Questions are normally asked to exact an answer, but there are questions that do not expect answers. What type of questions are they? They are rhetorical questions. Let us learn the meaning and definition of rhetorical questions and how they are formed and used in various contexts in this article. Read through the examples given to have a clearer understanding of the same.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Rhetorical Question? – Meaning and Definition
- How to Form Rhetorical Questions?
- Types of Rhetorical Questions
- Examples of Rhetorical Questions
- Check Your Understanding of Rhetorical Questions
- Frequently Asked Questions on Rhetorical Questions
What Is a Rhetorical Question? – Meaning and Definition
A rhetorical question is a figure of speech which takes the form of an interrogative sentence. The only difference it has from an interrogative sentence is that it does not look to derive any answer. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a rhetorical question as one that is “asked only to make a statement or to produce an effect rather than to get an answer”. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms defines a rhetorical question as “a question asked for the sake of persuasive effect rather than as a genuine request for information, the speaker implying that the answer is too obvious to require a reply”.
How to Form Rhetorical Questions?
If a question does not need to be answered, is it a question at all? Why does it not need to be answered? That is because the answer is mostly obvious. Sometimes, the question is sarcastic, hence means the opposite. Such a question is meant to create a better effect than a normal sentence would do. These are the points you ought to bear in mind when forming a rhetorical question.
Take a look at the following section and understand the types of rhetorical questions.
Types of Rhetorical Questions
There are three main functions of rhetorical questions – engage the audience by posing a question and providing them with the answer, emphasise something, and evoke a reaction. The types of rhetorical questions are also based on these three functions. Let us look at each of these in detail.
Anthypophora
The practice of asking a question to oneself and answering it immediately is termed anthypophora.
For example:
What was I thinking? I guess I was not.
Hypophora
Hypophora or rogatio is a figure of speech in which one raises a question and answers it. Hypophora is often confused with anthypophora as both are similar. The only difference is that anthypophora is a question one asks oneself, as in a soliloquy or a monologue, whereas hypophora is a question asked to the reader or listener but answered by the writer/speaker themselves.
For example:
What is our role in causing global warming? The overuse of vehicles. Well, can we stop using our vehicles for transportation? No.
Epiplexis
Questions used to admonish or rebuke someone or something and not to elicit any answers are said to provide the effect called epiplexis.
For example:
Were you even thinking when you signed the nomination forms?
Erotesis
A form of rhetorical question that is used to deny or affirm something strongly is termed erotesis.
For example:
Don’t you want to get somewhere in life?
Examples of Rhetorical Questions
Looking at multiple examples will help you comprehend the kind of effect produced by rhetorical questions. Analyse them and use the figure of speech in your speech and writing too.
Examples of Rhetorical Questions from Literature
- “Was this the face that launched a thousand ships
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?” (‘Dr. Faustus’ by Christopher Marlowe)
- “For what can war but endless war still breed?” (‘Sonnet 15: Fairfax, whose name in arms through Europe rings” by John Milton)
- “Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap’d furrow sound asleep” (‘To Autumn’ by John Keats)
- “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” (‘Ode to the West Wind’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
- “How now, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,
Lest you may mar your fortunes.” (‘King Lear’ by William Shakespeare)
Examples of Rhetorical Questions from Movies, TV Shows and Songs
Example 1:
In the following example, you will see a series of rhetorical questions followed by an answer. All these questions are meant to create an effect and set the emotion.
“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from cavin’ in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams, but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there’s still a chance for you?
‘Cause there’s a spark in you
You just gotta ignite the light.” (‘Firework’ – a song by Katy Perry)
Example 2:
The following lines are part of a song called ‘The Next Right Thing’ from the movie ‘Frozen 2’. There are two rhetorical questions in these – ‘Can there be a day beyond this night?’ and ‘How to rise from the floor, when it’s not you I’m rising for?’.
“Can there be a day beyond this night?
I don’t know anymore what is true
I can’t find my direction, I’m all alone
The only star that guided me was you
How to rise from the floor
When it’s not you I’m rising for?
Just do the next right thing
Take a step, step again
It is all that I can to do
The next right thing.”
Example 3:
In the TV show F.R.I.E.N.D.S., there is a scene where Ross goes to a tanning salon to get a tan just like his sister Monica did. The situation goes awry when he counts wrongly. Later, he comes back to the apartment and complains to Chandler about the mishap, to which Chandler replies sarcastically with the use of a rhetorical question.
Ross: “I went to the tanning place your wife suggested!”
Chandler: “Was that place the Sun?”
Example 4:
In the movie, ‘Aladdin’, Aladdin rubs the lamp and Genie makes his appearance, but Aladdin does not seem to have any idea of what’s going on. Genie then proposes a series of rhetorical questions as he is not able to fathom the thought that Aladdin knows nothing about him, the magic lamp or that he can fulfil his wishes.
“You really don’t know who I am? Genie? Wishes? Lamp? None of that ringing a bell?”
Example 5:
In the movie, ‘The Little Mermaid’, the song ‘Part of Your World’ has multiple rhetorical questions. It is an expression of all that Ariel (the Little Mermaid) thinks of her life under the sea and her longing to live on land.
“Isn’t it neat?
Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?
Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl
The girl who has everything?”
“When’s it my turn?
Wouldn’t I love, love to explore that shore up above?”
Examples of Rhetorical Questions Used in Everyday Communication
- Is that really your plan? Climb down the terrace?
- Do you want to be late for school?
- How is it even possible to find it now?
- Am I not the one who has it all?
- Have you ever stood up for yourself? This is your chance.
Check Your Understanding of Rhetorical Questions
Identify whether the following sentences are interrogative sentences or rhetorical questions.
1. Don’t you think she looks pretty?
2. What would I do without you?
3. Will we ever find our way out of here?
4. How many people would be attending the reception?
5. What is it that’s disturbing me? I do not know.
6. Where is the railway station?
7. What was your question?
8. Who would say no to a million dollars?
9. Have you ever thought about what would happen if this continues? Don’t you want to live longer on this planet?
10. Can you help me?
You can check the answers given below to find out if you have identified the rhetorical questions correctly.
1. Don’t you think she looks pretty? – Interrogative sentence
2. What would I do without you? – Rhetorical question
3. Will we ever find our way out of here? – Rhetorical question
4. How many people would be attending the reception? – Interrogative sentence
5. What is it that’s disturbing me? I do not know. – Rhetorical question
6. Where is the railway station? – Interrogative sentence
7. What was your question? – Interrogative sentence
8. Who would say no to a million dollars? – Rhetorical question
9. Have you ever thought about what would happen if this continues? Don’t you want to live longer on this planet? – Rhetorical question
10. Can you help me? – Interrogative sentence
Frequently Asked Questions on Rhetorical Questions
What is a rhetorical question?
A rhetorical question is an interrogative sentence that does not require an answer. It is only meant to create an impact and not necessarily to derive an answer.
What is the difference between an interrogative sentence and a rhetorical question?
The only difference a rhetorical question has from an interrogative sentence is that it does not look to derive any answer.
What is the definition of a rhetorical question?
The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a rhetorical question as one that is “asked only to make a statement or to produce an effect rather than to get an answer”. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms defines a rhetorical question as “a question asked for the sake of persuasive effect rather than as a genuine request for information, the speaker implying that the answer is too obvious to require a reply”.
Give 3 examples of rhetorical questions.
- What was I thinking? I guess I was not.
- Is that really your plan? Climb down the terrace?
- Do you want to be late for school?
