Example of Rhetoric

An oratorical type of speech, using emotive or highly charged statements to persuade an audience. It's commonly used in propaganda, and political speeches for promoting political positions. The term therefore also has a negative connotation, where it refers to a dishonest statement. In its classical form rhetoric was more abstracted, using philosophical concepts. This usage is the origin of the 'rhetorical question', a question asked to support the rhetoric. It was used extensively in ancient Greek literature and history, explaining the positions of characters in narratives through speeches.