Littérature - Figure de Style

a figure of speech in which the speaker addresses a person, abstract idea, object, or thing that is not present or cannot respond as if it could respond

apostrophe

a literary term used to describe a character's name that suggests or implies something about their personality, behavior, or role in the story

caractonyme

something that represents an idea, quality, or concept beyond its literal meaning

symbole, signe

a story, poem, etc. in which the characters and events are used as symbols to convey moral or political lessons

allégorie

the use of the same letter or sound at the beginning of the words in a verse or sentence, used as a literary device

allitération

a statement that implies or indirectly mentions something or someone else, especially as a literary device

allusion

a rhetorical device in which the writer repeats a word or phrase while adding more detail to it, in order to emphasize or clarify the meaning of the original statement

amplification, amplificateur

a rhetorical device in which a word or phrase at the end of one clause or sentence is repeated at the beginning of the next clause or sentence

anadiplosis, anadiplose

a clever or amusing use of words that takes advantage of the multiple meanings or interpretations that it has

jeu de mots, calembour

a rhetorical device in which a word is repeated, but with a different meaning each time

antanaclase, répétition ambigüe

a figure of speech in which two ideas or concepts are arranged in parallel clauses, words, or sentences to express a contrast

antithèse

a rhetorical device that involves denying or dismissing something while actually acknowledging or emphasizing it

apophase

a way of using words to create a special effect or meaning by going beyond their literal interpretation

figure de style, figure de discours

a word or phrase that compares two things or people, highlighting the similarities, often introduced by 'like' or 'as'

comparaison

a figure of speech that compares two unrelated things to highlight their similarities and convey a deeper meaning

métaphore

a figure of speech in which a part of something represents the whole or vice versa

synecdoque

a figure of speech in which a name of something is used instead of another, the two of which are closely associated or one is an attribute of the other

métonymie

the practice of attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas, objects, etc. in literature or art

personnification

the figurative language in literature by which the audience can form vivid mental images

imagerie

a logically contradictory statement that might actually be true

paradoxe

a subject, idea, or phrase that is repeatedly used in a literary work

thème

the use of similar vowels close to each other in nonrhyming syllables as a literary device

assonance

a literary device that refers to the repetition of consonant sounds, particularly at the end of words, to create a pleasing or rhythmic effect in a sentence or phrase

consonance, sonorité

a word that mimics the sound it represents

onomatopée

a literary device that reveals a contrast between what appears to be true and what actually is true, often creating unexpected or surprising effects

ironie

a literary device in which the speaker says something but means the opposite, often for humorous or sarcastic effect

ironie verbale, ironie de discours

a literary device in which events or circumstances within a story are contrary to what one would expect, often leading to an unexpected outcome or twist

ironie de situation, ironie circonstancielle

a literary technique by which the audience is more aware of the significance of the words or actions of the story than characters are

ironie dramatique

a rhetorical device where a speaker or writer shows doubt or uncertainty about a topic to engage the audience or highlight an argument

aporie, doute rhétorique

a literary device where conjunctions are omitted between clauses or phrases in a sentence

asyndète

a literary device that involves the use of exaggeration to create a dramatic or emotional effect, often used to build tension or emphasize the importance of something

auxèse

a literary device that uses a mixture of unpleasant, inharmonious, and harsh sounds to show disorder or chaos

cacophonie

a rhetorical device that involves a series of phrases or clauses that are arranged in a descending order of importance or emphasis

catacosmèse

a rhetorical figure in which words, grammatical structures or concepts are repeated in a reverse order in successive phrases

chiasme

a writing technique that uses the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences to create emphasis or persuade the audience

conduplicatio, répétition emphatique

mockery expressed through words or actions in a biting or sarcastic manner

dérision

the repetition of a word or phrase with only a few words in between, usually to emphasize or create a dramatic effect

diacope, répétition

a rhetorical device in which an author or speaker ridicules or denounces an opponent's argument, typically by using sarcasm or irony

diasyrmus, sarcasme rhétorique

a rhetorical device that involves making a conclusion based on an assumption that is not explicitly stated

enthymème, syllogisme rhetorique

a rhetorical device in which a word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence or clause is repeated at the end of the same sentence or clause

épanalepsie

a rhetorical technique that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences to create emphasis or reinforce a point

épistrophe

a figure of speech where a word or a phrase is repeated in quick succession for emphasis or intensity

épizeuxe, répétition emphatique

the use of words and expressions that are not meant to be taken literally, but rather to create a vivid, imaginative image or effect in the reader's mind

langage figuratif, langage métaphorique

the act of giving a clue of the future events to the audience in advance while narrating a story

préfiguration

a technique used in speech and writing to exaggerate the extent of something

hyperbole

a rhetorical device in which an author raises a question, and provides an answer right away

hypophore

a vague and allusive hint, especially a disapproving or suggestive one

insinuation, sous-entendu

a figure of speech that involves a self-correction or a revision of what has just been said, usually to strengthen or emphasize the speaker's argument or to make a point more clearly

métanoïa

a figure of speech that combines two contradictory or contrasting terms to create a unique expression

oxymoron

(linguistics) the redundant use of words in a way that might be considered a fault of style, or to create an emphatic effect

pléonasme

a deliberate repetition of a conjunction in a phrase, used as a literary trope

polystyrène

a rhetorical strategy in which the speaker or writer anticipates an objection or counterargument from the audience and addresses it before it can be raised

procatalepsie

agreement between the sound or the ending of a word and another word

rime

a strong repeated pattern of musical notes or sounds

rhythme

a figure of speech where a word is used in the same sentence with two or more other words, but with different meanings

syllépse

a rhetorical device that involves the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning and end of successive clauses or sentences

symploce, répétition encadrée

a figure of speech in which the speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it actually is

euphémisme, sous-estimation

the use of a word with two senses each of which apply to a different word in a sentence, as a figure of speech

zeugma

a literary and rhetorical device that involves repeating words or phrases in successive clauses or sentences, but in reverse order

antimétabole