STYLE STYLE

SCHEMES, TROPES, AND OTHER FUN DEVICES

SCHEMES: OF BALANCE

Antithesis—a contrast between the first of a work and the end of a work (usu) -parallel in nature

Juxtaposition—a balance between contrasting ideas Ex. He was short; she was tall. He was fat; she was skinny.

Zeugma--A figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses.– John and his license expired last week.– I lost my keys and my temper.– “He held his breath and the door for me.”

SCHEMES: UNUSUAL WORD ORDER

Anastrophe Parenthesis

SCHEMES: OF REPETITION

POLYSYNDETONand _____, and ______, and ________...

ANAPHORAher eyes, her lips, her hair, her mouth…

EPISTROPHEhe met my stare; she hated my stare; I liked my stare.

EPANALEPSISStupid people are just stupid.

Repetition (cont’d)

Anadiplosis—'The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an emperor. (Gladiator movie 2000)

Chiasmus—repetition of ideas in reverse grammatical order.(sim. to Antimetabole)– “Ask not what your country can do, but what you

can do for your country.” JFK– “One should eat to live, not live to eat.” Cicero– “Quitters never win, and winners never quit.” Anon

SCHEMES: OF QUESTIONING

EROTEMA—assert, support, or deny a thesis/main point

HYPOPHORA—answers the question immediately–Does rhyme scheme matter? Certainly it does!

EPIPLEXIS—to reproach or reprimand–How could you think rhyme scheme doesn’t matter?

TROPES:

METAPHOR SIMILE ANALOGY IRONY PARADOX OXYMORON HYPERBOLE LITOTE

SCHEMES: OF OMISSION

ELLIPSIS--"Some people go to priests; others to poetry; I to my friends."

"True stories deal with hunger, imaginary ones with love.“ (Raymond Queneau)

ASYNDETON— “Pasta, collard greens, bread, cling peaches.” or I felt comforted by her touch, soothed by her words, relaxed by her promises.

Tropes—sophisticated F of S

Metonymy—”change of name” Synecdoche—part represents the whole

– Similar in idea– S—Gray beard saw me.– S—He has mouths to feed.– M—Hollywood determines fashion.– M—Capitol Hill declared the law unconstitutional.

Tropes—cont’d.

Euphemism—a pleasant way to say something that has a harsh or negative connotation.– He… kicked the bucket– Bought the farm– Bit the dust– Blow chunks, correctional facility, etc. There are

tons!

Your Turn!

Write ____ different examples with a partner. Choose 2 you think are great. Bring those to

me, and we will quiz the class!