Antanagoge Rhetorical Device

AntanagogeAntanagoge is a rhetorical device that means: putting a positive point on something negative. (2) answering the charge of an adversary, by a counter charge.

Example: She always forgets my birthday, but she gives me gifts during the year.

He lost his job, but he’s looking forward to spending more time with his family.

Rhetorical Device Epanalepsis


President John Kennedy said, “Mankind must put an end to war — or war will put an end to mankind.”

Our ears heard it, but we could not believe our ears.

The theory sounds all wrong; but if the experiment is a success, I cant worry about theory.

Next time there won’t be a next time.”   (Phil Leotardo in The Sopranos)

To report that a raise in wages is still under discussion is to tell us that there is nothing to report.

Nothing is worse than doing nothing.

Rhetorical Devices Anastrophe and Antanaclasis

primal forestAnastrophe is the deliberate changing of normal word order for emphasis. For example:

“Enter the forest primeval.”

“On a black cloak sparkle the stars.”

“Bright he was not.”

Antanaclasis is when the same word is repeated but with a different sense each time.  Antanaclasis creates comic effect when used in the form of irony and pun. Political leaders make use of this technique in order to persuade and draw the attention of audience.

“If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired, with enthusiasm.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said:

antanaclasis by Martin Luther King Jr.

Groucho Marx in 1933 said:

Antanaclasis Groucho Marx

Rhetorical Devices Euphony and Cacophony




Cacophony loud“With throats unslaked, with black lips baked,

Agape they heard me call.”


Do you tend to use cacophony or euphony?

Rhetorical Device Chiasmus

Chiasmus signThe Rhetorical Device, Chiasmus means repetition of ideas in inverted order.

For example: “It is boring to eat; to sleep fulfilling.”

Chiasmus frequently uses the pattern above which is present participle-infinitive; infinitive-present participle.

Other examples:

“The instinct of a man is
to pursue everything that flies from him, and
to fly from all that pursues him.”  (Voltaire)

“Bad men live that they may eat and drink,

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Macbeth, I, i)

“Judge not, lest ye be judged”


Information from Silva Rhetoricae: The Forest of Rhetoric and Literary Devices

Antiphrasis Rhetorical Device

chihuahuaAntiphrasis is a figure of speech in which a phrase or word is opposite to its literal meaning in order to create an ironic or comic effect.  Examples:

“The Chihuahua’s name is Goliath.”

“The actress was a mere babe of forty years.”

“Get in, little man,” he told his six foot tall friend.

Antiphrasis surprises people, making them stop and think what is really meant. It can be used in sarcasm, reversing something to show the intended meaning.

Rhetorical Devices Epitasis and Anesis

Epitasis is the addition of a concluding sentence that merely emphasizes what has already been stated. A kind of amplification.


Eat your sandwich. All of it.girls study rhetorical devices

Anesis is the opposite of epitasis. It adds a concluding sentence that diminishes the effect of what was said previously.


The little dog is cute and obedient. That said, he smells like a polluted mud flat at low tide on a hot afternoon.

The employee was smart, efficient, and generous. However, his temper was off the charts.