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A rhetorical question is asked just for effect or to lay emphasis on some point when no real answer is expected. An example is in Shakespeare’s 'Julius Caesar' when Antony asks the crowd, 'You all did love him once, not without cause; what cause withholds you then to mourn for him?'

Antithesis is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. A historical example is Neil Armstrong's 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind' during the first moon landing.

Anecdote is a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person that is used to support a point and make listeners or readers laugh. Abraham Lincoln was known for his use of anecdotes during speeches and debates.

Euphemism is a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. An example is using 'passed away' instead of 'died'.

Analogy is a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. Plato's 'Allegory of the Cave' uses an extended analogy to explain the process of enlightenment and the effects of education on human perception.

Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect. An historical example is the statement 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse', which is not to be taken literally but instead emphasizes hunger.

Logos refers to logic and reason. It often involves statistics, facts, and evidence to support arguments. An historical example is Aristotle's use of logical appeals in his works to persuade his audience.

Pathos appeals to the audience's emotions, attempting to elicit feelings that will lead to persuasion. An example is the emotional tone used by Winston Churchill in his 'We Shall Fight on the Beaches' speech to inspire and rally the British public during WWII.

Alliteration is the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. An example is the tongue-twister 'She sells seashells by the sea-shore'.

Metonymy is a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated. For instance, 'The White House' is often used to refer to actions of the U.S. presidency.

Metaphor is a rhetorical strategy that compares two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'. An example is when Shakespeare wrote 'All the world’s a stage' in 'As You Like It', suggesting life is like a play.

Ethos is the ethical appeal, means to convince an audience of the author’s credibility or character. An example is Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'Letter from Birmingham Jail', where he establishes his credibility as a pastor and activist.

Irony involves saying one thing and meaning another, usually to highlight some form of incongruity. A historical example is Jonathan Swift's 'A Modest Proposal', which sarcastically recommends the poor sell their children as food.

Simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'. A famous use of simile is in Homer's 'The Iliad' where warriors are regularly compared to lions, such as 'brave as a lion'.

Chiasmus is a rhetorical strategy where words, grammatical structures, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form. John F. Kennedy's 'Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country' is an example.

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive phrases or sentences, often used to emphasize an idea. As an example, Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech frequently repeats the phrase 'I have a dream'.

Synecdoche is a rhetorical trope and a type of metaphor in which a part of something is used to refer to the whole, or vice-versa. An example is using 'wheels' to refer to a car, or 'sails' to refer to a whole ship.

Paradox is a statement that seems self-contradictory or nonsensical on the surface but might include a latent truth when examined more closely. An example is Orwell's 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others' from 'Animal Farm'.

Litotes is an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary. For example, saying 'not bad' to mean 'good'. It is often used for irony or to be polite.

Apostrophe is a rhetorical device where the speaker addresses an imaginary character or an inanimate object. An example from literature is Keats’ ode 'To Autumn', where the season is addressed as if it were a person.

Euphony is the use of harmonious and pleasant-sounding words or phrases in literature. Edgar Allan Poe’s 'The Raven' showcases euphony with its melodic phrasing and sound patterns.

Juxtaposition is a literary technique in which two or more ideas, places, characters, or actions are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts. Charles Dickens uses it in 'A Tale of Two Cities' with the famous opening line 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...'

Personification is a form of figurative language in which something that is not human is given human characteristics. A historic example is the use of personification in ancient Greek mythology, where natural elements like the wind and the sea were depicted as gods with human-like traits.

Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance. T.S. Eliot's 'The Waste Land' is known for its myriad allusions to classical and contemporary culture.