Auxesis, Amplification, Litotes

1. Auxesis, Amplification, Litotes
Tropes and Figures of Rhetoric
By Brittany Ballard, Lauren Sherman & Sydney Norberg

2. Auxesis
 Greek word meaning increase or amplification
 Arranging words or clauses in a sequence of
increasing force
 Rhetorical term for a gradual increase in intensity
of meaning with words arranged in ascending
order of force or importance
 A figure of speech in which something is referred
to in terms that are disproportionately large
 (a kind of exaggeration or hyperbole)
 a useful tool for magnifying the significance of an
idea

3. Examples of Auxesis
 “Look at this wound!!!” -said of a scratch
 (exaggeration)
 Edgar Allan Poe: “Deep into that darkness
peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dare to
dream.”
 (increasing order of force or importance)
 Shakespeare: “Since brass, nor stone, nor earth,
nor boundless sea, But sad mortality o’ver-sways
their power.”
 (increasing order of force or importance)

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5. Amplification
 Repetition of a word or expression while adding
more detail, in order to emphasize what might
otherwise be over-looked
 Calls attention to, emphasizes and expands a word
or idea to make sure the listener realizes its
importance or centrality in the discussion
 The act and the means of extending thoughts or
statements to increase rhetorical effect, to add
importance, or to make the most of a thought or
circumstance.

6. Examples of Amplification
 In my hunger after ten days of rigorous dieting I
saw visions of ice cream--mountains of creamy,
luscious ice cream, dripping with gooey syrup
and calories.
 This orchard, this lovely, shady orchard, is the
main reason I bought this property.
 He showed a rather simple taste, a taste for good
art, good food, and good friends

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8. Litotes
 A concious understatement in which an
affirmative is expressed by negating its
opposite
In other words…
 A double negative creating a positive
statement OR a double positive creating a
negative statement

9. Examples of Litotes
2 negatives= a positive
 Not bad (good)
 Bad ass (cool)
 Not ugly (pretty)

10. Litotes
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11. to summarize….
 Auxesis and amplification are quite similar
 Auxesis- gradual increase in intensity of meaning
with words arranged in ascending order of force or
importance
 Amplification- calls attention to a word or idea by
extending a thought so the listener identifies its
importance
 Litotes- a double negative that creates a positive
statement (and vice versa)