RHETORICAL DEVICES

Litotes is a trope
Litotes, derived from a Greek word meaning “simple”, is a figure of speech which employs an understatement by using double negatives or, in other words, positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite expressions.

HOW ARE THEY USED

• Litotes is a fancy name for a common twist of the language where a person expresses an affirmative by negating its contrary. In effect, this is a double negative. -When twists, such as this, are put into language, it often acts as a form of apologetic, expressing a certain amount of embarrassment at having to say this thing. -Twists also make the listener think harder to work out what is really being said. This can be deliberate use of confusion or seeking to sustain attention.

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