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31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

What is a rhetorical device and why are they used.

As with all fields of serious and complicated human endeavor (that can be considered variously as an art, a science, a profession, or a hobby), there is a technical vocabulary associated with writing. Rhetoric is the name for the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion, and though a writer doesn’t need to know the specific labels for certain writing techniques in order to use them effectively, it is sometimes helpful to have a handy taxonomy for the ways in which words and ideas are arranged. This can help to discuss and isolate ideas that might otherwise become abstract and confusing. As with the word rhetoric itself, many of these rhetorical devices come from Greek.

Ready, set, rhetoric.

The repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables

wild and woolly, threatening throngs

Syntactical inconsistency or incoherence within a sentence especially : a shift in an unfinished sentence from one syntactic construction to another

you really should have—well, what do you expect?

Repetition of a prominent and usually the last word in one phrase or clause at the beginning of the next

rely on his honor—honor such as his?

A literary technique that involves interruption of the chronological sequence of events by interjection of events or scenes of earlier occurrence : flashback

Repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground

The repetition of a word within a phrase or sentence in which the second occurrence utilizes a different and sometimes contrary meaning from the first

we must all hang together or most assuredly we shall all hang separately

The usually ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings

this giant of 3 feet 4 inches

The use of a proper name to designate a member of a class (such as a Solomon for a wise ruler) OR the use of an epithet or title in place of a proper name (such as the Bard for Shakespeare)

The raising of an issue by claiming not to mention it

we won't discuss his past crimes

An expression of real or pretended doubt or uncertainty especially for rhetorical effect

to be, or not to be: that is the question

Harshness in the sound of words or phrases

An inverted relationship between the syntactic elements of parallel phrases

working hard, or hardly working?

A disjunctive conclusion inferred from a single premise

gravitation may act without contact; therefore, either some force may act without contact or gravitation is not a force

The substitution of a disagreeable, offensive, or disparaging expression for an agreeable or inoffensive one

greasy spoon is a dysphemism for the word diner

Repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

of the people, by the people, for the people

Emphatic repetition [ this definition is taken from the 1934 edition of Webster's Unabridged dictionary ]

An interchange of two elements in a phrase or sentence from a more logical to a less logical relationship

you are lost to joy for joy is lost to you

A transposition or inversion of idiomatic word order

judge me by my size, do you?

Extravagant exaggeration

mile-high ice-cream cones

The putting or answering of an objection or argument against the speaker's contention [ this definition is taken from the 1934 edition of Webster's Unabridged dictionary ]

Understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary

not a bad singer

The presentation of a thing with underemphasis especially in order to achieve a greater effect : UNDERSTATEMENT

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them ( Metaphor vs. Simile )

drowning in money

A figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated

crown as used in lands belonging to the crown

The naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it

A combination of contradictory or incongruous words

cruel kindness

The use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense : REDUNDANCY

I saw it with my own eyes

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by "like" or "as"

cheeks like roses

The use of a word in the same grammatical relation to two adjacent words in the context with one literal and the other metaphorical in sense

she blew my nose and then she blew my mind

A figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole (such as fifty sail for fifty ships ), the whole for a part (such as society for high society ), the species for the genus (such as cutthroat for assassin ), the genus for the species (such as a creature for a man ), or the name of the material for the thing made (such as boards for stage )

The use of a word to modify or govern two or more words usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one

opened the door and her heart to the homeless boy

MORE TO EXPLORE: Rhetorical Devices Used in Pop Songs

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Free Rhetorical Analysis Generator

• 🌟 Intro to Rhetorical Analysis Generator

🤔 What Is Rhetorical Analysis?

• ✒️ Components of Rhetorical Analysis
• 💎 SOAPSTone Template
• 📝 Essay Outline

🔗 References

🌟 intro to our free rhetorical analysis generator.

Rhetoric refers to the use of language that helps motivate, persuade, or get the point across to a particular audience. Rhetorical analysis involves studying and evaluating strategies authors and speakers use to achieve this goal. Here, you’ll learn how to use our generator, the fundamentals of rhetorical analysis, and the components of making a great essay.

Rhetorical Analysis Generator & Reasons to Try

It’s not always easy to conduct a good rhetorical analysis. Many students struggle with it and may even fail to submit their work on time. Our rhetorical analysis generator is here to help! It has many benefits that help you finish your work faster:

A rhetorical analysis evaluates a piece of work and the effectiveness with which the author communicated their ideas. It can be anything from a novel to a movie, as long as the work wants to persuade an audience. In other words, instead of discussing the events of The Count of Monte Cristo, you explore what Alexander Dumas wanted to tell his readers, which techniques were used to convey the message, and whether it was successful.

11 Common Rhetorical Analysis Devices

Look at some of the most popular rhetorical devices you can encounter in written and spoken works. They will help you better identify and include them in your upcoming papers.

✒️ Rhetorical Analysis Components & Their Meaning

You can come across several rhetorical analysis methods in your professional and academic work. The rhetorical triangle is the most popular type but has several lesser-known subtypes.

Its components are:

• Ethos . This notion appeals to the author or speaker’s credibility. It evaluates a person’s authority on a subject and tells the audience if they should trust them.
• Pathos . Pathos deals with emotions. It’s the most effective rhetorical device as it’s used to connect the speaker and the audience. For example, an emotional appeal over the use of facts is a tell-tale sign of propaganda.
• Logos . This element backs up a claim with logical and reasonable substance. Through it, the author provides factual evidence that supports their claims.
• Kairos . When a writer or a speaker addresses a particular time and place, they use kairos to provide specific context. To illustrate, an address concerning the First Amendment is most effective during a political debate.
• Stasis . The final segment of the rhetorical analysis lets people view arguments from different perspectives. This adds an impact and makes the audience more likely to side with the writer or speaker.

💎 Rhetorical Analysis: SOAPSTone Template

Like any analysis, evaluating a person’s rhetorical capabilities requires structure. Without it, you may fail to address some aspects of the work, making your paper incomplete. You can make this process easier with the SOAPSTone template and its components:

📝 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Writing any type of essay requires structure and cohesion. While you may have encountered this structure before, it’s worth to remember the basics. A rhetorical analysis paper outline requires the following elements:

• Introduction . This paragraph introduces the text and its author. Some experts recommend including a summary of the work and elements of the SOAPStone analysis you uncovered. Explain why you’re conducting the research and give a clear thesis statement.
• Body . The section where you present arguments about work and what makes it persuasive. Here you discuss the methods, strategies, and rhetorical and literary devices the author used to convey their message.
• Conclusion . The conclusive paragraph ties your analysis together by driving home the main arguments provided in its body. It can also explain how the work impacted society or its target audience.

3 Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples

Here we have picked up some samples with rhetorical analysis of different types of works that can inspire you to create own impressive essay.

• Rhetorical Analysis of Paypal’s Online Payments Commercial Essay . PayPal's online payments commercial employs a potent blend of rhetorical techniques to convey its message effectively. The ad emotionally connects with the audience through vibrant visuals, stirring music, and relatable scenarios. Using real-life situations highlights the convenience and security of PayPal's services, appealing to the ethos and building trust. Additionally, persuasive language and a call to action stimulate a sense of urgency, prompting viewers to adopt PayPal as their preferred online payment platform. By artfully combining pathos, ethos, and logos, the commercial convinces viewers that PayPal is a trustworthy and convenient decision for their online payment requirements.
• “The Myth of Multitasking” by Rosen: Rhetorical Analysis Essay . The author adeptly employs rhetorical strategies to debunk the notion of multitasking. Christine Rosen dismantles the prevalent belief in multitasking efficiency through persuasive arguments and compelling evidence, revealing its detrimental effects on productivity and cognitive abilities. Her skillful use of logic and reasoning challenges readers to question their habits and consider a more focused approach to tasks. By strategically dismantling this cultural trend, Rosen urges her audience to reassess their attitudes toward multitasking, prompting a profound reevaluation of its impact on daily life and productivity.
• A Rhetorical Analysis: “Chevy Commercial 2014” Essay . Chevy Commercial from 2014 is a captivating piece of rhetoric that skillfully employs various persuasive techniques to resonate with its audience. The ad establishes an immediate connection with viewers through emotional storytelling. The commercial artfully weaves heartwarming scenes of people's lives, accompanied by an inspiring soundtrack, evoking a sense of nostalgia and relatability. Ethos is reinforced by showcasing real people in everyday situations, enhancing the credibility of Chevy's brand positioning as an integral part of consumers' lives. Furthermore, logos strategically highlights the car's innovative features and performance. By aligning Chevy with moments of happiness and adventure, the ad compels viewers to consider Chevy as the vehicle that can accompany them on their life journeys.

We hope our tool will facilitate your rhetorical analysis of books, commercials, or speeches, so you'll create a unique essay! Besides, you may try our hook generator to engage the audience to read your paper from the beginning.

📌 Rhetorical Analysis Generator – FAQ

Updated: Oct 25th, 2023

• Rhetorical Analysis – Jessica Allee, University of Arkansas
• How To Write a Rhetorical Analysis in 8 Simple Steps – Jennifer Herrity, Indeed
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• What Is a Rhetorical Device? Definition, List, Examples – Jeffrey Somers, ThoughtCo
• Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Formatting – Brandon Everett, California State University, East Bay
• What is Rhetorical Analysis? – Melanie Gagich & Emilie Zickel, PressBooks
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This page contains a free tool for conducting rhetorical analysis. It is user-friendly, accurate, and fast. You can customize the analysis according to your text type and context. Also, we have prepared a guide where you can find out about literary devices, components of rhetorical analysis, and the structure of your future essay.

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Rhetorical analysis tools, rhetorical analysis: an introduction.

“It’s a rhetorical question.”  Surely we have all heard and used this expression, but what does it really mean?  A rhetorical question is one that is posed when the speaker does not expect a direct reply, he or she is posturing, strategizing, setting the listener up to be influenced or persuaded.  Whether we are aware of it or not, we are subjected to countless messages every day that attempt to influence or persuade us in different ways.  An advertisement could convince us that we need a new vehicle through rhetorical strategies, just as a significant other could convince us through the same that we need to take out the garbage.      In order to understand the machinations of daily modern life, it is imperative to have a grasp of the techniques and intentions that underpin the myriad messages we encounter every day.  Rhetorical analysis is a way of interpreting and understanding texts by examining the devices and patterns that the text includes.  Rhetorical analysis is multifaceted and highly transferable – it can be used to analyze a speech, just as it can be used to analyze an advertisement. 

Contextualizing Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical analysis is used to determine how an author communicates a certain message.  By performing a rhetorical analysis, students are looking at the strategies an author uses to construct and disseminate their message.  To determine what the REAL intent of a speech, or how the speaker chose to emphasize or de-emphasize certain ideas, rhetorical analysis is used to consider the words chosen, their distribution, their location, and their relationship to one another. Many universities and other institutions publish useful information on this subject on the web, as it is a common and useful form of essay writing.  Please see the following links for more information on the subject:

• University of British Columbia Writing Centre – this site provides explanatory information and a sample analysis http://www.writingcentre.ubc.ca/workshop/tools/rhet1.htm
• North Carolina State University – this site provides examples and contra-examples of rhetorical analysis http://www.ncsu.edu/tutorial_center/writespeak/download/RhetoricalAnalys...
• Brigham Young University – this site provides excellent key questions that can be answered within a rhetorical analysis  http://rhetoric.byu.edu/pedagogy/rhetorical%20analysis%20heuristic.htm

On-line Rhetorical Analysis Tools

Below are links to a selection of rhetorical analysis tools available on-line.  These tools form the basis of several of the alternative assignments available to you through the Communication Studies Media Lab.  On-line rhetorical analysis tools:

• tend to help people determine the frequency of use of different words, phrases, themes, etc.; 
• some tools will look at the co-occurrence of words, phrases, etc.;
• some of them will graph or map the results. 

Rhetorical analysis tools are a terrific resource for deconstructing messages and drawing conclusions about their intention and composition.  Whether or not you choose to complete the alternative assignments, exploring on-line rhetorical analysis tools is a worthwhile activity as it can broaden your understanding of message content and composition.   

Note that each tool has its own tutorial and/or tools available within the site; your tutor is available to work with you on any challenges that might arise.

TAPoR Textual Analysis

Includes examples of textual analysis and explains the nature and purpose of such analyses.

http://portal.tapor.ca/portal/portal

A tutorial complete with screen shots is available through their website (sponsored by McMaster University)

http://tada.mcmaster.ca/view/Main/UTATutorial

Includes co-concurrence feature that allows users to identify and analyze the relationships between frequently occurring words.  This tool can produce graphical representation of information produced.  Multifaceted and engaging, this tool makes use of three different tools for text analysis; as described graphically on the site:

• Co-occurrence = identification of word associations
• Thematic analysis = identification and mapping of themes within a text
• Comparative analysis = compared two sets of textual data 

http://www.tlab.it/en/allegati/help_en_online/def_associa.html

Rhetorical Analysis: Exemplars

There is a veritable wealth of examples of rhetorical analysis available on-line.  This approach to essay writing and contextualizing information is highly transferable; it can be used to analyze literature, political speeches, advertisements, films, etc.  In a media-saturated world, a wide variety of tools for deconstructing messages is advantageous.  As rhetorical analysis looks at how messages are constructed, it is a particularly useful approach within a contemporary context where we are challenged by multiple messages every day. 

Please see the links below for examples of this type of analysis and deconstruction.

Iowa State University

A sample rhetorical analysis deconstructing Anne Roiphe's "Confessions of a Female Chauvinist Sow" essay, which first appeared in the magazine New York in 1972.   

http://isucomm.iastate.edu/105samplerhetoricalanalysisessay

University of British Columbia (UBC)

A sample rhetorical analysis deconstructing George Bush’s letter to Saddam Hussein.

http://www.writingcentre.ubc.ca/workshop/tools/rhet4.htm

The University of Arizona

A sample rhetorical analysis deconstructing Angel & Woolf’s 1996 article “Searching for Life on Other Planets.”

http://web.arizona.edu/~guide/rhetorical_mcmurdie.htm

DiploFoundation

Offers excerpts from rhetorical analyses including Hitler’s rhetoric during the First Word War; also addresses several significant rhetorical techniques. 

http://www.diplomacy.edu/language/rhetoric/analysing.htm

Please contact your tutor if you have any questions in this respect and/or would like more examples of rhetorical analyses before you start your own.     

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Rhetorical Devices Make Speeches Spring To Life

A rhetorical device is a verbal technique a speaker or writer uses to make their presentation more compelling to the audience so that listeners are persuaded to accept their position. They can evoke an emotional response, although this is not the main reason why the speaker chooses the device.

Rhetoric is the art of using language to persuade, inform, or entertain an audience. It has been studied and practiced for thousands of years and has produced a variety of techniques and devices that speakers and writers use to achieve their goals.

One such device is the rhetorical device, a technique that creates a memorable and effective message. Rhetorical devices include  figures of speech , such as  similes and metaphor s, as well as techniques like  repetition and parallelism .

This article explores the different types of rhetorical devices and how they can be used in written and spoken communication to enhance the impact of a message.

Table of Contents

What Is A Rhetorical Device?

A speaker or writer uses  a rhetorical device  to convey meaning and persuade their audience. These devices can include figures of speech, such as metaphors and similes, as well as techniques like repetition and parallelism.

The purpose of rhetorical devices is to make language more memorable, persuasive, or entertaining. Using these techniques effectively, a speaker or writer can create a more impactful message that resonates with their audience.

How Does This Compare With A Literary Device?

Rhetorical devices focus primarily on persuasion and communication, while literary devices create artistic effects in literature. They are straightforward and often used in non-fiction writing and speeches, while literary devices are more commonly used in fiction, poetry, and drama. 

Literary devices may be more subtle and complex. Some literary devices include allegory, symbolism, and imagery, while rhetorical devices center around the use of words.

What Are The Four Modes Of Persuasion Aided by Rhetorical Devices?

The four modes of persuasion, also known as the rhetorical appeals, are ethos, logos, pathos, and kairos. These modes are aided by various rhetorical devices to create a persuasive message.

• Ethos  appeals to the audience’s sense of  ethics and credibility . Rhetorical devices that aid ethos include using expert testimony, presenting a speaker’s or writer’s credentials, and establishing trustworthiness.
•   Logos  appeals to the audience’s  logic and reasoning . Examples of logos include statistics and facts, logical arguments, analogies, and illustrations.
•   Pathos  appeals to the audience’s  emotions . Pathos uses vivid imagery, personal stories, and figurative language to create an emotional impact.
•   Kairos  appeals to the  timing and context  of the message. It would use current events and news stories to make a persuasive case, as well as timing and urgency to make the audience feel compelled to act.

Aristotle’s Setup

Aristotle’s Setup , also known as  Aristotle’s dramatic or narrative arc , is a structure used in storytelling first described by the Greek philosopher Aristotle in his work “Poetics.” The system consists of three parts: the beginning or exposition, the middle or complication, and the end or resolution.

The beginning or exposition sets the stage for the story by introducing the characters, setting, and conflict. The middle or complication builds tension and develops the competition through rising action, leading to a climax or turning point. The end or resolution resolves the conflict and ties up loose ends.

Aristotle’s Setup is still used today as a framework for storytelling in various forms of media, including literature, film, and television. It provides a clear structure for creating a compelling narrative that engages the audience and keeps them invested in the story.

How Do A Rhetorical Device And A Rhetorical Technique Differ?

A rhetorical device is a specific technique a speaker or writer uses to create a particular effect, such as a metaphor or repetition. It is a specific tool in the writer or speaker’s toolbox that achieves a particular goal.

Rhetorical technique, on the other hand, refers to the strategies and methods a speaker or writer employs to persuade or communicate effectively. It encompasses a broader range of tools and techniques, including rhetorical devices.

In other words,  rhetorical technique is the larger umbrella under which rhetorical devices fall.  Rhetorical devices are specific examples of the techniques used in rhetoric, but they only encompass a partial range of strategies used to communicate effectively.

What is A Rhetorical Strategy

Here are 10 examples of  rhetorical strategies :

• Appeal to emotion: “Don’t you want to keep your family safe?”
• Appeal to authority: “As the leading expert in this field, I can tell you that this product is the best.”
• Call to action: “Join our cause and help make a difference in the world!”
• Comparison and contrast: “This product is not only more effective but also more affordable than our competitors.”
•  Testimonial: “I tried this product, and it completely changed my life.”
•  Cause and effect: “If we don’t take action now, the consequences will be catastrophic.”
•  Humor: “Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing!”
•  Narration: “Let me tell you a story about how this product changed my life.”
•  Logical appeal: “Based on the evidence presented, it’s clear that this is the best choice.”
•  Storytelling: “Once upon a time, a young girl dreamed of changing the world.”

What Are The Most Common Rhetorical Devices?

Rhetorical Devices are  powerful tools that add emphasis, clarity, and emotion to written and spoken language.  From the time of Shakespeare to the famous speeches of John F. Kennedy, rhetorical devices have played a crucial part in shaping the way we communicate.

Ten examples of rhetorical devices are as follows:

• Metaphor  – using a comparison to make a point or create an image in the audience’s mind
•   Simile  – the comparison of two things using “like” or “as” to create a vivid picture.
•   Alliteration  – the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of multiple words in a phrase or sentence to create rhythm and emphasis.
•   Hyperbole  – using exaggeration to create a dramatic effect or to emphasize a point.
•   Personification  – attributing human qualities or actions to non-human objects or ideas to make a point or create a vivid image.
•   Irony  – using language to convey the opposite of its literal meaning for humorous or dramatic effect.
•   Repetition  – the most commonly used device involves repeating a word or phrase to create emphasis or to reinforce a point.
•   Onomatopoeia  – using words that imitate the sound they represent to create a vivid image.
•   Oxymoron  – using two contradictory words together to create a paradoxical effect.
•   Rhetorical question  – asking a question to make a point or to emphasize a message without expecting a direct answer.

Consonant sounds can also be emphasized through devices like  consonance and alliteration. Metonymy and synecdoche  are two devices that involve substituting one word or phrase for another, with the former using a related term and the latter using a part to represent the whole.

Which Rhetorical Device Is Most Often Used In Speeches?

The most commonly used rhetorical device in a speech is  repetition .

Anaphora i nvolves  repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.  This can create a rhythmic effect and draw attention to the repeated phrase. John F. Kennedy’s famous line, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” is a great example of anaphora.

Another device is  chiasmus,  which involves repeating words or ideas in reverse order. For example, “Do not let your schooling interfere with your education” is a famous quote by Mark Twain that uses chiasmus.

Repetition of a word or phrase can be used to reinforce a point or idea and can be seen in famous speeches like Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. As seen in Yoda’s unique speech pattern, sentence structure and syntax can also be manipulated for emphasis.

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Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical devices offer a way for speakers to arrange language in an artful way so as to make the conversation more engaging and subsequently, more memorable for audience members. Professional and amateur speech writers can employ any number of rhetorical devices to spice up the delivery of a presentation (see Table 7.1).

Greek and Roman scholars in the classical period developed and identified most rhetorical devices. Four of the most popular ones used in speeches include alliteration, antithesis, parallel structure, and repetition.

Alliteration

Alliteration occurs when the speaker uses the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. Alliteration appears in everyday uses of language, such as television shows ( Mad Men ), sporting events (Final Four), company names (Dunkin Donuts), and in famous phrases (home sweet home; right as rain). When used sparingly, alliteration can spice up the language of delivery, such as “We owe it to our city to help the hungry, the homeless, and the helpless among us.” However, speakers can overuse alliteration, turning an otherwise innocuous statement into an exercise in pure silliness: “Nick’s nephew needed new notebooks now.”

The antithesis rhetorical technique juxtaposes two dissimilar or contrasting ideas. Consider President John F. Kennedy’s famous example: “ Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country .” Neil Armstrong used an antithesis as he took his first steps on the moon: “ That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind .” Consider this technique when trying to draw attention to an important point. Other examples include:

• Many are called, but few are chosen.
• We are taught to speak, but rarely how to listen.

Parallel Structure and Repetition

Parallel structure uses the technique of arranging phrases or clauses of a sentence in parallel form, such as in the following examples:

• Dogs make great pets; they show loyalty, they show obedience, and they show love.
• Our coach told us we should get a lot of sleep, we should eat well, and we should think positively about tonight’s game.

Martin Luther King, Jr. masterfully used parallel structure and combined it with repetition to add engagement to his oratory. Consider his famous I Have a Dream speech :

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!

Repetition occurs when the speaker repeats certain words or phrases to garner emotional effect. Those repeated phrases sound pleasant to the human ear, because they carry with them a certain rhythmic quality, adding emphasis and aiding in memory retention. Repetition as an element of public speaking works differently than it does in written communication. In public speaking, presenters should use repetition because it helps the audience remember key ideas. In written communication, repetition often gets avoided because a reader can review the original reference for memory and comprehension.

Messages that Matter: Public Speaking in the Information Age - Third Edition Copyright © 2023 by North Idaho College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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What Is a Rhetorical Device? Definition, List, Examples

• An Introduction to Punctuation

• B.A., English, Rutgers University

A rhetorical device is a linguistic tool that employs a particular type of sentence structure, sound, or pattern of meaning in order to evoke a particular reaction from an audience. Each rhetorical device is a distinct tool that can be used to construct an argument or make an existing argument more compelling.  

Any time you try to inform, persuade , or argue with someone, you’re engaging in rhetoric. If you’ve ever had an emotional reaction to a speech or changed your mind about an issue after hearing a skilled debater's rebuttal, you've experienced the power of rhetoric. By developing a basic knowledge of rhetorical devices, you can improve your ability to process and convey information while also strengthening your persuasive skills. 

Types of Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical devices are loosely organized into the following four categories:

• Logos. Devices in this category seek to convince and persuade via logic and reason, and will usually make use of statistics, cited facts, and statements by authorities to make their point and persuade the listener.
• Pathos. These rhetorical devices base their appeal in emotion. This could mean invoking sympathy or pity in the listener, or making the audience angry in the service of inspiring action or changing their mind about something.
• Ethos. Ethical appeals try to convince the audience that the speaker is a credible source, that their words have weight and must be taken seriously because they are serious and have the experience and judgment necessary to decide what’s right.
• Kairos. This is one of the most difficult concepts in rhetoric; devices in this category are dependent on the idea that the time has come for a particular idea or action. The very timeliness of the idea is part of the argument.

Top Rhetorical Devices

Since rhetoric dates back to ancient times, much of the terminology used to discuss it comes from the original Greek. Despite its ancient origins, however, rhetoric is as vital as ever. The following list contains some of the most important rhetorical devices to understand:

• Alliteration , a sonic device, is the repetition of the initial sound of each word (e.g. Alan the antelope ate asparagus).
• Cacophony , a sonic device, is the combination of consonant sounds to create a displeasing effect. 
• Onomatopoeia , a sonic device, refers to a word that emulates the real-life sound it signifies (e.g. using the word "bang" to signify an explosion).
• Humor  creates connection and identification with audience members, thus increasing the likelihood that they will agree with the speaker. Humor can also be used to deflate counter-arguments and make opposing points of view appear ridiculous.
• Anaphora  is the repetition of certain words or phrases at the beginning of sentences to increase the power of a sentiment. Perhaps the best-known example of anaphora is Martin Luther King Jr.'s repetition of the phrase "I have a dream."
• Meiosis is a type of euphemism that intentionally understates the size or importance of its subject. It can be used to dismiss or diminish a debate opponent's argument. 
• Hyperbole  is an exaggerated statement that conveys emotion and raises the bar for other speakers. Once you make a hyperbolic statement like “My idea is going to change the world," other speakers will have to respond in kind or their more measured words may seem dull and uninspiring in comparison.
• Apophasis  is the verbal strategy of bringing up a subject by denying that that very subject should be brought up at all.
• Anacoluthon  is a sudden swerve into a seemingly unrelated idea in the middle of a sentence. It can seem like a grammatical mistake if handled poorly, but it can also put powerful stress onto the idea being expressed.
• Chiasmus  is a technique wherein the speaker inverts the order of a phrase in order to create a pretty and powerful sentence. The best example comes from President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address: "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country ."
• Anadiplosis  is the use of the same word at the end of one sentence and at the beginning of the subsequent sentence, forming a chain of thought that carries your audience to the point you’ve chosen.
• Dialogismus  refers to moments when the speaker imagines what someone else is thinking, or speaks in the voice of someone else, in order to explain and then subvert or undermine counterpoints to the original argument.
• Eutrepismus , one of the most common rhetorical devices, is simply the act of stating points in the form of a numbered list. Why is it useful? First off, this devices makes information seem official and authoritative. Second, it gives speech a sense of order and clarity. And third, it helps the listener keep track of the speaker's points.
• Hypophora  is the trick of posing a question and then immediately supplying the answer. Do you know why hypophora is useful? It's useful because it stimulates listener interest and creates a clear transition point in the speech.
• Expeditio  is the trick of listing a series of possibilities and then explaining why all but one of those possibilities are non-starters. This device makes it seem as though all choices have been considered, when in fact you've been steering your audience towards the one choice you desired all along.
• Antiphrasis  is another word for irony. Antiphrasis refers to a statement whose actual meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning of the words within it.
• Asterismos. Look, this is the technique of inserting a useless but attention-grabbing word in front of your sentence in order to grab the audience’s attention. It's useful if you think your listeners are getting a bit bored and restless.

Examples of Rhetorical Devices

Rhetoric isn’t just for debates and arguments. These devices are used in everyday speech, fiction and screenwriting, legal arguments, and more. Consider these famous examples and their impact on their audience.

• “ Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back . Rhetorical Device : Anadiplosis. The pairs of words at the beginning and ending of each sentence give the impression that the logic invoked is unassailable and perfectly assembled.
• “ Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” —President John F. Kennedy. Rhetorical Device : Chiasmus. The inversion of the phrase can do and the word country creates a sense of balance in the sentence that reinforces the sense of correctness.
• "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience." –President Ronald Reagan Rhetorical Device : Apophasis. In this quip from a presidential debate, Reagan expresses mock reluctance to comment on his opponent's age, which ultimately does the job of raising the point of his opponent's age.  
• “ But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.” —Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address . Rhetorical Device : Anaphora. Lincoln’s use of repetition gives his words a sense of rhythm that emphasizes his message. This is also an example of kairos : Lincoln senses that the public has a need to justify the slaughter of the Civil War, and thus decides to make this statement appealing to the higher purpose of abolishing slavery. 
• “ Ladies and gentlemen, I've been to Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and I can say without hyperbole that this is a million times worse than all of them put together.” – The Simpsons . Rhetorical Device : Hyperbole. Here, hyperbole is used to humorous effect in order to undermine the superficial point of the sentence.
• Rhetoric. The discipline of discourse and persuasion via verbal argument.
• Rhetorical Device. A tool used in the course of rhetoric, employing specific sentence structure, sounds, and imagery to attain a desired response.
• Logos. The category of rhetorical devices that appeal to logic and reason. 
• Pathos. The category of rhetorical devices that appeal to emotions.
• Ethos.  The category of rhetorical devices that appeals to a sense of credibility. 
• Kairos.  The concept of “right place, right time” in rhetoric, wherein a specific rhetorical device becomes effective because of circumstances surrounding its use.
• “16 Rhetorical Devices That Will Improve Your Public Speaking.” Duarte , 19 Mar. 2018, www.duarte.com/presentation-skills-resources/rhetoric-isnt-a-bad-thing-16-rhetorical-devices-regularly-used-by-steve-jobs/.
• Home - Ethos, Pathos, and Logos, the Modes of Persuasion ‒ Explanation and Examples , pathosethoslogos.com/ .
• McKean, Erin. “Rhetorical Devices.” Boston.com , The Boston Globe, 23 Jan. 2011, archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2011/01/23/rhetorical_devices/ .
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• Artistic Proofs: Definitions and Examples
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• Words, Phrases, and Arguments to Use in Persuasive Writing
• Brief Introductions to Common Figures of Speech
• Pathos in Rhetoric
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• Peroration: The Closing Argument
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• A Rhetorical Analysis of U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'
• presence (rhetoric)

Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical analysis involves analyzing the parts of a speech or text to understand how it produces its persuasive effect., what is rhetorical analysis.

Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive communication, and analysis is the act of taking something apart to understand it. Therefore, rhetorical analysis is the act of investigating the elements of a speech or other communication to understand how it produces its persuasive effect.

Writing the Rhetorical Analysis

For most rhetorical analysis assignments, you’ll want a thesis, a clear and specific statement that lets readers know what the main point of your paper is. To do this you might ask yourself two questions:

• What effect does this piece of communication have on me?
• How (or with what rhetorical choices) did the creator make that happen?

You can start on either end, with the “what” or the “how.” For example, maybe Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech inspires you to action against systems of prejudice and oppression. Great! You’ve got the what —now it's time to go looking for the how . What rhetorical strategies does Martin Luther King Jr. use to make you feel that way? Repetition? Symbolism?

Or, maybe you love the catchy rhythm of Lincoln's “Four score and seven years ago. . .” which reads almost like a line of poetry. What effect might opening the Gettysburg Address in this way have had on Lincoln’s audience? Perhaps it grabbed their attention to prepare them to meditate on his serious topic? If so, how?

Developing the Body

After you’ve crafted your thesis, it’s time to develop your analysis. A typical body paragraph may look like this:

• Step 1: Identify the rhetorical choice
• Step 2: Explain why the author made the choice
• Step 3: Show the choice in action
• Step 4: Add commentary to explain how the choice might accomplish its overall purpose

Example : “Martin Luther King Jr. encourages us to fight for racial equality by giving us his optimistic outlook, telling us, in essence, that if he can find hope in the challenging fight against racism, we can too: ‘So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow,’ King says, ‘I still have a dream.’ Perhaps this emotional optimism, this shared courage, is exactly what we need to move the fight forward."

What are Rhetorical Devices?

Rhetorical devices are the “parts” of rhetorical communication. Just as you might attempt to understand how a car works by taking apart an engine and learning about the function of each part, like pistons and ball bearings, you can understand a speech, an essay, or an advertisement by breaking it into its parts (elements, pieces) and finding their function.

For example, Julius Caesar once said the famous quote, “I came, I saw, I conquered.” This three-part construction is called a tricolon: A tricolon is a figure of speech in which the speaker or writer uses a list of three parts that are identical in syllabic length (Veni, vidi, vici, in the original Latin). What’s the function of the tricolon? Rhythm, for one.

Martin Luther King Jr. uses the rhetorical choice of repetition in his famous “I have a dream” speech, in which he repeated “I have a dream” eight times. He could have stated the phrase once, but by using the rhetorical technique of poetic repetition, King added a poetic and memorable pattern to his speech. Again, why might King do something like this? To give his audience something to remember, among other goals.

Repetition, alliteration, metaphor, procatalepsis, anacoluthon—rhetorical choices go by many names, some more difficult than others. Your professor probably doesn’t expect you to know all of them, or even to use their technical names, but looking for devices may help you understand how a rhetorical text is constructed.

For a great list of rhetorical devices and figures of speech, check this website out .

Final Considerations

It’s OK to be unsure about whether you have the “right” interpretation of a speech or other piece of communication. Analysis is subjective, and there often isn’t just one right answer—there are usually multiple good or reasonable ones.

"Spotify is Killing Beethoven."

Here are some great questions to discuss with your consultant.

• Do you understand the rhetorical tools my paper is attempting to analyze?
• Have I sufficiently analyzed “why” the speaker or writer used those tools?
• Have I adequately explained “how” those tool might have work in the text or speech?
• Where do you need more analysis?

Check out these resources!

• Again, BYU professor Gideon Burton’s website, Silva Rhetoricae, is a helpful guide to rhetorical devices
• This Merriam-Webster list is a little shorter, highlighting the best and most common rhetorical devices

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AP® English Language

Ap® english language: 5 ways to identify rhetorical devices.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

In order for the author of the passage to completely explain and develop his or her argument, rhetorical devices must be utilized. Identifying rhetorical devices may sometimes be difficult, but through this AP® English Language guide you will see the five easiest ways to identify rhetorical devices and how to apply them. We will be using the Question 2 prompt from the 2013 AP® English Language exam, which examines the relationship between people and nature.

1. Read Carefully

Reading carefully may seem common sense; however, this is the most crucial strategy in identifying rhetorical devices. We are sure that you have heard that you must read carefully before, but in this case you must read carefully for persuasiveness. If you find that some aspect of the work is particularly convincing, then there is a rhetorical device at work. This simple strategy of finding rhetorical devices will allow you to quickly find these devices, which is often half the battle.

A great way to practice detecting rhetorical devices is by reading through as many AP® Language rhetorical essay passages as possible. We will be using the 2013 AP® Language exam . Read through the passage until you find a specific word or phrase that strikes you as compelling. We found the following line in the 2013 passage.

“Perhaps we’ll someday tell our grandchildren stories about our version of the nineteenth-century Conestoga wagon… In our useful boredom, we used our fingers to draw pictures on fogged glass as we watched telephone poles tick by.”

These sentences are vivid images that pulled you in, and you internally know that this is persuasive without needing a name for the rhetorical device. For the AP® English Language rhetorical essay you will need to be able to identify that section that contains the rhetorical device as we have done here as well as matching the name of the device to the passage.

2. Know Your Rhetorical Devices

In order to be able to identify rhetorical devices, then you must first have a working knowledge of the most common rhetorical devices. After all, you cannot identify what you do not know. By knowing the various terms for an effective argument you come one step closer to being able to identify them in context.

There are countless terms for the different rhetorical devices, but we will show you how to use a few of these.

When you learned how to read for rhetorical devices we discussed this passage: “Perhaps we’ll someday tell our grandchildren stories about our version of the nineteenth-century Conestoga wagon… In our useful boredom, we used our fingers to draw pictures on fogged glass as we watched telephone poles tick by.”

Here is a great example of the author bringing in an emotional appeal to the reader. You, as the reader, feel nostalgic as you read this, showing just how the author can manipulate the emotional state of the reader to fit his or her purpose. In order to score full points on the AP® English Language rhetorical essay section, you must also identify the name of this rhetorical device. In this case, the term’s name is pathos, or an emotional appeal to the reader.

3. Know the Audience

Being able to figure out who the intended audience is for the passage can be a very helpful strategy in identifying rhetorical devices. That is important to know, because certain groups of people have different rhetorical devices that work on them.

One example of this is persuasive, scientific writing. In that case the audience would be more scientists, which is a group of people that need facts, and data to be persuaded. Here the author would not use rhetorical devices such as pathos, because scientists do not put much faith in the emotions. Scientists are better persuaded by logos, or the appeal to a person’s logic.

On the other hand, in the 2013 rhetorical essay that we have been analyzing, the audience is adults that grew up before the digital age. This group of people could be persuaded using other rhetorical devices that are not as logical, such as pathos. So, if you know the audience, then you can search for specific rhetorical devices in the text instead of becoming lost within the passage.

4. Annotate the Text

Notes are your friend during the AP® English Language rhetorical essay, and you are encouraged to annotate the passages that are given to you. By writing down notes or circling key words and phrases, you can focus on more than just remembering the last thought that ran through your head. Circling and indicating what you found will keep your brain analyzing the text for rhetorical devices instead of getting stuck thinking about one.

Annotating is an elegant way to jot down your thoughts. Even if all you do is underline the sentence that strikes you as persuasive, then you are one step closer to identifying that rhetorical device. When you are jotting down notes be sure not to spend more than five minutes reading the passage, otherwise you may run out of time writing your rhetorical essay.

5. Read the Passage Twice

The final strategy for identifying rhetorical devices is to read the passage twice. This goes along well with annotating the text, because the persuasive elements of the passage that you found on the first reading. By reading the text again you can jog your memory on which rhetorical devices that you want to include in the essay.

Many students often skip over this important strategy for identifying rhetorical devices, and their essays suffer for it. You need to thoroughly read the passage to properly identify rhetorical devices and how they influence the overall argument.

Key Takeaway

Identifying rhetorical devices in the AP® English Language rhetorical essay is imperative for a high score. In order to accomplish that, you need to be sure that you read critically, know you audience, annotate the text, read the passage more than once, and be absolutely sure that you know your rhetorical devices before you walk into the exam. If you can accomplish all of these, then you are going to identify rhetorical strategies like a professional.

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5 thoughts on “ap® english language: 5 ways to identify rhetorical devices”.

This was very helpful and I will for sure keep these strategies in mind 😊

Very useful information that will surely improve not only your critical thinking skills, but you overall writing skills to boot. Great informative lesson! Thank you

Glad it helped!

My granddaughter is in the 8th grade and is asking for assistance in doing her homework…Help I’m lost!!! Any suggestions? Eileen Prine

Hi Eileen! While we’re primarily a High School focused resource, you can browse our blog by subject to find tips and tricks that might help you and your granddaughter as she prepares for her Freshman year! We hope this helps.

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6 Speeches to Teach Rhetorical Devices

People use rhetorical devices in speeches and in other forms of writing in order to create a particular effect on their audience. Understanding these devices and rhetorically analyzing a text allows you to see its true purpose; as such, rhetorical analysis is a necessary skill to develop in high school ELA courses. 

One of the best ways to teach and learn rhetorical devices is through looking at speeches! Because rhetoric is used to influence an audience, it is an invaluable tool for persuasive writing and speaking. Let’s dive into rhetorical devices and 6 of the best speeches that use rhetorical tools.

What are Rhetorical Devices?

Rhetorical devices are the stylistic tools that writers use in order to influence their audience. They can attribute emphasis to certain ideas or influence the tone of the writing (for that reason, rhetorical devices are exceptionally effective in poetry).

Together with rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos) and figurative language (similes, metaphors, hyperbole, etc.), stylistic rhetorical devices are instrumental in persuasive writing. Each device has its own effect, and writers of speeches use them tactfully to help persuade their audience. This article will focus on the following stylistic rhetorical devices:

1. Alliteration

Likely the most commonly known rhetorical device, alliteration is the repetition of the same beginning sound across several words. Alliteration is the backbone of many tongue twisters and catchy phrases:

Example : “ E ven e lephants e njoy e ating e ggs e very day.”

In persuasive writing, it’s a bold way to add emphasis to certain words. Consider the way that many companies opt for an alliterative name to add extra emphasis and catchiness:

Example : A merican A irlines, P ay P al, K it K at…

2. Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of the same words at the beginning of successive clauses, phrases, or sentences. 

Example : “ Give me liberty or give me death.” (Patrick Henry)

Another star of nursery rhymes and silly sayings, anaphora adds rhythm and style to a sentence. In literature and speechwriting, anaphora is used to add special emphasis to a phrase.

3. Assonance

Assonance is the repetition of the same vowel sounds throughout a sentence/line of text.

Example : “ O Rome o , Rome o , wheref o re art th o u Rome o ?” (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet )

Sometimes referred to as “vowel rhyme ”, assonance adds rhythm to a sentence and helps the writer/speaker develop a text’s particular mood. Notice how the “o” sound repetition above develops a woeful ambiance. 

(Plus, to pronounce “o” you must purse your lips—by creating this assonance with “o”, Shakespeare is having Juliet purse her lips as she calls out for Romeo, as if she’s blowing a kiss. See how rhetorical devices can convey hidden meanings ?)

4. Consonance

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds throughout words (particularly when the vowels are different). 

Example : “The un c ertainty of the s our c e s ha s cau s ed de s pair.”

Like assonance, consonance is used to add rhythm and develop the mood of a piece. Consonance is also an effective tool to add emphasis in a subtler way than alliteration.

5. Parallelism

Parallelism is the repetition of the same grammatical structure in the same sentence or throughout multiple sentences.

Example : “Where there is smoke, there is fire.”

Writers use parallelism to connect ideas, add emphasis, and develop rhythm. You can think of parallelism as the use of a “template” for a repeated phrase, with blanks that are filled in with certain words that the author wants to emphasize. 

6. Antithesis

Antithesis is the juxtaposition of two contrasting ideas, often in the same grammatical structure. 

Example : “Give a man a fish , and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish , and you feed him for a lifetime.” 

Antithesis is a type of parallelism that has a particular focus on contrasting ideas, indicating strong emotions and opposition. Writers often use antithesis to convey ideas that involve a distinct choice between two different ideas. 

Like the example above: “____ a man __ fish, and you feed him for a _____.” The creator of this proverb uses the stark contrast between “a day” and “a lifetime” to emphasize the value of teaching someone the skills needed to feed themself over feeding them yourself.

7. Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it’s named after.

Example : Tick tock, moo, thud, squeak…

Most often used in writing or speeches that have a lighter tone, onomatopoeia indicates the sound of an object or creature being described. For instance, many advertisements say “tick tock!” to indicate that a sale is limited time.

Note: If you ever have trouble finding rhetorical devices in speeches, read the text aloud! Speeches are meant to be read aloud, and rhetorical devices will stand out to your ears.

Rhetorical Analysis of “I Have a Dream”

Martin Luther King Jr., delivering the “I Have a Dream” speech.

One of the most influential speeches in history is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” , spoken on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the August 28, 1963 March on Washington. This speech is a literary monument of the Civil Rights era, addressing the unjustly unequal treatment of Black Americans and calling for all Americans to peacefully act against it. 

As such, “I Have A Dream” is one of the best speeches to teach rhetorical devices due to its historic significance and effective rhetoric. Here are some quotes from “I Have a Dream” in which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. uses rhetorical devices to persuade his audience, illustrating the topics we dove into above.

“One hundred years later…”

“[The Emancipation Proclamation] came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of [slave’s] captivity. But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.”

King begins “I Have a Dream” by reflecting on the Emancipation Proclamation, which was signed 100 years before (on January 1, 1863), followed by this quote. He uses both anaphora and parallelism by repeating “One hundred years later” at the beginning of each sentence, followed by descriptions of the present-day experiences of Black Americans. By placing special emphasis on “One hundred years later”, he illustrates that it had been a full century since slavery was abolished, but Black Americans still did not have the same freedoms as white Americans.

Consonance to Convey Urgency

 “It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.”

In this quote’s second sentence, King uses two different kinds of consonance to convey the urgency of the situation. He repeats the “s” sound in the first half: “Thi s s weltering s ummer of the Negro’ s legitimate di s content…” ; then, his consonance switches to the “d”/”t” sound: “invigora t ing au t umn of free d om and equali t y.” The part of the sentence with “s” consonance contextualizes the current moment, while the part with “d”/”t” consonance is the hopeful future. 

The civil rights movement had been cultivating for decades prior to the March on Washington, which is one of its defining moments. King’s use of consonance develops an urgent mood, conveying this strong movement that had been building and culminating in that moment (the sweltering summer). Then, he shifts the consonance to a different consonant sound, shifting the mood to illustrate the shift in progress he is hoping for (the invigorating autumn of freedom and equality), emphasizing that the movement will continue until there is progress.

Assonance with “We”

“But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”

In this quote, Martin Luther King Jr. urges his audience not to give into hatred in response to the discrimination they face. He uses assonance to emphasize one key phrase within the quote: “ w e must not b e guilt y of wrongful d eed s”. When read aloud, the “ee” sound stands out boldly, drawing special attention to those particular words while developing a tone of togetherness. 

More “I Have a Dream” Rhetorical Analysis Prompts:

There is so much more to discover when it comes to the language of “I Have a Dream”. If you need a jumping-off point for your own rhetorical analysis, try these guiding questions:

• Shortly after the first quote we explored, Martin Luther King Jr. uses the metaphor of “cashing a check”. What does he illustrate through this metaphor and how? Why a check?
• King uses anaphora many times in “I Have a Dream”, such as with “Now is the time”, “With this faith”, and, of course, “I have a dream”. Pick one instance in which he uses anaphora and analyze it.
• What is the significance of the song near the end of the speech? Which rhetorical devices are used in the song?

Famous Speeches with Rhetorical Devices

All speeches use some kind of rhetorical devices (between the stylistic tools we explored above, figurative language, and rhetorical appeals) because they are effective tools to verbally convey ideas and persuade an audience. These are some of the most influential and famous speeches —by looking at the rhetorical devices in speeches like these, you can see how the speechwriters and/or speakers used these devices to shape history.

“Speech to the Troops at Tilbury”, Queen Elizabeth I (August 9, 1588)

The ruler of England from 1558 to 1603, Queen Elizabeth I led England through foreign policy conflicts such as the Nine Years’ War in Ireland and the threat of the Spanish Armada. Her “ Speech to the Troops at Tilbury ” was delivered to the English troops defending the country against a looming, expected invasion by the Spanish Armada.

“I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too…” (Elizabeth I’s speech includes repetition, strong appeals to her troops’ emotions, and this metaphor that strengthens her authority as a woman in power.)

“Gettysburg Address”, Abraham Lincoln (November 19, 1863)

Four months after the Battle of Gettysburg (the Civil War’s deadliest battle), Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. A very brief set of remarks, the Gettysburg Address wasn’t even scheduled to be the primary speech of the ceremony, and its precise wording is different in each of the manuscripts written by Lincoln. Despite this, it is one of the most prominent speeches in American history, securing itself as one of our short speeches to teach rhetorical devices.

“…We can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground.” (Lincoln begins the final paragraph of his speech with anaphora.)

“Ain’t I a Woman?”, Sojourner Truth (May 29, 1851)

“That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman?” (Truth uses various types of repetition to convey her ideas and strengthen her emotional appeals.)

“I Will Fight No More Forever”, Chief Joseph (October 5, 1877)

The Nez Perce were forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands in eastern Oregon by the United States in the late 19th century. Under pressure to relocate, this indigenous tribe split into two groups—those who accepted the relocation to a reservation in Idaho, and those who would flee to fight for their land and freedom. 

On June 15, 1877, Chief Joseph and others led 750 Nez Perce in an attempt to find a new sanctuary, but they were pursued by U.S. troops for months. They finally surrendered on October 5, when Chief Joseph gave his speech, “ I Will Fight No More Forever ”. 

“Our chiefs are killed; Looking-glass is dead. Too-hul-hul-suit is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men, now, who say ’yes’ or ’no’. He who led on the young men is dead.” (Like the other extemporaneous speakers in this collection, Chief Joseph’s use of repetition and strong emotional appeals convey his anguish and urgency to save who is left of his people.

“Citizenship in a Republic”, Theodore Roosevelt (April 23, 1910)

This speech is lengthy and Roosevelt conducts a thorough analysis of the topic of active citizenship. He uses rhetorical devices tactfully to apply greater emphasis to certain ideas. 

“The children of their successors and supplanters, and then their children and their children and children’s children, change and develop with extraordinary rapidity. The conditions accentuate vices and virtues, energy and ruthlessness, all the good qualities and all the defects of an intense individualism, self-reliant, self-centered, far more conscious of its rights than of its duties, and blind to its own shortcomings.” (Roosevelt uses several instances of alliteration to add rhythm to his speech and emphasize the ideas he joins together—”successors and supplanters…vices and virtues…)

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Now that you have some examples, look for rhetorical devices in speeches on your own! Rich with literary tools and historical context, speeches help students learn how to recognize, analyze, and effectively use rhetorical devices to persuade an audience. Also, keep in mind: in addition to the stylistic tools we took a look at in this article, appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) and figurative language are just as important to understand when it comes to rhetorical analysis.

If you’re struggling with concepts like rhetorical analysis or looking for ways to improve your English skills, Piqosity’s here to help! Alongside our SAT and ACT test prep courses, we offer full online English courses , each including dozens of concept lessons, personalized practice software, and over 100 reading comprehension passages—including two full novels per course !

• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
• The Secret Garden , Frances Hodgson Burnett
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• A Christmas Carol , Charles Dickens
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream , William Shakespeare
• Little Women , Louisa May Alcott
• The Hound of the Baskervilles , Arthur Conan Doyle
• Oliver Twist , Charles Dickens
• Romeo and Juliet , William Shakespeare
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , Mark Twain
• Frankenstein , Mary Shelley
• Pride & Prejudice , Jane Austen
• The Great Gatsby , F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave , Frederick Douglass

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Political Rhetoric: Rhetorical devices

• Logos, ethos, pathos
• Rhetorical devices
• Famous speeches and rhetorical strategies
• Sources of famous speeches

Common rhetorical devices

Successful speakers, especially in political contexts, need to appeal to attitudes and emotions that are already within the listeners. When the listeners perceive that their beliefs are understood and supported, the speaker has created connections between the listener and the policy that they wish to communicate.To be persuasive, speakers employ a variety of rhetorical strategies. Some common strategies include:

Metaphors - Metaphors are linguistic symbols which give concrete labels to abstract ideas. This is possible because of the perceived similarity between objects and concepts as regards particular features that one wants to convey. The SUNSHINE  of a smile  is an example of a metaphor, where it is understood that a smile brings out the same feelings of warmth and well-being as sunshine does.

Metonymies - A metonymy is when an idea or a concept is replaced by a single word or feature that is connected to it. The foundation of metonymies is conceptual as is also the case with metaphors. They can be useful in political speeches as they reduce or increase responsibility. For instance, using the metonymy The White House instead of the President's name reduces the President's personal responsibility. In contrast, the personal responsibility is increased by using a ruler of a state's name when referring to the government or all the citizens in a country.

Analogies - Analogies, where contemporary situations are compared with historical events or myths are common features in political speeches. Ideas and concepts are intended to be clarified in an analogy by comparing them with supposedly well-known phenomena. A characteristic of Martin Luther King's speeches, was drawing analogies between the situation of the African Americans and the oppression of the Hebrews in Egypt.

Pronouns - Pronouns are words substituting for nouns, in particular I or we. I clearly declares who is responsible while we makes the status of responsibility less clear or makes an appeal to shared interests.

Active vs passive voice - Active voice  demands an active subject - ex. White people suppress the rights of people of color - while passive voice does not require an actor - ex. The rights of people of color are often suppressed.

Sound-bites - A sound-bite is a short piece from a speech usually sent to media so that it can be reported as quickly as possible. The sound-bite is chosen because it will sum up the content of a longer paragraph in fewer words, suitable for a headline.

Alliteration - Alliteration is the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. It is used to place emphasis on a group of words or call attention to these words. ex. Deliberate and deadly.

Word-repetition - Repeating certain phrases contributes towards making the ideas contained in them seem 'common sense.' In long speeches word-repetition can be used to hold the speech together, but also to emphasize moral values

Three-part lists - A variant of repetition is the so-called three-part lists, when new ideas or pieces of information are presented in three parts. The first part initiates an argument, the second part emphasizes or responds to the first and the third part is a reinforcement of the first two and a sign that the argument is completed, assisting the audience by suggesting when it is appropriate to applaud. For example: freedom and democracy and peace.

Contrastive pairs - Contrastive pairs are used to point out a difference between two ideas, stating what something is and then contrasting it with what it is not, or a difference in time; as in between then and now.

Parallel structure - Parallel structure is when the same grammatical structure is used within a sentence or paragraph to show that two or more ideas have equal importance.

Bookending - When a speaker bookends, they begin and end their speech with the same idea/theme in order to emphasize that idea/theme.

For examples of more rhetorical strategies, consult A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices

• << Previous: Logos, ethos, pathos
• Next: Famous speeches and rhetorical strategies >>
• Last Updated: Feb 13, 2020 11:02 AM
• URL: https://library.centre.edu/POL120Fall2019

4 Ways to Use Rhetorical Devices to Make Powerful Speeches (with Examples)

Hrideep barot.

• Speech Writing

I am certain all of us have come across powerful speeches, novels, or presentations that left us speechless at some point. But have you wondered how the speaker or the author managed to do so?

How did they manage to make almost everyone in the audience riveted? You might have attributed this skill of captivating the audience to good public speaking, which is partially true but the other half of this lies in their use of magic tools which are referred to as rhetorical devices.

A rhetorical device is a technique that is used by a speaker or an author for conveying a particular message to the audience in such a way that it provokes an emotional response to a particular action. It is a linguistic tool, whose employment can be used to construct an argument or make an existing one more compelling .

To put it simply, rhetorical devices are devices used to spice up your conversations, work presentations, and speeches. They are often used to provoke an emotional response and make the matter of the speech more compelling, with the goal of persuading the audience.

Why are rhetorical techniques important?

Why should rhetorical devices be used? What impact do they have? Well, here’s why,

There is one common thing between the world’s famous speeches and presentations, which is their ability to create an emotional connection with the audience. The way in which a speaker makes the audience feel is very important as that feeling will stay with the audience long after the speech or the presentation is over. This emotional response is evoked with the help of rhetorical devices.

Apart from this, rhetorical devices help you become more persuasive. It also aids in composing successful presentations and writings. It helps you make your speech crisp and improves the understanding of the audience.

Moreover, with the correct rhetorical devices, it enables you to make stronger arguments and a way of handling controversial topics. It also has a powerful impact on the audience helping them remember the ideas better through repetition or grammatical manipulation.

Most used rhetorical devices

In order to know how to use these magic tools, it is crucial to know some of these most used rhetorical devices and also its application in a speech.

1. Alliteration

This is the repetition of sounds of two or more neighboring words. This is usually used to put emphasis and to draw attention. For instance, safety and security Ate apples all afternoon

2. Anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word in a phrase at the beginning of the next phrase or sentence. For example, Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering –Yoda, Star Wars

3. Antistrophe

This is repetition of words at the end of consecutive phrases/clauses. It can be termed as a specific type of repetition. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny compared to what lies within us.”

The above sentence is quoted by Ralph Waldo Emerson, a prominent essayist. Here, the words ‘What lies’ is repeated leading to the creation of a poetic effect.

4. Antithesis

In this, two opposite and contrasting ideas are juxtaposed. For example, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Here, two contrasting ideas are proposed in the same sentence in such a way that it shows the strikingly different ideas showing a compare and contrast kind of situation.

A repeated word or phrase split up by another word, to display strong emotion. Understanding it with an example, Free at last! Free at last! Thank god we are free at last!

6. Ellipsis

In this, few words are depicting an event is omitted making the readers ponder about the narrative gaps. For instance, “Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth…the proposition that all men are created equal.”

This is the start of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, where the three dots are ellipsis points suggesting a time lapse.

This is a simple method of double negatives that present a positive statement. It is often used to express irony. This is commonly used in conversations as well.

For example, ‘She is not thin’ OR ‘You are not unfamiliar with poetry’.

8. Hyperbole

This is an expression of mere exaggeration, often used to draw attention to the severity of the matter or to make a strong point. This is also frequently used in day to day language.

For instance,

‘I called her a thousand times’

‘It raining cats and dogs’.

9. Epistrophe

Repetition of words at the end of successive phrases for a poetic effect. An example of this could be the famous definition of democracy given by Abraham Lincoln, “… and that the government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

10. Personification

Attributing human qualities to inanimate objects. It aids in a better explanation of ideas and concepts.

For instance, ‘The thunder roared in the evening’

‘The brutal wind bullied the trees compelling them into giving up their leaves’

11. Epiphora

Repetition of a word/phrase at the end of every clause. An instance of this could be a speech given by Steve Jobs where this technique is effectively used,

“Well, these are their home screens . And again, as you recall, this is the iPhone’s homescreen. This is what their contacts look like . This is what iPhone’s contacts look like .”

12. Anaphora

This is slightly different from Epiphora in the sense that the repetition of the word/phrase is at the beginning of the two or more sentences or clauses.

For instance, “They’re the women whose names we’ll never know. They are domestic workers and farm workers. They are working in factories and they work in restaurants and in academia, and engineering, medicine and science. They are part of the world of tech and politics and in business. They are athletes in the Olympics and they are soldiers in the military.”

This is a small chunk of a speech made by Oprah Winfrey at the Golden Globes awards. Here, she tries to draw attention of the audience by emphasising on the word ‘They are’ highlighting the role of women in different parts of life.

13. Germinatio

This is repetition of a word in the same sentence for more than once. For instance, “And so I’ve got voice mail how I wanna listen to it, when I wanna listen to it, in any order I wanna listen to it with visual voicemail.”

The technique of germinatio was used by Steve Jobs in his speech in order to create a compelling effect on the listeners.

These are just a few commonly used rhetorical devices from an ocean of such magic tools. (Take a guess at what device is used here!)

How to use rhetorical devices in speeches?

Before we dive in to how to use rhetorical devices, we made a fun video on how these tools are the one simple thing that helps take your speech to the next level. There are a bunch of examples and tips here that will help you incorporate rhetorical devices for your next presentation. Highly recommend you check it out:

To know how to implement these rhetorical devices in your speech is also of utmost importance, apart from knowing them. Here’s a way of incorporating them in your speech.

1. Know the rhetorical appeals

It is important to know the types of rhetorical appeals as rhetorical devices fall into these categories. Make a rough draft and then insert rhetorical devices accordingly depending on the tone of the speech. Figure out the mode of persuasion, that is, whether it is Logos, Pathos, Ethos or Kairos.

This refers to giving logical and intellectual arguments and reasoning, supporting it with credible evidence. An example of logos can be a speech by Donald Trump, where he states a few figures regarding the illegal immigration,

“So here are just a few statistics on the human toll of illegal immigration. According to a 2011 government report, the arrests attached to the criminal alien population included an estimated 25,000 people for homicide, 42,000 for robbery, nearly 70,000 for sex offenses, and nearly 15,000 for kidnapping. In Texas alone, within the last seven years, more than a quarter-million criminal aliens have been arrested and charged with over 600,000 criminal offenses. … Sixty-three thousand Americans since 9/11 have been killed by illegal aliens. This isn’t a problem that’s going away; it’s getting bigger.”

This refers to making an appeal to the audience’s emotions. This includes using language in such a way that creates an empathetic feeling towards the speaker. Given below is an example of Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a dream” speech.

“Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.”

This refers to persuading the audience about the speaker’s credibility and the fact that his arguments carry weight.

An example of this could be the speech made by Mitt Romney, senator of the United States. In this speech, accepting the presidential nominee Mitt Romney points out to the fact that his business success would prove useful if he were to take the office.

“I learned the real lessons about how America works from experience. When I was 37, I helped start a small company. My partners and I had been working for a company that was in the business of helping other businesses. So some of us had this idea that if we really believed our advice was helping companies, we should invest in companies. We should bet on ourselves and on our advice. So we started a new business called Bain Capital…That business we started with 10 people has now grown into a great American success story. Some of the companies we helped start are names you know. An office supply company called Staples – where I’m pleased to see the Obama campaign has been shopping; The Sports Authority, which became a favorite of my sons. We started an early childhood learning center called Bright Horizons that First Lady Michelle Obama rightly praised.”

This involves an appeal to the timing of the argument, meaning that the argument has to be made in a suitable context making the audience receptive to it. An instance of Kairos can be Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech,

“This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to make to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.”

One can use these rhetorical appeals in such a way that a combination of all 4 appeals is made simultaneously.

Making the speech highly logos specific, that is giving only facts, will make the audience bored, whereas making it too pathos oriented will make the speech very emotional and lacking in rational thinking.

If you would like some more information on ETHOS, PATHOS and LOGOS, you can check out the same in this short video we made:

2. A rhetorical question

Rhetorical questions can be used to control the thoughts of the audience. These questions may have obvious answers or may not have a clear cut answer.

One technique of using such questions is inserting them in the start of the speech and then carrying on with the speech in such a way that the rhetorical question is answered in the content of your presentation.

Another way is by inserting a rhetorical question, which as an obvious answer to it at the end of the speech- making sure that the question is related to what the speech entails.

The election speech of Ronald Reagan for the 1980 presidential debate between Governor Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter, where the governor ended with a bunch of rhetorical questions is a perfect example for this,

“Next Tuesday is Election Day. Next Tuesday all of you will go to the polls, will stand there in the polling place and make a decision. I think when you make that decision, it might be well if you would ask yourself, are you better off than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we’re as strong as we were four years ago? And if you answer all of those questions yes, why then, I think your choice is very obvious as to whom you will vote for. If you don’t agree, if you don’t think that this course that we’ve been on for the last four years is what you would like to see us follow for the next four, then I could suggest another choice that you have.”

Check it out in action, here:

3. A powerful beginning

It is rightly said that the first impression is the last impression and hence a powerful beginning is very important. To capture the audience it is important to insert some rhetorical devices at the start of your speech which create some poetic effect that helps you engage the audience. It may also include the use of diacope or anadiplosis which focus on repetition of the words of phrases creating emphasis and a strong display of emotions.

An example of anadiplosis can be: “Tonight, we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution.” This was used by the George W. Bush

4. A powerful end

Climax is the most important part, be it a speech or a movie! What you say in the end is what stays with the audience hence, ending the speech with impactful rhetorical devices is advisable.

These may include inserting a rhetorical question making the audience ponder a little as mentioned above. It may also include the use of Epistrophe.

For instance, while addressing the nation about terrorism George Bush ends his speech in a powerful way assuring people that he will take the necessary actions to prevent terrorism, with appropriate use of Epistrophe:

“I will not forget the wound to our country and those who inflicted it. I will not yield, I will not rest, I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people.”  

Watch the full speech here:

Use of rhetorical devices by Frederick Douglass

The credit for developing the basics of rhetoric goes to Aristotle and since then there has been extensive use of these literary tools. A prominent figure who is well known for his use of rhetorical devices is also Frederick Douglass, who was a slave who had escaped and went on to become an activist, author and public speaker.

He is known not only for his idea of abolition of slavery but also his superior skill of rhetoric and the art of persuading the audience. In his memoir called the ‘Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave’, a number of rhetorical devices are used to argue against the heinous act of slavery.

Here is a look at how he used some of them to make his communication all the more poewrful:

It involves persuading the audience about the author’s qualifications and credibility pointing to the fact that the speaker’s arguments carry weight.

In the memoir, Frederick Douglass talks about his first-hand experience with slavery by talking about being oblivious about his birthday unlike other people in the first chapter itself, building his ethos.

In order to make an appeal to the audience’s emotions, Douglass talks about his experience of watching his aunt being whipped by the slaveholder until she is covered in blood.

Frederick writes, ‘He would at times seem to take great pleasure in whipping a slave. I have often been awakened at the dawn of day by the most heart-rending shrieks of an own aunt of mine, whom he used to tie up to a joist, and whip upon her naked back till she was literally covered with blood. No words, no tears, no prayers, from his gory victim, seemed to move his iron heart from its bloody purpose. The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped; and where the blood ran fastest, there he whipped longest. He would whip her to make her scream, and whip her to make her hush; and not until overcome by fatigue, would he cease to swing the blood-clotted cow skin.’

Frederick talks about how animals were treated better than humans by the slaveholder.  

He writes about the condition of the slaves by saying:

‘Everything depended upon the looks of the horses, and the state of Colonel Lloyd’s own mind when his horses were brought to him for use. If a horse did not move fast enough, or hold his head high enough, it was owing to some fault of his keepers. It was painful to stand near the stable-door, and hear the various complaints against the keepers when a horse was taken out for use. To all the complaints, no matter how unjust, the slave must answer never a word. Colonel Lloyd could not brook any contradiction from a slave. When he spoke, a slave must stand, listen, and tremble; and such was literally the case. I have seen Colonel Lloyd make old Barney, a man between fifty and sixty years of age, uncover his bald head, kneel down upon the cold, damp ground, and receive upon his naked and toil-worn shoulders more than thirty lashes at the time.’

In Fredrick Douglass’s speech- “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”, he also makes a similar appeal through the use of ethos, pathos and logos . To begin with, he makes an appeal to ethos, by initiating his speech with modesty and meekness. For example, “He who could address this audience without a quailing sensation, has stronger nerves than I have.”

To steer emotions among the audience, he also uses metaphors such as “A horrible reptile is coiled up in your nation’s bosom; the venomous creature is nursing at the tender breast of your youthful republic . “

“From the round top of your ship of state, dark and threatening clouds may be seen.” This is an example of an extended metaphor where he is comparing the United States to a ship at sea and the dark and threatening clouds are compared to the ongoing threats and troubles.

There has also been use of simile , where the speaker makes a direct comparison of the slaves to animals sold in the market. For example, “I hear the doleful wail of fettered humanity, on the way to the slave-markets, where the victims are to be sold like horses, sheep, and swine.”

Other Rhetorical Devices used by Douglas

Moreover, through the phrase ‘ doleful wail of fettered humanity ’ the speaker is trying to give the human quality of being fettered to an abstract noun of humanity, pointing out to the use of personification .

Apart from these rhetorical devices, Frederick Douglass also uses rhetorical questions to make the audience ponder about the situation of slavery by asking them, “Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? Or is it in the temple?”

“What would be thought of an instrument, drawn up, legally drawn up, for the purpose of entitling the city of Rochester to a tract of land, in which no mention of land was made?”

Another important rhetorical device used by him was that of allusion . Allusion is when the author or the speaker refers to an event, object, person or to a work of art either directly or indirectly. In his speech, Frederick alludes to biblical material, knowing that the audience mostly comprises of Christians.

For instance, “ The arm of the Lord is not shortened, and the doom of slavery is certain.” Through this, the speaker makes an analogy between the Lord sending the Israelites back to their homeland and the hope that slavery will perish. Frederick Douglass has made such allusions in order to support his arguments, knowing that words from the bible would carry weight and have a strong impact.

Use of rhetorical devices in famous speeches

1. michelle obama – anaphora.

“I trust Hillary to lead this country because I’ve seen her lifelong devotion to our nation’s children – not just her own daughter, who she has raised to perfection but every child who needs a champion: Kids who take the long way to school to avoid the gangs. Kids who wonder how they’ll ever afford college. Kids whose parents don’t speak a word of English but dream of a better life. Kids who look to us to determine who and what they can be.”

This is a small part of a speech made by Michelle Obama. In this, it is seen the word “ Kids ” is used more than once to start sentences that follow each other, pointing out to the use of anaphora.

Here’s the video for the speech made by the former first lady:

2. Steve Jobs – Germination

“That’s 58 songs every second of every minute of every hour of every day.”

This is an instance from the speech of Steve Jobs, where he puts emphasis on the word “ every ” by repeating it frequently in the same sentence.

See the entire speech here:

3. Barack Obama – Antistrophe

“It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation: Yes, we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights: Yes, we can. It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness: Yes, we can.”

Here, the phrase “Yes, we can” is used repeatedly at the end of every sentence in order to put emphasis on the subject.

Watch the video of the speech here:

4. Martin Luther King, Jr – Antithesis

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Here, the speaker uses antithesis by inverting the statements to show that America will have a day when people are judged by their character and not their skin colour.

Given below is the historic speech made at the Lincoln Memorial by Martin Luther King Jr :

5. John Kennedy – Ellipsis

“This much we pledge — and more.”

Here the former President uses “and more” instead of listing more ideas. He also compels the audience to keep thinking about the ideas they should pledge to, instead of listing them.   

In order to use a wide variety of rhetorical devices, it is important to know the different types of these literary techniques. A powerful speech is not just about a good orator or good public speaking skills but much more than that! And these rhetorical devices constitute an integral part of the components which make your speech extraordinary.

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My Favorite Speeches for Rhetorical Analysis: 10 Speeches for Middle School ELA and High School English

Teaching rhetorical analysis is one of my absolute favorite units to complete with my students. I love teaching my students about rhetorical strategies and devices, analyzing what makes an effective and persuasive argument, and reading critical speeches with my students. Here is a quick list of some of my favorite speeches for rhetorical analysis.

I absolutely LOVE teaching rhetorical analysis. I think it might be one of my favorite units to teach to my high school students. There are just so many different text options to choose from. Here is a list of some of my favorite speeches to include in my rhetorical analysis teaching unit.

10 Speeches for Teaching Rhetorical Analysis

1. the gettysburg address (abraham lincoln).

Some notable things to mention in this speech include allusion and parallel structure. To make your analysis more meaningful, point out these devices to students and explain how these devices enhance the meaning of the text.

Teaching Resource : The Gettysburg Address Rhetorical Analysis Activity Packet

2. Lou Gehrig’s Farewell Speech (Lou Gehrig)

This speech is one that many of my athletes love to analyze, and it is an excellent exemplar text to teach pathos. And like The Gettysburg Address, it is short. This is another speech that you can read, analyze, and even write about in one class period.

When I use this speech in my class, I have students look for examples of pathos. Mainly, I have them look at word choice, tone, and mood. How does Lou Gehrig’s choice of words affect his tone and the overall mood of the speech?

3. I Have a Dream (Martin Luther King,  Jr.)

In the classroom, it is important to point out the sermonic feel to the speech and also to have your students look for calls to action and pathos. Have your students look for tone, allusions, and word choice to help them notice these rhetoric expressions throughout it.

Teaching Resource : I Have a Dream Close Read and Rhetorical Analysis

4. Speech at the March on Washington (Josephine Baker)

This is another important speech that held a lot of importance for the changes that needed to be made in America. The speech is a shorter one, so in the classroom, it will not take as long to analyze it, and students can understand the significance of the use of rhetoric in a shorter amount of time than some other speeches.

When teaching this speech, I like to remind my students to search for devices that portray an excellent example of the pathos that is so present in this speech. Some of these devices could be mood, repetition, and diction.

5. Steve Jobs’ Commencement Speech (Steve Jobs)

In class, it is good to have your students annotate and analyze the speech just as they have done for the others. The organization of the speech will help them to notice the similarities and differences between each point Jobs makes.

6. Space Shuttle Challenger (Ronald Reagan)

This speech represents a strong sense of pathos as a movement to help the American people cope with loss after the deaths of the astronauts aboard the Challenger. It is another speech that is not too long, so it should not take a long time to both analyze and annotate the entire speech.

When teaching this speech in class, be sure to mention how pathos is the driving force behind the speech, through the tone and the diction. How does Reagan use emotion to focus on the astronauts as humans, rather than solely focusing on the tragedy?

7. The Perils of Indifference (Elie Wiesel)

This speech is a good one to teach because it both makes students question their own lives, but also how the world works. The speech relies on pathos, and a little ethos too, to get the audience to feel the full effect of the tragedy of the Holocaust and what the speaker went through. It is a long speech so it may take longer for the students to fully grasp all the details that make it such a persuasive speech.

When I teach this speech, I like to have students annotate every place they notice an example of pathos, and then have them explain why in their annotations this makes them feel an emotion. The same with the ethos, and then we can further analyze the rest together.

8. 9/11 Address to the Nation (George W. Bush)

This speech shows another example of the use of pathos in the midst of a tragedy. The President wanted to show the American people how much he was feeling for those lost in the tragedy of 9/11. It is not a long speech, but the amount of emotion within the words is significant for students to notice.

When teaching this speech, it is essential that students look very closely at each part of it, noticing each piece that reveals tone, mood, and other literary devices. How do the different devices add to the pathos of the speech?

FREE TEACHING ACTIVITY : September 11 Address to the Nation Sampler

Teaching Resource : September 11 Address to the Nation Rhetorical Analysis Unit

9. We are Virginia Tech (Nikki Giovanni)

This speech is probably the shortest speech on this list but provides one of the most emotional and pathos-filled rhetoric. This describes another tragedy that is spoken about with pathos to give the audience a safe feeling after such an emotional thing. Students can spend time analyzing the different devices that make the piece so strong in its emotion.

In the classroom, make sure your students make a note of the repetition, and what that does for the speech. Does it make the emotion more impactful? How does it make the audience feel like they are a part of something bigger?

10. Woman’s Right to the Suffrage (Susan B. Anthony)

This is another short speech that holds a lot of power within it. A lot of students will enjoy reading this to see how much the country has changed, and how this speech may have some part in influencing this change. It is a great speech to help teach logos in the classroom, and it will not take a long time to analyze.

Make sure your students notice, and they also understand, the use of allusions within the speech. These allusions help to establish the use of logos, as Anthony wants the use of American historical documents to show how logical her argument is.

Ready-For-You Rhetorical Analysis Teaching Unit

You might also be interested in my blog post about 15 rhetorical analysis questions to ask your students.

Teaching rhetorical analysis and speeches in the classroom is a great way to teach informational text reading standards.

Rhetorical Analysis Teaching Resources:

These resources follow reading standards for informational text and are ideal for secondary ELA teachers.

• Rhetorical Analysis Unit with Sticky Notes
• Ethos, Pathos, Logos: Understanding Rhetorical Appeals\
• Rhetorical Analysis Mini Flip Book

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Table of Contents

Ai, ethics & human agency, collaboration, information literacy, writing process, rhetorical devices.

Rhetorical Devices refers to languages rhetors use

• to invoke strong feeling or emotions.
• to help an audience visualize and understand an event or statement of facts
• to bring joy, excitement, inspiration, and pleasure for readers
• to inform, entertain, and persuade

Note: This is an article stub at Writing Commons , the home for writers, https://writingcommons.org. If you would like to contribute to this page, refer to contribute .

Brevity - Say More with Less

Clarity (in Speech and Writing)

Coherence - How to Achieve Coherence in Writing

Flow - How to Create Flow in Writing

Inclusivity - Inclusive Language

The Elements of Style - The DNA of Powerful Writing

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Other Topics:

Citation - Definition - Introduction to Citation in Academic & Professional Writing

• Joseph M. Moxley

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Genre may reference a type of writing, art, or musical composition; socially-agreed upon expectations about how writers and speakers should respond to particular rhetorical situations; the cultural values; the epistemological assumptions...

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Information Literacy - Discerning Quality Information from Noise

Information Literacy refers to the competencies associated with locating, evaluating, using, and archiving information. In order to thrive, much less survive in a global information economy — an economy where information functions as a...

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Learn about rhetoric and rhetorical practices (e.g., rhetorical analysis, rhetorical reasoning,  rhetorical situation, and rhetorical stance) so that you can strategically manage how you compose and subsequently produce a text...

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• Speech Crafting →

10 Rhetorical Devices to Enhance Your Speeches

Why do you need rhetorical devices in speeches? Using rhetorical devices brings life to your speeches. It engages your audience and adds special effects to your talk. 

People are less likely to remember a bland, straightforward speech in years to come. Powerful speeches like Martin Luther King Jr’s famous “I have a dream” are timeless. Apart from having a remarkable delivery, this speech also contains many rhetorical devices. 

So here are a few rhetorical devices in speeches you should know about. Practicing and applying them will take your oratory skills to new heights.

10 Rhetorical Devices to Enhance Your Speech

An analogy is a rhetorical device that helps describe the relationship between one thing and another.

Speakers often use analogies to help their audience understand something better. For example, “The sky resembles a huge bowl of clear water” can help people visualize a clear sky. 

When you use an analogy to compare two things, your goal should not just be to show similarity. Rather, it should illustrate a point about reality. You can use analogies to explain your thoughts and express your ideas more clearly .

Examples of Analogy

• “It has been well said that an author who expects results from a first novel is in a position similar to that of a man who drops a rose petal down the Grand Canyon of Arizona and listens for the echo.” (P.G. Wodehouse)
• “People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” (Elisabeth Kubler-Ross)

2. Anaphora

Anaphora is one of the rhetorical devices in speeches that have proven effective for excellent speakers. To use anaphora, you must repeat a particular word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive sentences or phrases. 

Anaphora lets a speaker emphasize a given word that drives the ideas they wish to communicate. Additionally, anaphora is not only a great device in speeches but also in poetry and prose.

Examples of Anaphora

• “Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)
• “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness….” (Charles Dickens)
• “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” (Mark Twain)

3. Epiphora

Epiphora, unlike anaphora, is a word or phrase repetition at the end of consecutive sentences, clauses, or phrases. Epiphora offers an equal amount of power to your words as anaphora does.

Additionally, you can use this device to emphasize a certain area in your speech and apply it in persuasive writing.

Examples of Epiphora

• “Take whatever idiot they have at the top of whatever agency and give me a better idiot. Give me a caring idiot. Give me a sensitive idiot. Just don’t give me the same idiot.” (Aaron Broussard)
• “She’s safe, just like I promised. She’s all set to marry Norrington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised.” (Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean)
• “There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.” (Bill Clinton)

Puns let you play on word meanings, homographs, and homophones to achieve humorous effects . It involves using witty expressions that can lighten up your audience and bring some fun into your speech. 

Puns, also known as paronomasia, can help you bring your speech to life. However, you should also pick your puns carefully. A bad pun can elicit undesired effects.

Additionally, your audience should be able to decipher the hidden joke for the pun to be effective.

Examples of Pun

• “Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy I will bear the light.” (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet)
• “You can tune a guitar, but you can’t tuna fish. Unless, of course, you play bass.” (Douglas Adams)
• “Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.” (Fred Allen)

5. Aphorism

If you want to sound philosophical in your speech, an aphorism is a suitable rhetorical device. You use short, pithy statements that express a general truth or observation to present a moral or philosophical idea.

Aphorism uses metaphor to help the audience relate to the situation you are presenting. While these statements may be general knowledge, aphorisms inspire more profound thoughts in your audience and can take a few seconds to sink in for some of your audience. 

Aphorisms are easy to remember because they are short. They also apply to many situations, so you can use them for different speeches.

Examples of Aphorism

• “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb trees, it will spend its whole life thinking it is stupid.” (Albert Einstein)
• “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” (Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings)
• “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes you get what you need.” (The Rolling Stones)

6. Metanoia

Metanoia is a method of self-correction when you deliberately return to an earlier part of your speech and correct something you said. This is particularly useful for softening parts of a sentence where one might otherwise appear arrogant or condescending. 

On the other hand, you can sound harsher than you were and still get away with the harshness.

Metanoia, also known as an afterthought figure, helps you clarify a point with additional definitions. You can also use it to emphasize an idea through paraphrasing.

Examples of Metanoia

• “To help or, at least, to not harm.” ( The Hippocratic Oath )
• “It was Gatsby’s mansion. Or rather, as I did not yet know Mr. Gatsby, it was a mansion inhabited by a gentleman of that name.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby)
• “Shortly after I came to Washington, I was told in a way that showed me it was no loosely thought out—let me correct that statement. I was told in a serious way that Mr. Finletter—or rather, I was told by Mr. Finletter that he had a serious question as to the loyalty of Dr. Oppenheimer.” (David Tressel Griggs)

7. Asyndeton

To use asyndeton, all you need to do is remove the coordinating conjunctions from a sentence.

These include for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so. Asyndeton helps you maintain concision and keep the focus on essential words in a sentence or phrase.

For example, the famous quote by Julius Caesar is a quick way to understand asyndeton. The saying “I came, I saw, I conquered” could have been “I came, I saw, and I conquered.” The omission of the conjunction ‘ and ’ makes the saying more concise, straightforward, and powerful.

Examples of Asyndeton

• “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be...” (Winston Churchill)
• “An empty stream, a great silence, an impenetrable forest. The air was thick, warm, heavy, sluggish.” (Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness)
• “We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” (President John F. Kennedy)

8. Polysyndeton

Polysyndeton is an opposite rhetorical device to asyndeton. Instead of omitting the conjunctions, this device lets you include as many of them as possible. 

With polysyndeton, you get to use conjunctions where they are unnecessary. However, your use of conjunctions must still be grammatical.

Polysyndeton generally lets your speech flow with a sense of excitement or urgency. It helps the listener focus on each item in your list. It further enriches your language use without over-flowery embellishment. Additionally, it is common in everyday speech.

Examples of Polysyndeton

• “In years gone by, there were in every community men and women who spoke the language of duty and morality and loyalty and obligation.” (William F. Buckley)
• “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers.” (The U.S. Postal Service Creed)
• “We will always remember them, these skilled professionals, scientists and adventurers, these artists and teachers and family men and women, and we will cherish each of their stories—stories of triumph and bravery, stories of true American heroes.” (President Ronald Reagan)

9. Symploce

Symploce is another rhetorical device that involves repetition. It combines anaphora with epistrophe to create an effect.

In symploce, you repeat certain words or phrases at the beginning and end of successive sentences.

You can use symploce to tell the difference between two or more ideas by changing only a few words in the middle of a given sentence. This small change gives a whole new meaning to your words.

Examples of Symploce

• “The madman is not the man who has lost his reason. The madman is the man who has lost everything except his reason.” (G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy)
• “Much of what I say might sound bitter, but it’s the truth. Much of what I say might sound like it’s stirring up trouble, but it’s the truth. Much of what I say might sound like it is hate, but it’s the truth.” (Malcolm X)
• “Let us let our own children know that we will stand against the forces of fear. When there is talk of hatred, let us stand up and talk against it. When there is talk of violence, let us stand up and talk against it.” (William Jefferson Clinton)

10. Anastrophe

Anastrophe, also known as hyperbaton, is an inversion of a sentence’s regular order of words.

Where a sentence traditionally follows the subject-verb-object order, an anastrophe makes it an object-subject-verb structure.

Anastrophe is useful when you intend to emphasize a particular word. Therefore, you bring the word to the beginning of the structure and let other words follow. This rhetorical device is used in George Lucas’s Star Wars series as a peculiar language style for Master Yoda.

Examples of Anastrophe

• “Named must your fear be before banish it you can.” (Yoda)
• “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” (J.R. Tolkien, Hobbit)
• Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. (Chief Joseph, 1877 Surrender)

Conclusion: Rhetorical Devices in Speeches

Speeches can be much better with deliberate efforts. You can make a lasting impression on your audience using proper rhetorical devices.

So, it would be best if you spent some more time and effort to fine-tune your speeches with these rhetorical devices. The results will be worthwhile, and the response from your audience will be rewarding.

You might also like: How to Prepare for a Speech

AP ® Lang teachers: looking to help your students improve their rhetorical analysis essays?

Coach Hall Writes

clear, concise rhetorical analysis instruction.

Common Rhetorical Devices Used in Speeches

September 23, 2022 by Beth Hall

As students prepare for the AP Lang exam, there is so much to focus on. One critical element involves understanding common rhetorical devices used in speeches. Students need to have confidence in knowing these to avoid forgetting them due to pressure. Thankfully, this helpful list provides an excellent overview of common devices and tips to ask yourself when the exam begins. 

What are Rhetorical Devices?

Rhetorical analysis prompts now ask for rhetorical choices (verb), but analyzing a rhetorical device (noun) is okay. Before identifying common rhetorical devices used in speeches, it is essential to know what this means. Ultimately, it is a specific set of words to convey meaning, provoke a response, or provide persuasion based on the topic. You apply rhetorical devices whenever you try to inform, persuade, or argue. 

Honestly, it can be challenging to identify rhetoric. However, it is helpful to ask what the person is doing. Are they using humor? Flattery? Knowing this will help you with your response. 

Common Rhetorical Devices 

You will feel pressure when you begin the exam as the clock ticks. However, consider this list to recall common rhetorical devices used in speech. 

Diction: In simpler terms, diction means word choices. Every author uses this while writing. This means you need to specify which type of diction. For instance, is it scientific diction? Patriotic diction? Then, think about the word choices used to convey that tone. Ultimately, you are looking for words the author uses in a meaningful and intentional way. 

Tone: While examining word choices, you want to look at the tone they create. Additionally, it is crucial to identify if there is a shift in tone. If there is, you can identify what the tone shifted from and to.

Appeals: Essentially, other choices create appeals. So, you can embed the appeals into your analysis of other devices. 

• Logos: You will see facts, statistics, and examples to rationally prove an argument.
• Pathos: The writer is making an emotional appeal. However, you do not want to say this. Instead, you want to specify specific emotions, such as patriotism or fear. Often, writers do this to create unity, motivate others, or inspire fear and outrage.
• Ethos: Many times, this is an appeal to credibility or morals. Like logic and ethos, you want to avoid using the word pathos. Instead, you want to examine why the writer needs to bolster their credibility.

Questions: Often, students quickly identify this common device used in speeches due to punctuation. A helpful format involves discussing how the writer poses a question and answers it. Then, address how it affects the reader. Be sure to focus on why the author is asking the questions versus stating the question is rhetorical. It is so hard to know if the question is rhetorical or not. 

Repetition: While this device is often easy to recognize, it is hard to analyze effectively. While repetition emphasizes a specific message, it is crucial to look a bit deeper. Instead of using fancy terms, use a strong verb to explain what the writer repeats. Specifically, remember that while you are reading a speech, it was once said aloud. So, repetition may form cohesion in the speech. It may also reinforce the message. 

Contrast: If this device is in the speech, it is vital to determine why contrasting the items is meaningful. Are there positive and negative word choices? Comparisons of two people or groups? Ultimately, you want to answer why this connection is significant to the speech. 

Comparison: As the opposite of contrast, writers may also show meaningful similarities between two items or aspects. Writers may do this through figurative language or to show links to items that seem different. If you use this device, identify the comparison and explain how it helps the writer convey the message. 

Exemplification: Writers may also use examples to prove a claim. You want to be sure to examine the examples and explain why the writer uses them. Additionally, address why the example is relevant to the audience and occasion. 

Parallelism: Many times, this common device used in speech is actually in one of the other devices. However, it still deserves an honorable mention. If the writer uses the same or similar grammatical structure, explain why. Is the writer creating balance? Cadence in the speech? Emphasizing certain words? 

Allusion: There are many types of allusions, including reference to famous literature, art, and people. For example, biblical allusions are common in some speeches. While not every reference is an allusion, writers may allude to something to help the listener/reader make meaningful connections. 

Anecdotes: Often, these short personal stories have a narrative style. You want to explain how the story develops the writer’s message and why the writer selected it. 

Definition: When writers use this common device, they define the term. You want to explain why this definition is there. In other words, explain how the definition helps portray the message. 

What if I Don’t See Devices?

When it comes time to take the AP Lang Exam, panic sets in. Due to this, you may forget what you’ve learned in class. However, just pause and take a deep breath. Then, refocus on the question. Ask yourself, “What is the writer doing?” Specifically, do not worry about naming a specific device. Just look for what is happening. After, look at the language and type of diction. This will help get the ideas flowing for the overall tone and mood. 

The AP Lang exam is challenging. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it is understandable! However, believe in yourself! Set time aside to prepare. Use your practice prompts, notes, and tips to help. For instance, this list is a great place to explore common rhetorical devices used in speeches.

Check out this blog post for more info about rhetorical choices.

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Exercise: finding and identifying rhetorical devices

von Merve Yilmaz | Dienstag, November 5, 2019 | Practice , Practice receptive skills

Within your literary studies, you will sooner or later be confronted with the task of finding rhetorical devices. You should be aware that it is not enough to simply find a stylistic device. More importantly, you should be able to explain its significance for the specific text and its main idea. Nevertheless, the first struggle is to identify them. Therefore, you will find some selected verses of a poem in the following in which you can test and apply your knowledge about rhetorical devices. Watch this space for an upcoming overview of the devices you might come across here or in other poems.

Binsey Poplars by Gerard Manley Hopkins

If you want to read the entire poem and have a look at its visual appearance, have a look here . Note that this poem consists of several literary and philosophical allusions that you should also consider while analysing it. The focus of this exercise was to find rhetorical devices only. The visual appearance of the poem is another aspect you can think of. Why does the poem have so many shifts? What is its link to the content and main idea of the poem? These are questions you could and should think of while doing a literary analysis.

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• Open access
• Published: 24 April 2024

Constructing cultural integration through rhetoric in Modi’s speech in Lumbini, Nepal

• Surendra Prasad Ghimire 1  

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications volume  11 , Article number:  529 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

• Cultural and media studies

This article reports how the rhetorical devices and logical argument utilized in the speech of Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, delivered in Lumbini, addressing the 2566th birth ceremony of Lord Buddha, assisted him to establish his purpose by persuading the audience. I adopted the concept of rhetoric developed by Aristotle and the notion of argument advanced by Toulmin as a theoretical perspective to analyze his speech. The findings reported that Modi used rhetorical devices and layers of argument to establish religious and cultural relationships between Nepal and India; however, he focused on religions, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism, and excluded the religious and cultural sentiments of people belonging to other religious and cultural backgrounds living in both countries. The finding further revealed that Modi’s seemingly religious rhetoric was directed towards the political mission of promoting relations between Nepal and India by expanding cultural nationalism and establishing the supremacy of Hinduism and Buddhism. This study has greater significance because it adds new insights into the existing literature on rhetoric and communication and provides a clear direction for further analyzing the rhetorical strategy in Modi’s speeches.

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Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, at the invitation of the prime minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba, made an official visit to Lumbini on May 16, 2022, on the auspicious occasion of Lord Buddha’s 2566th birth anniversary (India 2022 ). He delivered his speech as a distinguished guest, addressing the gathering of dignitaries, Buddhist scholars, monks, and ministers of the government of Nepal, focusing on Buddhism and Hinduism to establish cultural and religious relations between Nepal and India (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, N ( 2022 ); Modi 2022a ). The existing scholarship reflected that he focused on improving relations with neighboring countries, including Nepal, since he was appointed prime minister of India in 2014 by concentrating on culture, connectivity, and cooperation among the countries (Gupta and Rashid Wani 2016 ; Yhome 2019 ). However, some studies reported that his attempt to establish harmonious relations with his neighboring nations, particularly Nepal, failed as he could not implement the promises, mainly related to developmental and mutual understanding in problem-solving among the neighboring countries, made in the Neighborhood First Policy (Das 2023 ; Lamichhane 2023 ). In addition, some literature revealed that Modi adopted Hindu nationalism and promoted international relations with the support of Hindu religion and culture (Huju 2022 ; Singh 2019 ). However, the existing literature almost ignores how Modi utilized rhetorical devices and logical structure in his speech in Lumbini, Nepal, to establish a cultural connection with Nepal. Rhetorical analysis of Modi’s speech during his Nepal visit has always been significant in exploring the relationship between Nepal and India. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze Modi’s speech delivered in Lumbini to find out the answer to the research questions, such as what message Modi delivered in his speech, what rhetorical devices and logical organization he utilized to deliver his message, and how his rhetorical devices and logical organization used in his speech helped him establish a cultural and religious relationship between Nepal and India. I analyzed Modi’s speech from a rhetorical perspective, as this study was highly motivated to explore rhetorical elements and logical organization in the speech.

Literature review

Promotion of hinduism and buddhism.

Some existing studies (Chauhan 2015 ; Scott 2016 ) reported that Buddhism has served as a powerful diplomatic tool in many ways for historical reconstruction and building strong attachments among Buddhist countries almost all over the world. Further, after exploring two thousand years of the history of Buddhism and its influences in the Himalayan region, Zhang ( 2022 ) concluded that there was high competition between India and China about utilizing Buddhist diplomacy for their national interests. Likewise, in the present context, Balakrishnan ( 2019 ) claimed that Modi utilized cultural diplomacy based on the spiritual strength of Hinduism and Buddhism to promote the national power of India in the world. In doing so, Modi multiplied a trend of high-profile international visits, including to his neighboring countries, to advance Indian cultural influence and promote India’s image in a new global context (Jain 2014 ).

Moreover, several studies (Jaffrelot 2021 ; Kaul 2017 ; Singh 2019 ) reported that Modi promoted Hinduism by demarcating Hinduism and non-Hinduism, particularly separating Muslims. In addition, recent scholarships (Saleem 2023a ; Yilmaz and Morieson 2023 ) revealed that Modi promoted Hindu nationalism in India by dividing the total population into three categories: pure Hindus, disloyal elites, and risky Muslims. Hindu nationalism indicates the idea of Hinduism, which claims that all the citizens living in India belong to a Hindu religion-based civilization and that their national identity is related to Hinduism (Saleem 2021 ; Shani 2021 ). Therefore, Saleem ( 2021 ) reported that the promotion of Hindu nationalism increased the threat to non-Hindu religious people, more precisely to Muslims. As Modi envisions threats from the Islamic religion, he attempts to minimize such threats by erasing Islamic history through his economic policy of development (Waikar 2018 ). Thus, research (Das 2023 ) claimed that Modi’s Hindu nationalism is embedded in his popular development programs, which is against the spirit of the world’s largest democratic country, India.

Modi’s art of communication

Moreover, focusing on Modi’s communication skills during the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly via television and radio broadcasts, and adopting the discourse analysis method, Sambaraju ( 2022 ) argued that Modi had skills in the special use of language by understanding the context that assisted him in establishing mutual relations with the audience as if he was their family member, which made him successful in implementing the order of government and maintaining the crisis. However, focusing on the relationship between Modi’s speech and the context, that study almost failed to explore how Modi utilized rhetorical devices and logical arguments to persuade the audience. Further, by investigating Modi’s address on the radio to the nation and adopting the motivating language theory, Sharma and Dubey ( 2021 ) claimed that Modi’s use of motivating language, which included meaning-making, direction-giving, and empathetic language, made him an effective leader. However, the context of language use and the theoretical perspective of language exploration remained prominent concerns. In addition, exploring the power of leaders emulating ordinary people’s language, Martelli and Jaffrelot ( 2023 ) reported that Modi imitated ordinary people’s language, which helped him be close to the public and become a popular leader. Likewise, Sen ( 2016 ) claimed that Modi utilized various powerful symbols and images from the Hindu religion in his public speeches and communication more often than previous prime ministers of India, which made him an effective and influential leader in India. In addition, while exploring the visual rhetoric of Modi, Price ( 2015 ) reported that Modi’s age, physical appearance with gray hair and a beard, and his glasses made him a fashion icon. By investigating Modi’s political rhetoric on Twitter, Martelli and Jumle ( 2023 ) argued that Modi identified himself as a democratic, multidimensional, supportive, and peace-establishing leader, which helped him win public support. However, the above studies almost remained silent about how Modi used a chain of arguments and various rhetorical devices and how such devices helped him establish his claim by persuading the audience in his public speech.

Indo-Nepal relation

Indo-Nepal relations have always remained a prominent concern to explore, as Nepal is a landlocked country covered by India from the east, south, and west. Although Nepal and India are close neighboring countries, they have faced challenges in their relations because of open borders, Nepal’s excessive dependency on India for trade and transit to other countries, and Nepal’s negligence of India’s security risk (Upreti 2003 ). Focusing on Indo-Nepal relations, some studies (Anupam 2020 ; Bashyal 2019 ) reported that India’s “big brother” concept, territorial conflicts on the border, and unequal diplomatic contracts have added to the challenges in their relations. On the other hand, anti-Indian sentiment has been growing in Nepal because of the border disputes between the two countries (Aryal and Pulami 2023 ; Tripathi 2019 ). Moreover, Nepal revised its map, incorporating Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Lipulekh Pass in Sudurpachhim Pardesh (Far-Western Province); however, it became contested (Ethirajan 2020 ). Although Modi promised to strengthen relations between Nepal and India by promoting cooperation and initiating new projects of development in Nepal (Bhattarai 2014 ), in Nepal, it was realized the gap between the promise and delivery of Modi because of delays in the implementation of the agreements and India’s interference in Nepali internal politics by blocking the border in response to the promulgation of the new constitution of Nepal (Das 2016 ; Muni 2017 ). Thus, research (Giri 2022 ) reported that Modi frequently visited Nepal to improve the relationship between Nepal and India. In this context, exploring Modi’s speech delivered in Lumbini, Nepal, would have great significance for understanding the relationship between Nepal and India.

Furthermore, Modi made his second foreign visit to Nepal (3rd and 4th August 2014) to endorse the Neighborhood First Policy of India (Aryal and Bharti 2023 ). The diplomacy of the Neighborhood First Policy is committed to promoting a foreign policy of India, regional cooperation in the sectors of education and health, and promoting security cooperation among the neighbors (Muni 2017 ). In addition, Modi modified the Neighborhood First Policy based on his government’s ideology, interests, and domestic political calculations (Ganguly 2017 ; Jacob 2022 ). He attempted to improve relationships among the neighboring countries by implementing the Neighborhood First Policy; however, some studies (Das 2023 ; Kaura and Rani 2020 ; Muni 2017 ; Singh 2016 ) reported that his diplomacy of the Neighborhood First Policy ceased to function well by showing India’s complex regional relations, particularly with Nepal and Pakistan. However, Modi advocated Buddhism and Hinduism in Lumbini and used them to establish age-long harmonious religious and cultural relationships between Nepal and India.

The departure of the study

The above literature depicted various themes related to Modi, such as his skills in using ordinary people’s language, his motivating language power, and his skills in utilizing various religious, cultural, and mythical references in his speeches. However, existing studies have almost failed to explore Modi’s speech from a rhetorical perspective. Therefore, this study explores Modi’s message in his speech, the rhetorical elements he utilized to deliver it, and how the rhetorical devices and arguments used in the speech supported him in achieving his purpose. I hope this study can add significant value to the existing literature on rhetoric and communication by depicting how the special use of rhetoric can endorse the mission of establishing religious and cultural relationships between Nepal and India.

This study is based on an interpretative research design. Modi’s speech in Lumbini on the occasion of Lord Buddha’s 2566th birth ceremony was purposefully selected as the primary text of this study. As I argued that Modi used special rhetorical elements and arguments to achieve his goal of maintaining a religious and cultural connection between Nepal and India, I adopted Toulmin’s notion of arguments and Aristotle’s rhetorical ideas as theoretical perspectives to analyze his speech. Aristotle’s concept of rhetoric helped me understand how he used rhetorical devices such as logos, ethos, and pathos to persuade the audience. Toulmin’s idea of argument helped me further analyze his speech, exploring the strengths and weaknesses of his arguments. Further, the English script of his speech was retrieved from his website (Modi 2022a ), and the video of his speech in his original language was obtained from YouTube (Modi 2022b ). The secondary data were collected from various reliable printed and online resources, such as theses, journal articles, books, and magazines. He delivered his speech for 20 min (Modi 2022b ), addressing a gathering of distinguished guests, dignitaries from different parts of the world, ministers of the government of Nepal, Buddhist monks, and scholars (Ministry of External Affairs 2022 ). He mostly used Hindi; however, sometimes he switched to Nepali and Sanskrit. I watched and listened to his speech repeatedly, mainly focusing on his message, rhetorical devices, and arguments utilized in his language. I recorded his rhetorical devices, such as similes, metaphors, images, and symbols, to name a few, and the components of his arguments, such as claims, data, conclusions, and so forth, in my diary. In addition, I observed in the video his dress, gestures, level of confidence, and audience response during his speech. Finally, I analyze all the collected information by adopting the overarching theoretical perspectives of rhetoric and argument, which I elaborate on in the following section.

Rhetoric and persuasion

As a theoretical framework, I utilized the concept of rhetoric developed by Aristotle since my research explored the rhetorical elements used in Modi’s speech delivered in Lumbini. Aristotle defined rhetoric as the art of using language to influence and persuade others (Garver 1994 ). He further discussed three types of rhetoric: ethos, pathos, and logos, to effectively establish an idea by convincing the audience (Braet 1992 ). Moreover, Rapp ( 2002 ) argued that Aristotle’s concept of rhetoric has three ways of persuading the audience: the speaker’s ethos, the audience’s emotional state, and the arguments used in the speech. Further, defending Plato’s charges against rhetoric, Aristotle argued that rhetoric established the link between “private and public, passion and reason, individual interest and the common good” (Nichols 1987 , p. 657). In addition, Hühn and Meyer ( 2023 ) claimed that Aristotle’s concept of rhetoric and the idea of leadership are inseparable, as rhetoric supports establishing the connection between the leader and the public and persuades them to achieve the purpose. Likewise, Agatta ( 2023 ) concluded that Aristotelian rhetoric contributed to improving the art of public speaking by supporting the effective delivery of messages. In the modern context, rhetoric was considered an effective means for persuading and influencing the audience to achieve the desired goal as it employed a more comprehensive range of linguistic and stylistic devices, such as metaphors, similes, repetition, images, paradoxes, religious and historical references, and ironies (Andrews, 2013 ). Thus, the above-discussed concept of rhetoric developed by Aristotle assisted me in analyzing Modi’s speech to explore the rhetorical elements he used and how such rhetorical devices supported him in establishing the religious and cultural connection between Nepal and India.

In addition, I adopted Stephen Toulmin’s notion of arguments as a theoretical perspective for analyzing the logical organization of Modi’s speech in Lumbini. Toulmin discussed various elements of arguments such as claim, backing, warrant, ground, qualifier, and rebuttal, and such elements of the argument need to function together appropriately to make the communication argumentative, convincing, and persuasive. Thus, Verheij ( 2005 ) claimed that Toulmin’s idea of components of argument has been widely used for analyzing the basic foundation of arguments used in communication. Similarly, Toulmin et al. ( 1984 ) claimed that the notion of Toulmin on argument assisted in finding the trains of reasoning in the arguments and provided the critical process for evaluating the arguments. Thus, Toulmin’s mode of argument would be valuable for modern rhetoric because it enhances the power of generating new ideas for constructing sound arguments (Karbach 1987 ; Trent 1968 ). In addition, Toulmin advanced the concept of arguments by refining and replacing “the traditional concepts of ‘claim’ and ‘premise’ with new concepts of ‘claim’, ‘data’, ‘warrant, ‘qualifier’,’ rebuttal’, and ‘backing (Racharak and Tojo 2022 , p. 1). Further, Toulmin et al. ( 1984 ) clarified that the claim has just been a hypothetical idea and has been transformed into a conclusion after receiving support from the ground, warrant, and backing. In the same way, Toulmin et al. ( 1984 ) added that ground refers to data that explicitly supports the claim, warrant indicates the general rules that implicitly support the claim, backing for the warrant makes the claim stronger by interconnecting with the chain of supporting, and qualifier indicates the degree of certainty and strength of the conclusion in the argument; however, the rebuttal shows the exceptional case of the argument, where the chain of arguments goes wrong. Therefore, I adopted Toulmin’s notion of argument in analyzing Modi’s speech, as it assisted me in exploring how Modi used elements of argument in his speech to persuade the audience to achieve his purpose.

Analysis and discussion

This section analyzed Modi’s speech delivered in Lumbini to answer the research questions of what message Modi delivered in his speech, what rhetorical elements he utilized to deliver his message, and how his rhetorical devices and arguments supported him in achieving his purpose, with the support of the theoretical perspective discussed above.

Rhetorical analysis of Modi’s speech

Modi’s rhetoric of cultural integration.

Establishing cultural integration between Nepal and India based on religions, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism, served as one of the predominant themes throughout Modi’s address to the 2566th birth ceremony of Lord Buddha in Lumbini, Nepal. He claimed Nepal and India have an age-long religious and cultural relationship (Modi, 2022a ). In doing so, he adopted rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, and logos, as discussed by Aristotle Rapp ( 2002 ), and components of argument elaborated by Toulmin et al. ( 1984 ). To set the foundation for his claim, throughout his speech, he provides the ground, which refers to specific evidence and facts (Toulmin et al. 1984 ), to support his claim by referring to various religious and cultural connections based on Hinduism and Buddhism between Nepal and India. For instance, he said, “Whether it is in Pashupatinathji, Muktinathji, Janakpurdham, or Lumbini, Nepal gratifies me with its spiritual blessings” (Modi 2022a , p. 1). His possible reasons for sharing his spiritualism enriched by Hinduism and Buddhism in Nepal depicted not only his unshakeable faith in Hinduism and Buddhism but also his special interest in setting religious and cultural connections between Nepal and India. He added that “this common heritage, common culture, common faith, and common love are our greatest assets” (Modi 2022a , p. 1). His remark showed that he seemed to expand cultural nationalism by establishing a similar religious and cultural atmosphere between Nepal and India. Consistent with the finding of Balakrishnan ( 2019 ), Modi’s Lumbini speech revealed his political motive of expanding India’s national power in Nepal with the support of religion and culture. At the same time, his rhetoric of religion and culture to establish the connection between Nepal and India served as the tools to carry out his political mission of improving and promoting relationships with neighboring countries, particularly with Nepal. Since he was appointed prime minister of India in 2014, he has focused on improving relations with his neighboring countries (Gupta and Rashid Wani 2016 ). In this regard, he added ground for his claim by unfolding cultural and religious evidence, particularly from Hinduism and Buddhism, to exhibit how Nepal and India have cultural connections and harmonious relationships. In doing so, he connected his speech with his previous speech delivered in Nepal: “In Janakpur, I had said that “Our Ram is also incomplete without Nepal.” I know that today, when a grand temple of Lord Shri Ram is being built in India, the people of Nepal are feeling equally happy” (Modi, 2022a , p. 1). Likewise, he added, “India and the people of India have looked at Nepal with this vision and faith for thousands of years” (Modi 2022a , p. 1). By exposing long-standing relationships between Nepal and India and depicting the common religious and cultural sentiments by bringing references from the epic ‘The Ramayana’ related to Hinduism, he not only attempted to promote mutual relations between Nepal and India but also reinforced his political motive of expanding cultural relations based on the religions Hinduism and Buddhism by stimulating the cultural and religious sentiments of the audience, particularly Hindus from Nepal and India.

Moreover, as Aristotle suggested, ethos, pathos, and logos assisted the speaker in persuading the audience to establish the claim (Braet 1992 ; Rapp 2002 ; Wisse 1989 ); Modi effectively adopted them to persuade and influence the audience. For instance, he said:

Nepal means the country of the world’s highest mountain, Sagarmatha! Nepal means the country of many holy pilgrimages, temples, and monasteries in the world! Nepal means the country that preserves the ancient civilizational culture of the world! […] When I come to Nepal, I have a different spiritual experience than any other political visit (Modi 2022a , p. 1).

The above excerpt of Modi’s speech depicted repetitions such as “Nepal means the country…” which indicated his particular focus on Nepal by reflecting Nepal as a land of ancient civilization and spiritualism. Further, the repetitions he made in his speech have, in many respects, greater significance, as, on the one hand, they helped him to create pathos, particularly in the Nepali audience, by highlighting and glorifying Nepal, and on the other hand, such pathos supported him to establish his claim by influencing his audience, mainly from Nepal. As Aristotle claimed that rhetoric is the art of using language to persuade the audience (Garver 1994 ), Modi used various rhetorical devices in his speech, such as similes, metaphors, and various images, which helped him persuade and convince the audience of his purpose. For instance, he said, “The relationship between India and Nepal is as stable as a mountain and as old as a mountain. We have to give a new height to our instinctive and natural relationships as much as the Himalayas” (Modi 2022a , p. 1). As Andrews ( 2013 ) claimed, Modi’s use of figures of speech, such as similes, metaphors, and images, in his speech served as a powerful rhetorical strategy. This strategy assisted him in persuading the audience by strengthening his logical argument that Nepal and India have had ancient cultural and religious connections and, therefore, needed to be maintained in the same spirit. As Sen ( 2016 ) reported, Modi utilized various powerful symbols and images from Hinduism and Buddhism to establish his claim. Apart from this, his sentence structure was average and lucid so that even a general audience related to Hinduism and Buddhism could understand it, and his frequent code-switching from Hindi to Nepali and Sanskrit helped him persuade the audience of his claim.

In addition, Modi showed his ethos by sharing his affinity with Buddhism and Hinduism. He added, “This has been the specialty of India, and therefore you also know my affinity with Sarnath near Kashi. From Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, and Kushinagar in India to Lumbini in Nepal” (Modi 2022a , p. 1). He further continued, “I also have another relationship with Lord Buddha, which is also a wonderful coincidence and which is also very pleasant. The place where I was born, Vadnagar in Gujarat, was a great center of Buddhist learning centuries ago” (Modi 2022a , p. 1). Moreover, he shared his experiences of visiting divine places related to Buddhism. For instance, he said, “In the past as well, on the day of Vaishakh Purnima, I have been getting the opportunities to visit the divine places associated with Lord Buddha for events associated with him. And today, I have had the privilege of visiting Lumbini, the holy birthplace of Lord Buddha, in Nepal” (Modi 2022a , p. 1). Ethos, as a mode of persuasion to the audience in Aristotelian rhetoric, refers to the reputation and authority of the speaker, which make speech believable (Halloran 1982 ). Thus, Modi’s frequent opportunities and experience of visiting places related to Hinduism and Buddhism and the information that he has had about them depicted his ethos in the speech and helped him to promote the reliability and credibility of his narrative.

Furthermore, by setting proper grounds, as discussed above, Modi further strengthened his argument to establish his claim. As Toulmin et al. ( 1984 ) suggested, warrants in the arguments linked the ground to the claim and strengthened the argument. In the same way, Modi’s ground for his claim was warranted by the religious and cultural sentiments of the audience, which strengthened his claim by connecting the ground with it. The above warrant of Modi’s arguments was backed by the assumption that harmonious relationships between and among the countries have been considered far better than confronting and having aggressive relations, and such relations among the countries, in many respects, helped to minimize the various kinds of problems faced by those countries. Therefore, as Toulmin et al. ( 1984 ) suggested, Modi concluded by providing adequate evidence, warrants, and backing for his claim. Although he did not draw his conclusion by using specific qualifiers such as “definitely,” “certainly,” “probably,” etcetera, as discussed by Toulmin et al. ( 1984 ), his beginning of concluding sentences like “I am satisfied…” and “I am confident…” singled out the reliability of his conclusion and his level of confidence in drawing conclusions from the ground, warrant, and backing, as discussed above.

Further, the conclusion of Modi’s argument has been drawn, assuming that most of the people living in Nepal and India are Hindus and Buddhists, and they are aware of and devoted to promoting and expanding their religious and cultural values. In this case, people’s reduction of faith in religious and cultural values functioned as a rebuttal to his arguments. As these conditions were not met, his claims and arguments proved wrong. However, as Karbach ( 1987 ) discussed, Modi seemed to have been careful in drawing his conclusion, which assisted him in persuading his audience.

Modi’s rhetoric of exclusion

Although Modi adopted various rhetorical devices and components of argument as discussed above to establish cultural integration based on the religions, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism, between Nepal and India, it posed serious challenges as it seemed exclusive as it ignored the spirit of the multi-cultural and multi-religious ground realities of India and Nepal. For example, he said:

The ever-strengthening friendship between India and Nepal and our closeness will serve the benefit of humanity. And in this, the faith of both our countries towards Lord Buddha, the boundless reverence for him, unites us in one thread and makes us members of a family (Modi 2022a , p. 1).

Modi’s rhetoric of narrative revealed that he adopted the religions Hinduism and Buddhism and culture based on them to strengthen the mutual relationship between Nepal and India; however, his attempt lacked an inclusive vision by ignoring other religious and cultural communities from both countries. Moreover, Modi’s rhetoric of exclusion has become much clearer from his further remarks, as he said, “From Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, and Kushinagar in India to Lumbini in Nepal, these holy places symbolize our shared heritage and shared values” (Modi 2022a , p. 1). Modi’s remarks revealed that he attempted to promote a common religion and culture in Nepal and India based on Hinduism and Buddhism. He further showed his desire that “this common heritage, common culture, common faith, and common love are our greatest assets. And, the richer these assets are, the more effectively together we can bring the message of Lord Buddha to the world and give direction to the world” (Modi, 2022a , p. 1). Modi’s above remarks reflected the purpose of his speech, as he wanted to establish a common culture not only in Nepal and India but also all over the world with the vision of providing a new direction to the world. He again added, “Today, we have to work for the whole of humanity. With this spirit, we have to strengthen the spirit of friendship in the world. I am confident that India-Nepal friendship will continue to work together to fulfill this humanitarian resolve” (Modi 2022a , p. 1). His rhetoric of promoting common culture and religion, mainly based on Hinduism and Buddhism, to resolve the problems related to humanity worldwide reflected how Modi aimed to establish the supremacy of Hinduism and Buddhism by excluding other cultures and religions. As Yilmaz and Morieson ( 2023 ) discussed, Modi’s Lumbini speech attempted to establish the superiority of a civilization based on Hinduism and Buddhism worldwide. In the same spirit, the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India’s press release shared, “Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Lumbini also emphasizes the deep and rich civilizational connection between India and Nepal and the contribution of people on both sides to foster and promote it” (Ministry of External Affairs 2022 , p. 1). The above press release revealed the underlying purpose of Modi’s Lumbini address. In addition, similar practices have almost been done in the world, for example, in Pakistan (Yilmaz et al. 2023 ), Israel (Saleem 2023b ), Sri Lanka (Gamage 2023 ), Poland, France, and the USA (Morieson 2023 ), to promote and expand their civilizations based on their religions in the world. Therefore, his rhetorical strategies of promoting Hinduism and Buddhism excluded the other religious and cultural people’s sentiments living in both countries by exposing as if Nepal and India are only Hindu and Buddhist countries. As Yilmaz and Morieson ( 2023 ) reported, Modi attempted to establish the superiority of Hinduism and Buddhism by separating them from other religions in Nepal and India.

Moreover, Modi focused on reshaping and updating the relationship between Nepal and India with the vision of expanding and protecting culture by assisting in developmental sectors in Nepal. For instance, he said:

The relationships that we have had for thousands of years, from food, music, festivals, and customs to family ties, now also have to be linked to new areas like science, technology, and infrastructure. I am satisfied that India is working shoulder-to-shoulder with Nepal in this direction (Modi 2022a , p. 1).

Modi’s rhetorical move from religion to the existing world of science, technology, and development indicated that the relationship between Nepal and India needed to transform based on the changing contexts. However, his desire to promote Indo-Nepal relations by sharing and providing developmental ads in infrastructure, science, and technology directed toward protecting a long-standing single culture based on Hinduism and Buddhism and spreading this between Nepal and India has become his rhetoric of exclusion. To some extent, as studies (Das 2023 ; Sud 2022 ) reported, Modi seemed to expand and promote Hinduism with the support of economic assistance and development work. Further, Modi added, “I see many more great possibilities for expanding our mutual cooperation in this area. Together, we will realize these possibilities and the dreams of India and Nepal. Our able youth will grow to the pinnacle of success and become messengers of Buddha’s teachings all over the world” (Mod, 2022a , p. 1). Modi’s rhetoric of narrative makes much clearer his possible reason for focusing on mutual collaboration on developmental work and his aspiration of spreading a single civilization and religion all over the world, which proved Modi’s civilizational mission in Nepal as stated in the Ministry of External Affairs ( 2022 ). Moreover, as Modi is the prime minister of India, his rhetoric has become a microcosm of India’s strategy of utilizing religion and culture as tools for promoting relations with neighboring countries, particularly Nepal; however, as some studies (Anupam 2020 ; Aryal and Pulami 2023 ; Tripathi 2019 ) reported, Indo-Nepal relations have faced challenges because of territorial conflict, India’s big brother concept, and unequal diplomatic contracts yet.

Conclusion remarks

The overall discussion has identified that Modi utilized rhetorical devices and logical arguments in the narrative of his speech to establish religious and cultural connections between Nepal and India, through which he aimed to achieve his political mission of promoting relations between Nepal and India; however, by promoting Hinduism and Buddhism, his rhetoric excluded other religions and cultures prevailing in both countries. Further, this study introduced a significant discussion on Modi’s rhetoric of political communication by depicting his political motives behind promoting cultural and religious relations between Nepal and India, which required insightful scholarly concerns on his rhetoric of political communication to grasp his further hidden political agenda. In addition, this study indicated that Modi’s political communication, adopting appropriate rhetorical devices and arguments, seemed persuasive; however, this study also revealed that his rhetoric of political communication might equally mislead the audience to fulfill his underlying political mission. Moreover, this study found that Modi’s rhetoric of political communication seemed powerful in utilizing economic ads in Nepal to promote cultures and religions, which demanded insightful scholarly concerns about the underlying mission and purpose behind India’s economic assistance for developmental work in Nepal. I hope future scholarship on Modi’s speech could clarify how the art of deploying rhetorical devices and arguments reinforces promoting and expanding religious and cultural supremacy. Nevertheless, this study can add substantial value to the existing studies on rhetoric and communication by depicting how the special use of rhetoric in political communication can endorse the mission of establishing religious and cultural relationships between Nepal and India and providing a clear direction for further analyzing the rhetorical strategies in Modi’s speeches.

Data availability

All data generated and analyzed during this study are retrieved from website and YouTube, which are listed in the references.

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Ghimire, S.P. Constructing cultural integration through rhetoric in Modi’s speech in Lumbini, Nepal. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 11 , 529 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03000-w

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Received : 11 September 2023

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03000-w

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