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Auxesis (Literary Definition)

Auxesis Definitions:

Auxesis is a figure of speech that lists a series of things in ascending order of importance.
A rhetorical term for a gradual increase in intensity of meaning with words, which are arranged in ascending order of importance or force.

Famous Auxesis Examples:

"O'erthrows thy joys, friends, fortune, and thy state."
[Richard II, Shakespeare]

"It is a sin to bind a Roman citizen, a crime to scourge him, little short of the most unnatural murder to put him to death; what then shall I call this crucifixion?"
[Cicero, Against Verres]

"Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird . . . it’s a plane . . . it’s Superman!"
[opening of The Adventures of Superman, television series]

Last 10 Scottish Monarchs (Prior To 1707 Act Of Union)

Last 10 Scottish Monarchs:

Queen Anne - ruled 1702-1707
King William II - ruled 1689-1702
Queen Mary II - ruled 1689-1694
King James VII (II of England) - ruled 1685-1689
King Charles II - ruled 1649-1685
King Charles I - ruled 1625-1649 (executed)
King James VI (I of England) - ruled 1567-1625
Queen Mary I (Queen of Scots) - ruled 1542-1567 (executed, picture opposite)
King James V - ruled 1513-1542
King James IV - ruled 1488-1513 (died in Battle of Flodden Field)

Duodecimo (Literary Term)

Duodecimo Details:

Small size of book.
The size of the book pages are 5 x 7 3/4 inches (18.7 x 12.7 cm).
Sometimes called twelvemo.
Abbreviated as 12mo.
The page size results from folding a standard printer's sheet of paper into 12 leaves (= 24 pages).
Duodecimos have traditionally been the format of choice for popular writing.
A modern popular paperback is around this size.

Rhetorical Question (Literary Term)

Basic Facts:

A rhetorical question is a figure of speech.
It is in the form of a question posed for its persuasive effect.
There is no expectation of a reply.
The use of a rhetorical questions is mostly to encourage the listener to think about what the (often obvious) answer to the question must be.
The answer to a rhetorical question is quite often obvious.
Rhetorical questions can therefore be used as a device by the speaker to assert or deny something.

Forms of rhetorical questions include:

Metaphors
Negative assertions

Rhetorical Question History:

Henry Denham in the 1580s invented a "rhetorical question mark" for use at the end of a rhetorical question.
The symbol was the reverse of an ordinary question mark - the main opening pointing away from the question (pictured).

Rhetorical Question Examples:

Does a bear shit in the woods?
For what can war but endless war still breed? (Milton)
If practice makes perfect, and no one's perfect, then why practice? (Billy Corgan)
Is the Pope Catholic?
Is the sky blue?
Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who would want to live in an institution? (H. L. Mencken)

Alchemipedia

Wednesday

Auxesis (Literary Definition)

Last 10 Scottish Monarchs (Prior To 1707 Act Of Union)

Duodecimo (Literary Term)

Rhetorical Question (Literary Term)

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