Hypophora | Definition & Examples

When a writer or speaker poses a question and then answers it immediately, this is called hypophora. It is a useful technique for keeping the audience engaged, answering their questions before they are asked, and directing their thoughts in a particular direction.

It is quite common to find hypophora in speeches, advertising, and prose.

Hypophora definition

The general understanding is that hypophora is a figure of speech where the speaker or writer poses a question and then immediately answers it. Some authorities suggest that the posing of the question is hypophora and the answer is anthypophora or antiphora.

Hypophora is a rhetorical device that is used to persuade the listener or reader by either anticipating (and answering) their questions or by diverting their thoughts in the direction the speaker wishes. It gives at least the impression that the speaker wants to answer rather than avoid questions.

The answer might be given in a single sentence, a whole paragraph, or there might be a series of questions, each answered in turn.

Why is hypophora used?

There are a number of reasons why a speaker or writer uses hypophora. These include:

• Answering questions not yet considered by the audience, thus seeming on top of their subject
• Anticipating the audience’s questions, thereby reassuring them
• Emphasizing a point
• Directing the thoughts of the audience in a new direction

Hypophora vs rhetorical questions

Hypophora is not the same as a rhetorical question. Although both involve asking questions that the audience is not expected to answer, they are quite different.

Hypophora asks a question that the speaker or author answers for the purpose of furthering their own argument or diverting attention from problems with it.

A rhetorical question expects no response, but that is largely because the answer is self-evident in the question. When Chief Inspector Dreyfuss in The Return of the Pink Panther asks the hapless Inspector Clouseau, “How does an idiot become a policeman?” it is so obvious that he considers Clouseau to be an idiot, so the humor is supplied by the unsolicited answer, “Well, that is quite simple, all he has to do is enlist …” It is a rhetorical question, so Dreyfuss was not expecting an answer.

Hypophora examples

There are several fields where hypophora can be used effectively. In Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, for instance, Pozzo uses hypophora to try to reassure Vladimir and Estragon that he is not mistreating Lucky. He anticipates their misgivings and follows the logic of their supposed argument.

Hypophora is an invaluable tool for the speech writer because it helps to guide the listener along the speaker’s chosen path. Take this example from Bill Clinton’s speech to Johns Hopkins University in 2000 about the dilemma of international relations with China.

Hypophora is also a useful tool to bring emphasis to persuasive writing, as in the following example from The New York Times guest columnist Michael Grunwald.

Frequently asked questions about hypophora

What is an example of hypophora?

Hypophora is when a writer or speaker asks a question, and then immediately supplies the answer.

It is widely used in persuasive writing (e.g., “Why should the government listen to farmers? Because our lives literally depend on them”), speeches (e.g., “So the question is, what should you do now? Vote. And get others to vote. Tell your friends and your family to vote!”), and advertising (e.g., “Why choose Bentons? Because you won’t find better beds than Bentons!”).

Hypophora isn’t the same as a rhetorical question. With a rhetorical question, the answer is implied in the question (e.g., “How many times have I told you to turn off the lights?” where the implied answer is “too many”). With hypophora the questioner supplies the answer explicitly.

The Scribbr Paraphrasing Tool can help you experiment with different writing styles.