Glossary of Poetic Terms

Rhetorical describes the use of language to communicate something persuasively or to impart information. Encompassing speech, written work, and visual mediums, rhetoric, at large, is attentive to how the use of language affects communication, audiences, and culture.  A rhetorical question, for example, is a question that is asked for purposes other than obtaining the answer, such as creating a dramatic effect or making a point.