allegory

definition: a story, poem or

picture that can be interpreted
to reveal a hidden meaning

example: "Animal Farm" by

George Orwell is an allegory
that uses animals to symbolize
the overthrow of Communist
Russia before World War II.

hyperbole

definition: exaggerated claims

or statements not meant to be
taken literally

explanation: Writers use

allegories to layer their stories
with meanings and to make
their stories multidimensional.
Allegories are similar to
extended metaphors, in that
they have both literal and
symbolic meanings.

"I'll love you, dear, I'll love you

Till China and Africa meet,
And the river jumps over the
mountain
And the salmon sings in the
street,
I'll love you till the ocean
Is folded and hung up to dry."

examples:
- "I am trying to do one million
things at once today!"
- "As I Walked One Evening" by explanation: Hyperboles are
employed in day-to-day speech,
W.H. Auden
and are used for emphasis.

euphemism

definition: a mild word or

phrase used in the place of
something that seems too harsh

examples:
- "He was becoming a little thin
on top." (bald)
- "She has recently passed
away." (died)

litotes

definition: employs an
understatement that can use a
double negative to avoid saying
a specific word or phrase.

examples:
- "He is not unlike his father."
- "You are not doing badly at
all!"

explanation: When people are

speaking or writing, they are
often trying to communicate in a
way that is not offensive. People
utilize euphemisms in order to
minimize the damage they may
inflict when they say something
negative.

explanation: People speak in

litotes when they are trying to
avoid saying something
negative. It is an attempt to be
praiseworthy, but still remains
to be seen as an unkind
comment.

logos

definition: statement or
argument used to persuade
audience with logic and
reasoning

example:
"Of Studies" by Francis Bacon"Reading maketh a full man;
conference a ready man; and
writing an exact man."

pathos

definition: statement or
argument that employs
emotions, sympathy and pity to
convince an audience.

examples:
- ASPCA commercials
- propaganda referring to a
country as the "Motherland"

explanation: Writers utilize

logos when they are trying to
persuade their audience using
logic. By using logic, readers
begin to view the argument by
way of reasoning, and agree
with believable facts.

explanation: Pathos is used

when a sense of emotion is
trying to be conveyed. By
utilizing sad images and words,
a reader or watcher is much
more likely to support a less
than believable cause.

ethos

definition: statement or
argument that utilizes ethics or
moral facts to play into the
audience's sense of morality, or
the credibility of the author.

explanation: Ethos is used in

politics and medicine all the
time, to convince people that the
speaker is an expert on the topic
they are speaking about.

example:
- "Doctors all over the world
recommend this treatment.

understatement

explanation: Writers and

speakers use understatements to
definition: a statement that
make phrases sound either
makes a situation seem much
better or worse than they
less important than it really is.
actually are. They are the
opposite of an exaggeration,
examples:
- "It's pretty warm today." (when which makes a phrase sound
much better or much worse than
the temperature is 120)
- "I wouldn't say it tasted great." they actually are.
(when you're eating terrible
food)