Rhetoric | Rhetoric Meaning, Definition, Illustration

Rhetoric | Rhetoric Meaning, Definition, Illustration

Rhetoric Meaning, Definition, Illustration

Rhetoric | Rhetoric Meaning, Definition, Illustration

The word ‘Rhetoric’ is derived from the Greek word ‘rhetor’. Etymologically it means the art of impressive or persuasive speaking. In ancient Greece, Rhetoric was a subject of study to train public speakers on how to make their speeches more impressive, persuasive, and remarkable.  Nowadays its meaning has widened and it refers to any ornamental composition whether prose or poetry. In other words, to say, it refers to some linguistic devices by which we can make our composition decorative, melodious, thought-provoking, interesting, attractive, and motivational. It is like dressing an ordinary girl in queenly robes to look attractive and thus to draw the attention of the onlookers. The main objectives of rhetoric are to present an ordinary thing in an extraordinary way to excite wonder, awe, and interest. Notice the following two statements-

1. Sita’s hair is black.
2. Sita’s hair is as black as an adder.

The first statement is an ordinary one and the second statement is an extraordinary (figurative) one.

Both rhetoric and grammar play on the arrangement of words in a sentence. But rhetoric is not grammar and grammar is not rhetoric. Grammar deals with the rules of arranging words in an agreed way while making a sentence. It aims at the correctness of writing and speaking. On the other hand, rhetoric aims at the beauty and effectiveness of language.

There are many kinds of figures of speech and for a better study we can classify them as under:

1. Figures of Speech based on Similarity or Analogy or Agreement
2. Figures of Speech based on Association
3. Figures of Speech based on Difference
4. Figures of Speech based on Imagination
5. Figures of Speech based on Indirectness
6. Figures of Speech based on Sound
7. Figures of Speech based on Construction.

N. B. This article ‘Rhetoric | Rhetoric Meaning, Definition, Illustration’ originally belongs to the book ‘The Rhetoric‘ by Menonim Menonimus.

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Books of Composition by M. Menonimus:

1. Advertisement Writing
2. Amplification Writing
3. Note Making
4. Paragraph Writing
5. Notice Writing
6. Passage Comprehension
7. The Art of Poster Writing
8. The Art of Letter Writing
9. Report Writing
10. Story Writing
11. Substance Writing
12. School Essays Part-I
13. School Essays Part-II
14. School English Grammar Part-I
15. School English Grammar Part-II..

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