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Stylistic devices
Repetition and Variation
stylistic device definition example effect
alliteration recurrence of initial sound “The fair breeze blew, to convey auditory images
the white foam flew.”
accumulation series of expressions (adjectives, “He came, saw, fought and won” to make the language livelier
cliches, examples, images) that
contribute increasingly to meaning
anaphora repetition of first word(s) of line/clause In every town, in every house in  to stress the main point
every man, in every woman and in  often used in speeches
every child .....
motif a dominant recurrent theme (word, gives the text a structure and
phrase, emotion, idea) associated stresses the theme by repeating it
with a certain idea, person or situation
and accompanying its/his/her
reappearance throughout the text
climax the point of highest dramatic tension  climatic text structuring means
or a major turning point in the action arranging material in order of
of the text or the point of greatest importance, with the most
dramatic interest in a play important arguments coming last

Contrast
stylistic device definition example effect
euphemism figure of speech intended to hide the “He passed away” for “he died” it may be necessary to spare a
real nature of s.th. unpleasant or “... the underprivileged” for “... the person´s feelings but it often
taboo by using a mild or indirect poor” originates in prudery or a false sense
expression of refinement
oxymoron combination of two terms which are “eloquent silence” to express complex things or to unite
contradictory in meaning contrasting things
paradox seemingly self-contradictory or absurd “I see it feelingly” it may be found to contain some truth
statement which in fact establishes a “So fair and foul a day I have not on closer examination
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more complex level of meaning by seen” (Shakespeare, Macbeth)

way of association
antithesis a rhetorical figure which denotes the “God made the country and man produce an effective contrast
opposing of ideas by means of made the towns”
grammatical parallel arrangements of
words, clauses or sentences
anti-climax a sudden transition from the idea of “The love of God, justice and sports produce a humorous effect
significance or dignity to an idea trivial cars ......”
or ludicrous by comparison
rhetorical question an assertion in the form of a question “Who does nor love this country?” (=  give the listener the false
which strongly suggests a particular of course everybody loves his impression of taking part in a
response country) debate
 used to bring liveliness into a
speech

Imagery and Analogy

stylistic device definition example effect
onomatopoeia sound(s) imitative of thing(s) they refer “engines roar” imagination
to
metaphor a reduced or implied comparison “... the sand of time...” enriches the language (good style)
between phenomena not normally “All the world´s a stage
associated with each other And all the men and woman merely
Not a simile (with like) players...” (Shakespeare)
symbol denotes a concrete thing that stands rose as a symbol of love
for s.th. immaterial, invisible or white as a symbol of innocence
abstract
connotation implies additional meaning(s) of a the word “hearth” which literally gives the reader an association
implication word or phrase along with or apart means “the floor of a fireplace”
from what it explicitly names or suggests in addition “the fireside,
describes warmth, safety)

metonymy the object meant is not explicitly “He could feel the steel going right
[-`- - -] named but rather substituted by a through him” steel instead of dagger
closely associated feature, a or knife
characteristic part or a proper name aristocracy instead of the aristocrats
personification figure of speech in which inanimate “Justice is blind” gives things life or some similarity
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object, abstract concepts or living “Necessity is the mother of with human beings
things (plants, animals) are referred to invention”
as if they were human beings “The sun stepped out of the clouds
and smiled momentarily”

pun a humorous play of words which are “Is life worth living? It depends on  humorous
either identical or similar in sound but the liver!” (1) liver as the organ (2)  to make the reader laugh
are very different in meaning liver as one who lives
simile an explicit comparison (using as or ... as dead as a mutton ... the reader´s imagination must be
like) between two distinctly different ... as fit as a fiddle ... stirred by a simile
things which have at least one feature ... like a bull in a china shop ...
in common “I wandered lonely as a cloud...”
(Wordsworth)
example serves to illustrate an abstract rule or  often used in speeches
acts as an exercise in the application  a special case is given to serve
of this rule for a general statement

Other stylistic devices

stylistic device definition example effect
hyperbole a figure of speech using exaggeration `I loved Ophelia: forty thousand not to persuade or to deceive, but to
brothers could not, with all their emphasize a feeling or to produce a
quantity of love make up my sum.´ humorous effect. It is not to be taken
(Shakespeare) literally.

understatement understatement is the reverse of “That´s rather nice” =great  to give special emphasis to a
litotes exaggeration. It is a statement below It is pouring with rain and the streets situation or idea
the truth are flooded: “Bit wet today, isn´t it?”  humorous
Litotes is a type of understatement It was not a bad party at all = it was
which expresses an affirmative idea a excellent party
by negation of its opposites
irony figure of speech by which the writer  is often used to blame
says the opposite of what he means  will draw attention to its actual
meaning

tone Denotes the accent or inflection of the The tone can be: it reflects the mood of the author and
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voice as adapted to the emotion or colloquial, ironical, serious, earnest, his attitude towards his subject
passion expressed, also used for the humorous etc.
style or manner of approach in
speaking or writing in general
ambiguity In deceptive rhetoric it is the deliberate to hide the truth or to leave the
wording of a phrase or passage in reader uncertain about the author´s
such a way that it can be taken in two real attitude
ways
flashback a literary or theatrical technique that to give a vivid picture of the (hero´s)
involves the interruption of the past
chronological sequence of events. At
this point earlier scenes or events are
interjected.
anticipation the reverse of the flashback. The The author´s aim is to make
author interrupts the chronological developments transparent, quite
sequence of events to present or often with emotional overtones.
allude to events which will happen in
the relative future.
ellipsis shortening of a sentence by the used to avoid repetition but also
omission of one or more words that used for artistic effect
may be easily understood from the
context.
allusion allusion is an implied indication. It the reader is expected to think about
denotes an indirect reference to the situation himself and to have a
people or things outside the text certain knowledge.
without mentioning them in a
straightforward way.
satire Satire is a piece or form of writing used to expose and discourage vice
based on the use of humour, irony or and to ridicule foolish ideas or habits.
sarcasm Satirical writing is always didactic.