Rhetorical Devices in Writing. Here are examples of rhetorical devices with a definition and an example: 1  Alliteration-the recurrence of initial consonant sounds-rubber baby buggy bumpers. 2  Allusion-a reference to an event, literary work or person-I can’t do that because I am not Superman. Allusion-a reference to an event, literary work or person-I can’t do that because I am not Superman. 2  Amplification-repeats a word or expression for emphasis-Love, real love, takes time. 3  Analogy-compares two different things that have some similar characteristics-He is flaky as a snowstorm.