Hypophora | Definition & Examples

Hypophora is a technique in which a speaker or writer poses a question and immediately provides an answer. Hypophora is used to keep an audience engaged, anticipate their questions, and steer their thoughts in the direction the writer or speaker wants. We often encounter hypophora in public speaking, prose, and advertising.

Hypophora example 
Why should we invest in renewable energy? Because it offers a sustainable solution to our growing energy needs while reducing harmful emissions and combating climate change.

Hypophora definition

Hypophora, also referred to as anthypophora, is a rhetorical device in which a speaker or writer answers their own question. Hypophora involves two parts:

  • The question: The speaker or writer raises a question, typically one that the audience might have in mind. Asking a question piques the audience’s interest and creates curiosity among them.
  • The answer: The speaker or writer promptly answers the question, creating a sense of interaction. Sometimes, there might be a short pause in between for effect.

Hypophora can be answered in a single sentence, a paragraph, or several paragraphs. It can also take the form of a series of questions, each answered in subsequent paragraphs. Depending on the context, hypophora serves different purposes, such as:

  • Anticipating the audience or the reader’s questions
  • Answering questions the audience or readers may not have yet considered
  • Steering the discussion into a new direction
  • Emphasizing a point

In all cases, hypophora is an effective way to capture the audience’s attention and create a conversational atmosphere.

Hypophora vs rhetorical questions

Hypophora should not be confused with rhetorical questions. Although they both take the form of interrogative sentences, they serve different purposes.

In hypophora, we raise a question and also provide the answer. This technique is used to engage an audience and guide their thoughts to a specific direction or conclusion. For example, “What makes snacks so irresistible? It is simple—snacks offer quick comfort, satisfy our cravings, and give us that little burst of energy to get through the day.”

With rhetorical questions, we raise a question without giving or expecting a direct answer, because it is already implied in the question. A rhetorical question is asked to make a point. For example, if someone asks, “How many times have I told you not to eat my snacks?”, they do not expect you to count the times; rather, their goal is to emphasize that you should stop doing that.

Hypophora examples

In the following lines from Henry IV, Falstaff, one of Shakespeare’s most well-known comic characters, delivers a speech before the battle questioning the value of honor. Falstaff asks a series of questions and immediately answers them, leading to the conclusion that honor is worthless, especially in the face of death in combat.

Hypophora example in Henry IV by Shakespeare
Can honor set to a leg? No. Or an arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound? No. Honor hath no skill in surgery, then? No. What is honor? A word. What is in that word “honor”? What is that “honor”? Air. A trim reckoning

Hypophora is often used in speeches to anticipate and address opponents’ criticism. In the excerpt below, Martin Luther King, Jr., turns a potentially accusatory question into an opportunity to highlight the injustices faced by African Americans and the civil rights movement’s goal.

Hypophora example in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech
“There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, ‘When will you be satisfied?’ We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities.”

Persuasive essays employ hypophora to guide the reader through a structured argument.

In the example below, the writer asks a question and immediately answers it, laying out clear reasons to support the argument for banning smartphones in schools.

Hypophora example in persuasive writing
Should smartphones be prohibited in schools? Absolutely. Restricting smartphone use could reduce distractions in the classroom, allowing students to focus more effectively on their studies. Moreover, it would encourage face-to-face interaction among students, fostering stronger social connections.

Frequently asked questions about hypophora

What is anthypophora?

Anthypophora, also known as hypophora, is a rhetorical device in which the speaker or writer raises a question and then answers it. For example, “How can we increase productivity? The answer lies in focus, organization, and prioritization.” Some sources distinguish between hypophora and anthypophora, with the first term denoting the question and the latter the answer.

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Kassiani Nikolopoulou, MSc

Kassiani has an academic background in Communication, Bioeconomy and Circular Economy. As a former journalist she enjoys turning complex information into easily accessible articles to help others.