THE PRAGMATIC FUNCTIONS OF ASSERTIVE RHETORICAL QUESTIONS IN LITERATURE

Abstract

This article explores the pragmatic functions of assertive rhetorical questions in literature, focusing on how authors use them to convey statements indirectly, engage readers, and enhance narrative style. Assertive rhetorical questions are not intended to elicit answers; rather, they presuppose the truth of the statement and serve to emphasize key ideas, reveal character thoughts, and highlight moral or thematic points. The study analyzes examples from well-known literary works, including “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, and “The Hobbit”. The analysis demonstrates that assertive rhetorical questions are a flexible and effective literary and pragmatic device, contributing to stylistic sophistication, cognitive engagement, and indirect assertion of meaning.