What are rhetorical questions?

Rhetorical questions are questions that do not have an answer, or questions that have an obvious answer. The purpose of the question is not to get a direct answer from the readers. It is usually made to emphasize a point or draw the readers’ attention. This type is commonly used in literary writings. 

A rhetorical question can be used in daily language. It can be easily identified because of its position in the sentence. It occurs immediately after a comment made, and states the opposite of it. It aims at making the point more prominent. Question tags are considered as rhetorical questions.

“It is really cold today, isn’t it?”

“You don’t get the idea of the movie, do you?”

“Who knows?”

Rhetorical questions in literature are as important as those in the daily language and sometimes more important. The reason is that the presence of rhetorical questions in some of the famous literary lines would change the impact of the sentence on its audience. To understand this point better, read the following examples.

The Solitary Reaper (By William Wordsworth)

 “Will no one tell me what she sings?”

There is no answer expected to this question. The poet uses a rhetorical question instead of a plain statement in order to emphasize his feelings of pleasant surprise. In the usage of the rhetorical question in his poem, the meaning of the poem is enhanced.

The Merchant of Venice (By William Shakespeare)

“If you prick us, do we not bleed?
If you tickle us, do we not laugh?
If you poison us, do we not die?
And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?”

Shakespeare uses a series of rhetorical questions that don’t necessarily need answers. He leaves the questions lingering in the air to allow the reader to spend further time in contemplation.

A rhetorical question makes the idea more powerful and generates aesthetic beauty by the aroused interest of the readers urging them to continue reading. This style is used for rhetorical effect and a requirement in persuasive speeches. This style is used as an impressive persuasive device.

Some rhetorical questions do not have a clear and concise answer. They are asked to prompt contemplation, start a conversation, start a debate, or illustrate a person’s state of mind.

“What is the meaning of life?”

“What is the matter with kids today?”

“Why me?”

“Who cares?”

How to use rhetorical questions?

If you are using a rhetorical question in daily conversation, you should use it where you want to highlight an important point. Making a point in a form of a question makes a better impact on the audience. 

For example, if a parent wants to show his child the importance of education, he says to his child: “do you want to live in a basement for the rest of your life?”, there is an obvious answer for this questions and the point of the question should show the child the importance of education, and that good grades will get him into a good college to have a better paying job in the future.

A girl can tell her parents that she passed the bar exam and they would tell her “are you serious?” The question emphasizes the surprise of the news not questioning the validity of her information.

If you want to stir your audience, consider using rhetorical questions. It is a kind of literary devices that leaves your audience with your opinion hanging in the air. It is effective in hooking the readers’ attention and making them pause and think about the question and their own response to it. Utilizing rhetorical questions in writing might be to create drama or a certain impact on the readers. 

What are Rhetorical Questions and How to Use Them

What are Rhetorical Questions and How to Use Them

Rhetorical questions are asked to make a point rather than getting an answer. It is used for persuasion or for the literary effect. Click here to read more. What are rhetorical questions?Rhetorical questions are questions that do not have an answer, or questions that have an obvious answer. The purpose of the question is not to get a direct answer from the readers. It is usually made to emphasize a point or draw the readers’ attention. This type is commonly used in literary writings. A rhetorical question can be used in daily language. It can be easily identified because of its position in the sentence. It occurs immediately after a comment made, and states the opposite of it. It aims at making the point more prominent. Question tags are considered as rhetorical questions.“It is really cold today, isn’t it?”“You don’t get the idea of the movie, do you?”“Who knows?”Rhetorical questions in literature are as important as those in the daily language and sometimes more important. The reason is that the presence of rhetorical questions in some of the famous literary lines would change the impact of the sentence on its audience. To understand this point better, read the following examples.The Solitary Reaper (By William Wordsworth) “Will no one tell me what she sings?”There is no answer expected to this question. The poet uses a rhetorical question instead of a plain statement in order to emphasize his feelings of pleasant surprise. In the usage of the rhetorical question in his poem, the meaning of the poem is enhanced.The Merchant of Venice (By William Shakespeare)“If you prick us, do we not bleed?If you tickle us, do we not laugh?If you poison us, do we not die?And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?”Shakespeare uses a series of rhetorical questions that don’t necessarily need answers. He leaves the questions lingering in the air to allow the reader to spend further time in contemplation.A rhetorical question makes the idea more powerful and generates aesthetic beauty by the aroused interest of the readers urging them to continue reading. This style is used for rhetorical effect and a requirement in persuasive speeches. This style is used as an impressive persuasive device.Some rhetorical questions do not have a clear and concise answer. They are asked to prompt contemplation, start a conversation, start a debate, or illustrate a person’s state of mind.“What is the meaning of life?”“What is the matter with kids today?”“Why me?”“Who cares?”How to use rhetorical questions?If you are using a rhetorical question in daily conversation, you should use it where you want to highlight an important point. Making a point in a form of a question makes a better impact on the audience. For example, if a parent wants to show his child the importance of education, he says to his child: “do you want to live in a basement for the rest of your life?”, there is an obvious answer for this questions and the point of the question should show the child the importance of education, and that good grades will get him into a good college to have a better paying job in the future.A girl can tell her parents that she passed the bar exam and they would tell her “are you serious?” The question emphasizes the surprise of the news not questioning the validity of her information.If you want to stir your audience, consider using rhetorical questions. It is a kind of literary devices that leaves your audience with your opinion hanging in the air. It is effective in hooking the readers’ attention and making them pause and think about the question and their own response to it. Utilizing rhetorical questions in writing might be to create drama or a certain impact on the readers.