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EnglishAges 16-18

Rhetorical & stylistic analysis

Identify persuasive and stylistic devices such as anaphora, juxtaposition and antithesis. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Rhetorical & stylistic analysis

Take your time. Show your thinking.

  1. 1. Name the device that substitutes a mild or indirect expression for one considered harsh or blunt (e.g. “passed away” for “died”): Euphemism or Paradox?

    “passed away” · “died” · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
  2. 2. Name the device that places two contrasting scenes, images or concepts close together for comparison: Juxtaposition or Apostrophe?

    Name the device that place… · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
  3. 3. Name the rhetorical device that repeats a word or phrase at the start of successive clauses (e.g. “We shall study, we shall question, we shall grow”): Anaphora or Hyperbole?

    Name the rhetorical device… · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
  4. 4. Name the device in which a question is asked to make a point rather than to elicit an answer: Rhetorical question or Euphemism?

    Name the device in which a… · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
  5. 5. Name the device that repeats a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses (e.g. “of the people, by the people, for the people”): Epistrophe or Anaphora?

    Name the device that repea… · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
  6. 6. Name the device that uses deliberate, extreme exaggeration for emphasis rather than literal truth (e.g. “I have told you a million times”): Hyperbole or Litotes?

    Name the device that uses … · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
  7. 7. Name the device that places two contrasting ideas side by side in balanced parallel structure (e.g. “To err is human; to forgive, divine”): Antithesis or Onomatopoeia?

    Name the device that place… · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
  8. 8. Name the rhetorical appeal that establishes the speaker’s credibility, character and authority: Ethos or Pathos?

    Name the rhetorical appeal… · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
  9. 9. Name the rhetorical appeal that stirs the audience’s emotions and empathy: Pathos or Ethos?

    Name the rhetorical appeal… · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
  10. 10. Name a statement that appears self-contradictory on the surface yet reveals a deeper truth (e.g. “Less is more”): Paradox or Cliché?

    “Less is more” · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
  11. 11. Name the device that refers to something by a closely associated attribute or institution (e.g. “The Crown” for the monarchy): Metonymy or Hyperbole?

    “The Crown” · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
  12. 12. Name the use of words whose pronunciation imitates the sound they describe (e.g. “buzz”, “splash”, “crackle”): Onomatopoeia or Litotes?

    “buzz” · “splash” · Rhetorical & stylistic ana…
12 questions · Seed 52 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
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Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Rhetorical & stylistic analysis

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

  1. 1. Name the device that substitutes a mild or indirect expression for one considered harsh or blunt (e.g. “passed away” for “died”): Euphemism or Paradox?

    Euphemism

    A euphemism softens a harsh reality with gentler phrasing.

  2. 2. Name the device that places two contrasting scenes, images or concepts close together for comparison: Juxtaposition or Apostrophe?

    Juxtaposition

    Juxtaposition sets two elements side by side to highlight their contrast.

  3. 3. Name the rhetorical device that repeats a word or phrase at the start of successive clauses (e.g. “We shall study, we shall question, we shall grow”): Anaphora or Hyperbole?

    Anaphora

    Anaphora is deliberate repetition at the beginning of successive clauses for emphasis.

  4. 4. Name the device in which a question is asked to make a point rather than to elicit an answer: Rhetorical question or Euphemism?

    Rhetorical question

    A rhetorical question prompts reflection without expecting a literal reply.

  5. 5. Name the device that repeats a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses (e.g. “of the people, by the people, for the people”): Epistrophe or Anaphora?

    Epistrophe

    Epistrophe repeats the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.

  6. 6. Name the device that uses deliberate, extreme exaggeration for emphasis rather than literal truth (e.g. “I have told you a million times”): Hyperbole or Litotes?

    Hyperbole

    Hyperbole is intentional overstatement for rhetorical effect.

  7. 7. Name the device that places two contrasting ideas side by side in balanced parallel structure (e.g. “To err is human; to forgive, divine”): Antithesis or Onomatopoeia?

    Antithesis

    Antithesis pairs opposite ideas in a balanced grammatical structure.

  8. 8. Name the rhetorical appeal that establishes the speaker’s credibility, character and authority: Ethos or Pathos?

    Ethos

    Ethos appeals to ethics, trustworthiness and authority.

  9. 9. Name the rhetorical appeal that stirs the audience’s emotions and empathy: Pathos or Ethos?

    Pathos

    Pathos appeals to emotion and shared human feeling.

  10. 10. Name a statement that appears self-contradictory on the surface yet reveals a deeper truth (e.g. “Less is more”): Paradox or Cliché?

    Paradox

    A paradox reconciles apparent contradiction to highlight an underlying truth.

  11. 11. Name the device that refers to something by a closely associated attribute or institution (e.g. “The Crown” for the monarchy): Metonymy or Hyperbole?

    Metonymy

    Metonymy substitutes the name of a closely associated concept.

  12. 12. Name the use of words whose pronunciation imitates the sound they describe (e.g. “buzz”, “splash”, “crackle”): Onomatopoeia or Litotes?

    Onomatopoeia

    Onomatopoeic words phonetically mimic the sounds they denote.

12 questions · Seed 52 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification