| Figure Name | erotema |
| Source | Silva Rhetoricae; Ad Herennium 4.15.22 ("interrogatio"); Aquil. 11 ("erotema," "interrogatum"); Melanch. IR c7v ("interrogatio" "erotema"); Putt. (1589) 220 ("erotema," "questioner"); Day 1599 87 ("erotema," "interrogatio"); Peacham 1593 |
| Earliest Source | None |
| Synonyms | interrogatio, interrogatum, rogatio, the questioner |
| Etymology | Gk. "question" |
| Type | Chroma |
| Linguistic Domain |
Semantic |
| Definition |
1. The rhetorical question. To affirm or deny a point strongly by asking it as a question. Generally, as Melanchthon has noted, the rhetorical question includes an emotional dimension, expressing wonder, indignation, sarcasm, etc. (Silva Rhetoricae) 2. Erotema is a forme of speech by which the Orator doth affirme or deny somthing strongly. (Peacham) |
| Example |
1. Just why are you so stupid? (Silva Rhetoricae) 2. An example of Esay: “Are you not children of Adultery and a seed of dissimulation?” Esay.57. (Peacham) 2. “Is not thy wickednesse great, and thine ungratious deedes abominable?” Job.22. (Peacham) 2. “Doth God pervert the thing that is lawfull, or doth the Almighty pervert justice? can a rush be green without moisture, or may the grasse grow without water?” Job.8.3.11. that is to say, it cannot. (Peacham) |
| Kind Of | Opposition |
| Part Of | |
| Related Figures | epiplexis, pysma, anthypophora, irony, figures of refutation, figures of consultation |
| Notes | interrogatio appears to be the Latin name for erotema. |
| Confidence | Unconfident |
| Last Editor | Ashley Rose Kelly |
| Confidence | Unconfident |
| Editorial Notes | added figures, synonyms |
| Reviewed | No |