The nine (9) structural devices and fifteen (15) rhetorical devices that compose the rhetorical model. Click on any device to see an example:
Structural Devices
Absence—Applies to chiasms and parallel symmetries; the missing element is significant.
Closing summary—A concluding emphasis at or near the end of a literary unit.
Extra—Applies to chiasms and parallel symmetries; the pair to the missing is significant.
Frame—The repetition of a theme that surrounds a structure; may be emphatic.
Opening summary—An introductory emphasis at or near the beginning of a literary unit.
Parenthesis—Sometimes emphatic annotation of text, it explains related information.
Substructure summary—An emphasis at the beginning or end of a substructure.
Transposition—Applies to chiasms and parallel symmetries, a relocation of an element.
Variation—One element in the pairing is significantly different than the other(s).
Rhetorical Devices
Amplification—Often applies to immediate repetitions; the second part embellishes the first.
Center point—Applies to all structures, frequently an X; a place of emphasis or turning point.
Comparison—Two or more sequences with similar themes.
Contrast—Two or more corresponding elements with opposing themes.
Correlation of sequences—Applies to chiasms and parallel symmetries; A-B-C vs. A'-B'-C'.
Corresponding elements—An emphatic comparison or contrast to a conjugate pair.
First/first—Applies to parallel symmetries; an emphasis in the two A elements.
First/last—Applies to chiasms; an emphasis in the two A elements.
Imperative—An element with an imperative verb that indicates a strong directive or command.
Intensification—An escalation of themes from beginning to end, or outside to middle.
Interjection—The word behold often points to important words that follow.
Last/last—Applies to parallel symmetries; an emphasis in the last conjugate pair.
Link—A connection of an Old Testament pericope from the NT which can add emphasis to the New.
Question—Those queries which cause the reader or listener to slow down and reflect.
Repeated Phrase—A restatement of the same words or theme.