Rhetorical vs. Metaphorical — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 8, 2024
Rhetorical devices aim to persuade or convey attitudes; metaphorical language uses comparisons to symbolize ideas indirectly.
Difference Between Rhetorical and Metaphorical
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Rhetorical devices encompass a range of techniques used in communication to persuade, influence, or please an audience, including but not limited to metaphorical language. On the other hand, metaphorical expressions specifically compare two unlike things by stating that one is the other, enhancing understanding or emotional effect through implied meanings.
Rhetorical strategies often rely on the effective use of metaphors to deepen the impact of the argument, whereas metaphorical language can exist independently in literature without serving a persuasive purpose.
Rhetorical questions, for example, pose inquiries not to elicit answers but to emphasize a point, while metaphorical questions might simply explore abstract comparisons.
Rhetorical devices can include appeals to ethics (ethos), emotion (pathos), and logic (logos), whereas metaphorical language primarily engages with imaginative conceptualizations.
Metaphorical language often enriches rhetorical appeals by providing vivid imagery or complex ideas in a digestible form, enhancing the speaker’s or writer’s ability to resonate with their audience.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Pertaining to the art of rhetoric, aimed at persuasion.
Involving figures of speech that equate different concepts.
Purpose
To persuade, influence, or please an audience.
To illustrate and enrich concepts by comparison.
Common Forms
Appeals to emotion, ethics, logic; rhetorical questions.
Similes, analogies, personifications.
Usage Context
Often used in speeches, writing to argue or persuade.
Used in various forms of writing and speech for emphasis.
Independence in Use
Can incorporate various literary devices including metaphor.
Stands as a distinct figure of speech within rhetoric.
Compare with Definitions
Rhetorical
Aimed at an emotional response.
His plea was purely rhetorical to sway the audience.
Metaphorical
Involving an implicit comparison.
His career took a nosedive.
Rhetorical
Employing devices to persuade.
His argument was loaded with rhetorical strategies.
Metaphorical
Expressive of one thing in terms usually denoting another.
He drowned in a sea of grief.
Rhetorical
Pertaining to rhetoric or oratory.
His speech was filled with rhetorical flourishes.
Metaphorical
Using symbols to signify ideas and qualities.
Her words were a beacon of hope.
Rhetorical
Used for persuasive effect.
The rhetorical question underscored her point.
Metaphorical
Relating to metaphors.
Her poetry is richly metaphorical.
Rhetorical
Involving effective speaking or writing.
She gave a rhetorical analysis of the poem.
Metaphorical
Employing a figure of speech for effect.
The world is a stage in his narratives.
Rhetorical
Of or relating to rhetoric.
Metaphorical
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison, as in "a sea of troubles" or "All the world's a stage" (Shakespeare).
Rhetorical
Characterized by overelaborate or bombastic rhetoric.
Metaphorical
One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol
"Hollywood has always been an irresistible, prefabricated metaphor for the crass, the materialistic, the shallow, and the craven" (Neal Gabler).
Rhetorical
Used for persuasive effect
A speech punctuated by rhetorical pauses.
Metaphorical
Pertaining to or characterized by a metaphor; figurative; symbolic.
Rhetorical
Part of or similar to rhetoric, the use of language as a means to persuade.
A rhetorical question is one used merely to make a point, with no response expected.
Metaphorical
Expressing one thing in terms normally denoting another;
A metaphorical expression
Metaphoric language
Rhetorical
Not earnest, or presented only for the purpose of an argument.
Rhetorical
A study or exercise in rhetoric.
Rhetorical
Of or pertaining to rhetoric; according to, or exhibiting, rhetoric; oratorical; as, the rhetorical art; a rhetorical treatise; a rhetorical flourish.
They permit him to leave their poetical taste ungratified, provided that he gratifies their rhetorical sense.
Rhetorical
Of or relating to rhetoric;
Accepted two or three verbal and rhetorical changes I suggested
The rhetorical sin of the meaningless variation
Rhetorical
Concerned with effect or style of writing and speaking;
A rhetorical question is one asked solely to produce an effect (especially to make an assertion) rather than to elicit a reply
Common Curiosities
How does metaphorical language function in literature?
Metaphorical language functions by conveying meanings through symbolic figures of speech, often enhancing the descriptive power of language and evoking vivid images.
What is a rhetorical device?
A rhetorical device is a technique used in writing or speaking to persuade or provoke thought, often through the use of specific patterns of language.
Can a metaphor be rhetorical?
Yes, metaphors can be part of rhetorical strategies when used to persuade or emphasize concepts in an argument.
Can metaphorical language exist without being rhetorical?
Yes, metaphorical language can simply serve aesthetic purposes in literature and art, independent of any persuasive intent.
How does metaphorical language enhance rhetoric?
By providing striking and memorable comparisons, metaphorical language enhances the effectiveness of rhetoric in engaging and persuading audiences.
What distinguishes rhetorical from metaphorical language?
Rhetorical language includes a broad range of persuasive techniques, while metaphorical language specifically involves comparison between unrelated things to express ideas or emotions indirectly.
Are all rhetorical expressions metaphorical?
No, rhetorical expressions can include various techniques like repetition, irony, or hyperbole, not solely metaphorical language.
What is the main goal of using rhetorical devices in speeches?
The main goal is to influence an audience’s perspective or evoke specific emotional responses from them.
Why is metaphorical language important?
It enriches texts, providing deeper insight and emotional connection by illustrating complex ideas through simple comparisons.
How do rhetorical questions differ from metaphorical ones?
Rhetorical questions are asked to make a point rather than elicit an answer, whereas metaphorical questions enhance the descriptive quality of discourse without seeking real answers.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
