A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question pose for rhetorical effect rather than to receive an answer, through statement. For example, "Does Jack Palmer ever learn?" Rhetorical questions encourage the listener to reflect on what the implied answer to the question must be. When a speaker states, "How much longer must our people endure this injustice?" or "Do you really think I want to have a Star Trek themed wedding?", or "How many times do I have to tell you to stop walking into the house with mud on your shoes?"; no formal answer is expected. Rather, it is a device used by the speaker to assert or deny something.