Exploring rhetorical figures as devices of communicative literary style in Filipino novels in English

This study investigated the rhetorical figures employed by Filipino authors in English-language novels as devices for producing communicative and expressive literary styles. It aimed to explore how these figures function to enhance persuasion, emotional depth, and cultural expression in Filipino literary works written in English. Anchored in a descriptive qualitative research design, the study examined five selected novels: Three Filipino Women, Magdalena, The Gangster of Love, Recuerdo, and Women in the House. Deductive and descriptive coding techniques were employed to identify and interpret the use of metaphor, irony, personification, euphemism, and hyperbole as rhetorical devices representing women’s experiences and sociocultural realities. The findings revealed that rhetorical figures play a pivotal role in shaping expressive literary styles that heighten emotional resonance, enhance persuasiveness, and reflect Filipino identity and values. Metaphor and irony were the most frequently used devices to convey complex emotions and critique social structures, while euphemism and personification contributed subtlety and vivid imagery to narrative expression. The study concluded that the rhetorical artistry of Filipino novelists contributes significantly to the communicative power of literature. Rhetorical figures not only embellish literary style but also function as strategic communicative tools that deepen meaning, foster critical engagement, and enrich readers’ understanding of gender, culture, and ideology in literary discourse. Key words: Rhetorical figures, expressive literary style, Filipino novels in English, qualitative analysis, figurative language.