← Back

French Rhetoric & Figures of Speech

Recognize and use key rhetorical figures including anaphora antithesis hyperbole litotes irony and euphemism.
Anaphora repeats the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses for emphasis and rhythm.
Anaphora = repetition at the start of successive clauses.
Anaphore
Je veux la paix / Je veux la justice / Je veux l'égalité
Antithesis places contrasting ideas in parallel structures to highlight opposition.
Antithesis = opposing ideas in parallel structure.
Antithèse
Il faut manger pour vivre et non vivre pour manger (Molière)
Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration for effect: emphasis humor or emotion.
Hyperbole = deliberate exaggeration.
Hyperbole
Je t'ai dit mille fois de ne pas faire ça / J'ai une faim de loup
Litotes is understatement that implies the opposite: saying less to mean more.
Litotes = understatement implying the opposite.
Litotes
Ce n'est pas sans mérite = It has considerable merit / Il n'est pas bête (= he's quite clever)
Euphemism replaces a taboo or unpleasant word with a softer expression.
Euphemism = softening uncomfortable realities.
Euphémisme
Il nous a quittés = He passed away / Un non-voyant = a blind person
Irony says the opposite of what is meant. Tone and context convey the real meaning.
Irony = saying the opposite with implied meaning.
Ironie
C'est vraiment brillant comme idée! (said sarcastically) = What a terrible idea!
Metaphor creates an implicit comparison by applying a term from one domain to another.
Metaphor = implicit comparison (no comme/tel).
Métaphore
La vie est un combat / Il a un cœur de pierre / Dévorer un livre
Simile makes an explicit comparison using comme tel que or ainsi que.
Simile = explicit comparison using comme/tel que.
Comparaison
Il est courageux comme un lion / Elle court comme le vent
Gradation (climax) arranges terms in ascending or descending order of intensity.
Gradation = ascending or descending intensity.
Gradation
Je le veux je l'exige je l'obtiendrai / Un sanglot un cri un silence
Chiasmus creates an X-shaped reversal of parallel structures: AB / BA.
Chiasmus = reversed parallel structure (AB/BA).
Chiasme
Il faut manger pour vivre et non vivre pour manger / Les hommes vivent pour aimer et aiment pour vivre