Meaning of epiplexis | Babel Free

Definitions

A rhetorical device where a sequence of rhetorical questions is used to criticise or blame, or more generally, to elicit an emotional response.

rhetoric

Examples

“Afterwards, questioners employ⟳ the rhetorical figure⟳ called epiplexis. This interrogative figure⟳ is designed to blame⟳ the addressee, posing trick⟳ questions whose goal is to reveal⟳ whatever the speaker considers to be his or her faults. Epiplexis is backed up by cataplexis.”

“Remember⟳ also to structure⟳ epiplexes with one of the patterns for figures with multiple elements we met in chapter three. Repeated rhetorical questions can move⟳ from general to specific, from short to long, from broad to narrow, but should always unpack like⟳ Russian dolls.”

CEFR level