erotesis

Erotesis, also spelled erotesis, is a rhetorical figure consisting of a question posed by a speaker not primarily to elicit an answer, but to provoke thought, emphasize a point, or persuade an audience. The question may be direct or implicit and can carry ironical, argumentative, or emotional weight.

Etymology: from Ancient Greek erōtēsis (ερωτήσις), meaning “a question,” from erōtó (to ask). In classical rhetoric, erotesis was a common device across Greek and Roman oratory, used to engage listeners and frame an argument.

In practice, erotesis is closely related to the rhetorical question; however, some scholars distinguish it from hypophora, in which the speaker immediately answers the question. Erotesis may stand alone as a prompt for audience reflection, or it may precede an answer in the form of a following sentence.

Example: “Who could deny the power of a single act of kindness?” or “What is freedom if not the courage to question?” Such questions are intended to stimulate consideration or to underscore a point rather than to solicit information.

Modern usage: today, erotesis is commonly described as a rhetorical question in literary and linguistic contexts, and it remains a staple device in persuasive writing and oratory. While often used interchangeably with the broader term “rhetorical question,” erotesis can emphasize the performative or provocative aspect of posing a question to an audience.