What is rhetorical question and examples?

What is rhetorical question and examples?

A rhetorical question is a question (such as “How could I be so stupid?”) that’s asked merely for effect with no answer expected. The answer may be obvious or immediately provided by the questioner.

Why is it called a rhetorical question?

The word rhetorical comes from the Greek rhetorikos, meaning oratorical, rhetorical, skilled in speaking. Question comes from the Anglo-French questiun, meaning an utterance meant to elicit an answer or discussion. The figure of speech known as a rhetorical question is first used in the 1670s.

What is it called when you answer a question with a question?

This method of answering questions with questions, in order to let the questioner realize that he can find the answer by reasoning (Socrates would say that the answer was in him all along), is called maieutics (the related adjective being maieutic).

What is the difference between a question and a rhetorical question?

A rhetorical question is a question someone asks without expecting an answer. The question might not have an answer, or it might have an obvious answer. So, why would you ask a question and not expect an answer? Well, sometimes these questions are asked to punch up a point.

Did you know rhetorical questions?

You can ask surprising questions that you do not expect the audience to answer by adding a tag, “Did you know?” For instance, someone giving a speech about moths might ask, “Did you know that moths help pollinate some flowers?” You could use a rhetorical question in place of a strong yes or no answer.

Do rhetorical questions need a question mark?

Avoid the trap of ending such sentences with question marks. Questions like these, which do not require or expect an answer, are called rhetorical questions. Because they are questions in form only, rhetorical questions may be written without question marks.

How do you explain rhetorical questions to a child?

A rhetorical question is a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point, rather than to get an answer. For example, the question ‘and what time do you call this?’ is asked or written merely for effect with no answer expected.

What are some good examples of a rhetorical question?

A very good example of rhetorical question in literature is from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Here, Juliet makes a statement that a man’s name does not define him as a person. She draws attention to this issue by asking two important rhetorical questions, as noted in bold.

What is the purpose of a rhetorical question?

A rhetorical question is a question that requires no reply, either because the answer is obvious or because the asker already knows how the answer. Rhetorical questions are generally used to draw a contrast, persuade the audience, make the listener think , or direct the reader’s attention to an important topic .

What are some rhetorical questions?

Updated November 03, 2017. A rhetorical question is a question (such as “How could I be so stupid?”) that’s asked merely for effect with no answer expected. The answer may be obvious or immediately provided by the questioner. Also known as erotesis, erotema, interrogatio, questioner, and reversed polarity question (RPQ).

What are the effects of a rhetorical question?

A rhetorical question is asked just for effect, or to lay emphasis on some point being discussed, when no real answer is expected. A rhetorical question may have an obvious answer, but the questioner asks it to lay emphasis to the point. In literature, a rhetorical question is self-evident, and used for style as an impressive persuasive device.