Guides to Rhetoric

September 16, 2006 10:16 AM

Can anyone recommend any good books on rhetorical devices?

I'm interested in works that classify the different types of rhetorical devices, and provide examples of their use.

posted by New Frontier to Writing & Language (8 answers total)

Not a book, but a *great* website - the Forest of Rhetoric.
posted by jasper411 at 10:38 AM on September 16, 2006 [2 favorites]

I haven't studied contemporary rhetoric, so I can't recommend anything about that. But the definitive work about Shakepearean rhetoric is "Shakespeare's Use of the Arts of Language" by Sister Miriam Joseph. It's exactly what you're looking for (with the possible big exception of time period) -- classifications and examples.
posted by grumblebee at 11:06 AM on September 16, 2006

If you are interested in a somewhat subversive approach, Schopenhauer's Art of Controversy may be a good starting point. Specifically, the section entitled "strategems."
posted by Maxwell_Smart at 11:31 AM on September 16, 2006

This book might be what you're looking for.
posted by LeisureGuy at 12:51 PM on September 16, 2006

This book was required for one of my Englidh lit classes in college. I have carried it wih me since, given copies to people, and bought used copies whenever I found them.

One thing I haven't done is read it recently--guess I have my Sunday evening planned.

It seems to be all online now. We win.

I would also mention that fallacies might be a useful side inquiry for you.
posted by Phred182 at 2:32 PM on September 16, 2006

Another web site -- not as complete as the Forest of Rhetoric but perhaps a useful companion -- is the Handbook of Rhetorical Devices.
posted by Acetylene at 4:39 PM on September 16, 2006

Jinx
posted by Phred182 at 4:44 PM on September 16, 2006

Along the lines of Schopenhauer's work:

http://www.246.dk/38tricks.html

http://www.vandruff.com/art_converse.html
posted by lunchbox at 11:30 PM on September 16, 2006