scheme

In rhetoric, a scheme is a figure of speech that alters the typical arrangement or order of words for rhetorical effect. This is distinct from a trope, which substitutes one word for another or plays on word meanings. Schemes focus on the structure and shape of an argument or discourse.1

Examples of schemes include:
* Allegory: An extended metaphor where characters and events represent abstract ideas.1
* Parallelism: Using similar grammatical structures for related ideas.1
* Antithesis: Juxtaposing contrasting ideas.1
* Rhetorical Question: A question posed for effect, not requiring an answer.1

While schemes are structural, they work in conjunction with tropes to create a cohesive and impactful message. The term "scheme" can also refer to a plan or stratagem, often one that is clever or underhanded, to achieve a specific objective.12