Ethopoeia is a rhetorical device in which a writer or speaker creates or imitates the character, manner of speaking, emotions, or habits of another person. It’s often used in speeches, drama, or literature to give voice to someone else and make their perspective vivid.
✅ Definition: The rhetorical technique of representing another person’s character, speech, or emotions as if speaking for them.
✅ Example:
- In a classroom debate, a student might say: “If I were the soldier on the battlefield, I would be thinking: ‘I fight not for myself, but for my country and family.’”
- In literature, an author might write a monologue in the voice of a historical figure, such as Julius Caesar reflecting on betrayal.
Ethopoeia is closely tied to characterization in drama and storytelling, because it shows the audience how someone else might think or feel.
And there it is! Now go ahead and use ethopoeia in your CXC prep/CSEC prep.
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