with sentences mimicking the "rambling, associative syntax of conversation."
In contrast to the periodic sentence style, with its carefully layered subordinate clauses, the running style offers a relentless succession of simple and compound structures. As Richard Lanham observes, the running style gives the appearance of a mind at work, making things up as it goes along, with sentences mimicking the "rambling, associative syntax of conversation."
What Are "Snarl Words" and "Purr Words"?
The terms "snarl words" and "purr words" were coined by S. I. Hayakawa to describe highly connotative language that often serves as a substitute for serious thought and well-reasoned argument.
The terms "snarl words" and "purr words" were coined by S. I. Hayakawa to describe highly connotative language that often serves as a substitute for serious thought and well-reasoned argument.
What is Sprezzatura?
A true aristocrat, Castiglione insisted, should preserve one's composure in all circumstances, even the most trying, and behave in company with an unaffected nonchalance and effortless dignity. Such nonchalance he called "sprezzatura."
A true aristocrat, Castiglione insisted, should preserve one's composure in all circumstances, even the most trying, and behave in company with an unaffected nonchalance and effortless dignity. Such nonchalance he called "sprezzatura."
What Is the "You Attitude"?
The "you attitude" is more than a matter of playing with pronouns or even of playing nice. It's good business.
The "you attitude" is more than a matter of playing with pronouns or even of playing nice. It's good business.