The rhetorical question is a stylistic device of rhetoric. Viewed externally, a rhetorical question does not differ from an ordinary question. The main difference is that it does not require an answer from the other. It assumes that the answer is obvious. Thus it can anticipate a statement and influence the conversation.
Anyone who asks a rhetorical question does not ask for information but tries to influence the opposite. Thus, the stylistic figure is at best to be interpreted at first sight as a question and in its function is closer to a claim or statement. Let’s look at an example.
Eva finished off yesterday with me.
Did not I tell you?
The above example shows nicely what this style figure is all about. The first sentence is a clear statement that informs the conversation partner that Eva ended the relationship yesterday. Obviously, this is followed by a question which is not at all genuine.
In principle, there could also be: “I told you so!”, Which makes it clear that the question is merely camouflaged as such and is therefore itself a statement.
The rhetorical question is thus a mock question, and basically the answer itself already. It is used to make a statement particularly emphatic. The answer to the question is determined by questioning, which makes it self-evident.
Difference between rhetorical and real question
Note: This is why the rhetorical question is also referred to as a spurious question, since it is not a response, but an emphasis on the positive or negative excitation of a statement.
Questions and rhetorical questions
As described, a question usually serves to obtain information and thus close a knowledge gap. We distinguish between direct and indirect questions.
A direct question (“Who are you?”) Ends with a question mark and can clearly be distinguished from other sentences. The indirect question is posed as a subsidiary question and is not formulated as an independent question (“I would be interested in who you are”). It therefore comes without question marks.
The rhetorical question seems like a direct question that has been asked to obtain information. In contrast to the direct question, however, it is not intended to close any knowledge gap and therefore can not be regarded as a question in the actual sense. It only reminds you of a really question through the question mark.
The rhetorical question is not a question, nor does it form a question-sentence type. It is in fact a statement and has only common questions with common questions.
Examples of the rhetorical question
To illustrate the stylistic means, we would like to give you some examples. Let us start with one of the most common examples of the stylistic figure: the first speech against Catilina of Cicero
How long, Catilina, will you abuse our patience?
This sentence is the beginning of the first speech against Catilina and consists of the simple question of how long patience should be strained. There is basically no answer. The author, in this case Cicero, says that our patience was abused by Catilina and hides this statement in a direct question which we thus identify as a rhetorical question.
Can you clean up that, honey?
Do I look like I’m your cleaning lady?
The above example implies the answer itself: namely, a no. The respondent could indeed answer that he thinks that the questioner looks like his maid, but of course it does not matter. The questioner does not want to have an answer or there is no real choice, whereby the “no” is requested and the asked is almost put into the mouth.
Are you bitchy?
Let us assume for this example that the question is posed in a particular context. Imagine a teacher entering the classroom and seeing on his arrival that the entire student body has devastated the classroom. The rhetorical question of the teacher is not particularly polite, but includes his opinion. As a result, the teacher could simply say, “You’re crazy!”, Which would not change the statement.
Further examples of the rhetorical question
Who’s perfect?
How many people still have to die?
Are you still in mind?
Do you want to miss this opportunity?
Does not every mistake make?
Who still believes that?
Effect of the rhetorical question
In principle, it is extremely difficult to assign a unique function to a stylistic device. Then there is the danger of simply breaking down on this function and not paying attention to the overall context. Nevertheless, there is often a reason for the use.
Function, effect and effect of the rhetorical
