Final answer:
The rhetorical device used in the excerpt is chiasmus, which reverses the grammatical structure for emphasis. It is distinct from other rhetorical devices like metaphors, similes, repetition, and parallelism, which are also used to enhance writing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rhetorical device used in the underlined portion of the excerpt is known as chiasmus. This device involves the reversal of grammatical structures in successive phrases or clauses for rhetorical effect. A classic example is from John Milton's Paradise Lost: "The mind is its place and in itself/Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n." Here, the phrase 'heaven of hell hell of heaven' employs a mirrored structure, effectively reversing the words and their associated ideas, thereby creating emphasis and reflection upon the original concepts.
Rhetorical devices like metaphors and similes are also commonly used to draw comparisons and create vivid imagery. A metaphor directly equates two things to highlight similarities, whereas a simile uses the words 'like' or 'as' to draw the comparison. Additionally, techniques such as repetition, parallelism, and rhetorical questions are important to notice in textual analysis, as they can add emphasis, balance, and persuasive effect.