Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT an example of a rhetorical device?

1. Epanalepsis

2. Simile

3. Anadiplosis

4. Chiasmus

The correct answer is: Simile

The correct answer is identified as the one that does not represent a rhetorical device. A simile, while often employed in rhetoric, primarily functions as a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two different things using "like" or "as." Its primary function is to enhance imagery and clarify concepts by drawing parallels, rather than to persuade or create a specific rhetorical effect. On the other hand, epanalepsis, anadiplosis, and chiasmus are all recognized rhetorical devices that manipulate language structure to create emphasis and enhance persuasive impact. Epanalepsis involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning and end of a sentence, anadiplosis is the repetition of a prominent and usually the last word of a clause at the beginning of the next clause, and chiasmus features a reversal in the structure of phrases or concepts. Understanding the distinctions among these devices is crucial in analyzing how language can be shaped for effective communication and persuasion.