FIGURES OF SPEECH
We use figures of speech in "figurative
language" to add color and interest, and to awaken the imagination.
A figure of speech is a word or phrase that
possesses a separate meaning from its literal definition. It can be a metaphor
or simile, designed to make a comparison. It can be the repetition of alliteration
or the exaggeration of hyperbole to provide a dramatic effect.
The purpose of learning Figures of Speech is to make you aware, as
writers, of the power and degrees of choice you have when using it in English.
SIMILE
A Simile shows a likeness or comparison between
two objects or events. A simile is usually introduced with the words- like, as,
as……..so. A simile is a comparison between two unlike things using the words
"like" or "as”. Similes and metaphors are often confused with
one another. The main difference between a simile and metaphor is that a
simile uses the words "like" or "as" to draw a comparison
and a metaphor simply states the comparison without using "like"
or "as".
Examples:
He is as sober as a judge.
As slippery as an eel.
Like peas in a pod.
As blind as a bat.
Eats like a pig.
As wise as an owl.
You were as brave as a lion.
They fought like cats and dogs.
He is as funny as a barrel of monkeys.
This house is as clean as a whistle.
He is as strong as an ox.
Your explanation is as clear as mud.
Watching the show was like watching grass grow.
That is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.
This contract is as solid as the ground we stand on.
She is as pretty as a picture.
The story was as dull as ditch water.
METAPHOR
A Metaphor is like a simile. Two objects are
compared, without the words ‘as or like’. It is an implied simile. A metaphor makes
a comparison between two unlike things or ideas.
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase
is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
A metaphor is a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison
between two things that aren't alike but do have something in common.
Unlike a simile, where two things are compared directly using like or as,
a metaphor's comparison is more indirect, usually made by stating
something is something else.
Examples:
She was a tower of strength in their trouble.
Heart of stone.
Time is money.
The world is a stage.
She's a night owl.
He's a giant.
She was fishing for compliments.
His classroom was a zoo.
The alligator's teeth are white daggers.
She is a peacock.
My teacher is a dragon.
Mary's eyes were fireflies.
The computers at school are old dinosaurs.
He is a night owl.
Maria is a chicken.
The wind was a howling wolf.
The ballerina was a swan, gliding across the stage.
He was a lion in the battlefield.
PERSONIFICATION
Personification gives human qualities to
non-living things or ideas. Personification is a type of metaphor and
a common literary tool. It is when you assign the qualities of a person to
something that isn’t human or that isn't even alive, such as nature or household
items.
In Personification non-living objects,
abstract ideas or qualities are spoken of as persons or human-beings.
Examples
1. The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.
2. The run-down house appeared depressed.
3. The first rays of morning tiptoed through the
meadow.
4. She did not realize that opportunity was knocking at her
door.
5. He did not realize that his last chance was walking out the
door.
6. The bees played hide and seek with the flowers as they buzzed
from one to another.
7. The wind howled its mighty objection.
8. The snow swaddled the earth like a mother would her infant
child.
9. The river swallowed the earth as the water continued to rise
higher and higher. 10. Time flew and before we knew it, it was time for
me to go home.
11. Necessity knows no law.
12. Hope springs eternal
13. Let the floods clap their hands.
14. I kissed the hand of death.
APOSTROPHE
An Apostrophe is a development of
personification in which the writer addresses absent or inanimate objects,
concept or ideas as if they were alive and could reply. In literature,
apostrophe is a figure of speech sometimes represented by an exclamation, such
as “Oh.” A writer or speaker, using apostrophe, speaks directly to
someone who is not present or is dead, or speaks to an inanimate object.
Apostrophe - when a character in a literary work speaks
to an object, an idea, or someone who doesn't exist as if it is a living
person. This is done to produce dramatic effect and to show the importance of
the object or idea.
Examples of Apostrophe:
1. Fair daffodils, we weep to see you haste away so soon”.
2. Oh, rose, how sweet you smell and how bright you look!
3. Car, please get me to work today.
4. Oh, trees, how majestic you are as you throw down your golden
leaves.
5. Dear love, please don't shoot me with your Cupid's bow.
6. Feet, don't fail me now.
7. Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?
Come, let me clutch thee! I have thee not, yet I see thee still! Macbeth
8. Out, out, damned spot. Macbeth
9. Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree, how lovely are your
branches.
10. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.
11. Then come sweet death, and rid me of this grief. Edward II, Marlowe
12. O wind, where have you been?
13. Lead, Kindly light, amid the encircling gloom.
OXYMORON
An oxymoron is two contradictory terms used together.
An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing
words that seem to contradict each other. It's often referred to as an opposition
in terms. As with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of
purposes. Sometimes they're used to create a little bit of drama for the
reader; sometimes they're used to make a person stop and think, whether
that's to laugh or to wonder.
An Oxymoron is when two terms or words are
used together in a sentence but they seem to contradict each-other. Oxymoron is
a statement which, on the surface, seems to contradict itself - a kind of crisp
contradiction. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately
uses two differing ideas. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the
reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the
whole.
A common oxymoron is the phrase "the
same difference." This phrase qualifies as an oxymoron because the
words "same" and "difference" have opposite meanings.
Bringing them together into one phrase produces a verbally puzzling, yet
engaging, effect.
Examples
Life is bitter sweet.
Act naturally
Alone together
Amazingly awful
Bittersweet
Clearly confused
Dark light
Deafening silence
Definitely maybe
Farewell reception
"I like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief." - Charles
Lamb
"I can believe anything, provided that it is quite
incredible." - Oscar Wilde
"And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true." - Alfred
Tennyson
"Modern dancing is so old fashioned." - Samuel Goldwyn
"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business."
- Henry Ford
"I am a deeply superficial person." - Andy Warhol
"We're busy doing nothing." - Bing Crosby
He is the wisest fool of them all.
He was condemned to a living death.
ANTITHESIS
In Antithesis, one word or idea is set in
direct contrast against another, for emphasis. It is a combination of two
words, phrases, clauses, or sentences contrasted in meaning to offer a
highlight to contrasting ideas. Antithesis occurs when you place two different
or opposite ideas near each other.
Examples
United we stand, divided we fall.
To err is human, to forgive is divine.
We look for light, but all is darkness.
PUN
A pun is a joke that makes a play on words. A
pun makes use of words that have more than one meaning, or words that
sound similar but have different meanings, to humorous effect. The rhetorical term
for punning is paronomasia, which literally means "to call a different
name”.
Pun is a word or phrase used in two different
senses. It is usually used in plays where one word has two different meanings
and is used to create humor. Pun is a play of words – either their different
meanings or upon two different words sounding the same. Humorous use of a word
to suggest different meanings or of words of the same sound and different
meanings create humor and interest while reading also.
Puns rely on several types of words to work
words that are similar in spelling, sound or meaning, such as homophones, homonyms,
and homographs. The examples of puns below will help you get an idea of how
puns work and maybe inspire you to make your own puns.
Examples
She had a photographic memory but never developed it.
The grammarian was very logical. He had a lot of comma sense.
A chicken farmer's favorite car is a coupe.
I've been to the dentist many times so I know the drill.
What did one plant say to another? What's stomata?
A chicken crossing the road is truly poultry in motion.
The politician is not one for Indian food. But he's good at currying
favors.
How do construction workers party? They raise the roof.
A boiled egg every morning is hard to beat.
A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is too tired.
A boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. His grandmother
phoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, 'No change yet.'
Truly, Sir, all that I live by is with the awl; I meddle with no
tradesman's matters, nor women's matters, but
with awl.
Is life worth living? That depends on the liver
IRONY
Irony is when one thing is said which means
the exact opposite. With irony the words used suggest the OPPOSITE of their
literal meaning. The effect of irony, however, can depend upon the tone of
voice and the context. It is humorous or lightly sarcastic mode of speech.
Words are used here to convey a meaning contrary to their literal meaning. An ironic remark implies a double / dual view
of things (a literal meaning, and a different intention) Irony can be used to
create amusement - unlike Sarcasm. When used to taunt or ridicule, Irony is
called Sarcasm.
Examples
Here under leave of Brutus and the rest, for Brutus is an honorable man,
so are they all, all honorable men.
The fire station burned down last night.
As soft as concrete
As clear as mud
He was suspended for his little mishap.
The homeless survived in their cardboard palaces.
CLIMAX
Climax is a figure of speech which rises in steps like a ladder from
simple to more important.
Examples
He came, he saw, he conquered.
He ran fast; He came first in the race; He was awarded a prize.
Lost, broken, wrecked and dead within an hour.
ANTICLIMAX
It is an arrangement of words in order of decreasing importance. Often,
it is used to ridicule.
Examples
The soldier fights for glory, and a shilling a day.
She lost her husband, her children and her purse.
He is a great philosopher, a member of parliament and plays golf well.
HYPERBOLE
Hyperbole uses exaggeration for emphasis or
effect. Hyperbole, from a Greek word meaning "excess," is a
figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point or show
emphasis. It is the opposite of understatement.
Hyperbole is an exaggeration and things are
made to appear greater or lesser than they usually are. Hyperbole is a literary device often
used in poetry, and is frequently encountered in casual speech.
Occasionally, newspapers and other media use hyperbole when speaking of an
accident, to increase the impact of the story. You can find examples of
hyperbole in literature and everyday speech. You wouldn't want to use it in nonfiction
works, like reports or research papers, but it's perfect for creative writing
and communication, especially when you want to add color to a character or
humor to a story.
Examples
The burglar ran as fast as lightning.
I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
I have a million things to do today.
When I was young, I had to walk 15 miles to school, uphill, in the
snow.
I had a ton of homework.
If I can't buy that perfect prom dress, I'll die!
He's as skinny as a toothpick.
The car went faster than the speed of light.
His new car cost a bazillion dollar.
We're so poor we don't have two cents to rub together.
That joke is so old, the last time I heard it I was riding a
dinosaur.
They ran like greased lightning.
He's got tons of money.
You could have knocked me over with a feather.
Her brain is the size of a pea.
My geography teacher is older than the hills.
The professor's ideas are as old as the hills.
The troops were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions.
Her brain is the size of a pea.
I have told you a million times not to lie!
ALLITERATION
Alliteration is the repetition of the
beginning sounds of neighboring words. Alliteration is a series of words
that begin with the same letter. Alliteration consists of the repetition of a
sound or of a letter at the beginning of two or more words.
Examples
Dirty dogs dig in the dirt.
She sells seashells.
Walter wondered where Winnie was.
Blue baby bonnets bobbed through the bayou.
Nick needed new notebooks.
Fred fried frogs' legs on Friday.
Becky's beagle barked and bayed, becoming bothersome for Billy.
Can you keep the cat from clawing the couch? It's creating chaos.
Dan's dog dove deep in the dam, drinking dirty water as he dove.
Fred's friends fried Fritos for Friday's food.
Cute cats cooking carrots.
Some slimy snakes were slowly slithering.
Purple pandas painted pictures
White whales waiting in the water.
ONOMATOPOEIA
Onomatopoeia is the term for a word that
sounds like what it is describing.
The word onomatopoeia comes from the
combination of two Greek words, onoma meaning
"name" and poiein meaning
"to make," so onomatopoeia literally means "to make a name (or
sound)." That is to say that the word means nothing more than the sound
it makes. The word booing, for
example, is simply a sound effect, but one that is very useful in making writing
or storytelling more expressive and vivid.
Examples
Water sounds - Words
related to water or other liquids often begin with sp- or dr-. Words that indicate
a small amount of liquid often end in –le (sprinkle/drizzle).
Bloop
Splash
Spray
Sprinkle
Squirt
Vocal sounds -
Sounds that come from the back of the throat tend to start with a gr- sound, whereas
sounds that come out of the mouth, through the lips, tongue and teeth, often
begin with mu-.
Giggle
Growl
Grunt
Gurgle
Mumble
Murmur
Zip goes the jacket
" Zip" is an onomatopoeia word because it sounds like a jacket is
zipping up.
"Zip" is an example of onomatopoeia because it sounds like
what it is. When you zip up a zipper the sound the zipper makes sounds like a
zipper. Here are other onomatopoeia words:
Boom, bang, slash, slurp,
gurgle, meow, and woof
ASSONANCE
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds
(not just letters) in words that are close together. The sounds don't have
to be at the beginning of the word. Many examples of assonance can be
found in prose and poetry. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in
nearby words. It is used to reinforce the meanings of words or to set the
mood.
Examples
A - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named
Lenore.
E - Therefore, all seasons shall be sweet to thee.
I - From what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor
fire.
O - Oh hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn. (Wordsworth)
U - Uncertain rustling of each purple curtain (Poe)
"Hear the mellow wedding bells" by Edgar Allen Poe
"Try to light the fire"
"I lie down by the side of my bride"/"Fleet feet sweep by
sleeping geese"/"Hear the lark and harkens to the barking of
the dark fox gone to ground" by Pink Floyd
"It's hot and it's monotonous." by Sondheim
"The crumbling thunder of seas" by Robert Louis Stevenson
SYNECDOCHE
Synecdoche occurs when a part is represented
by the whole or, conversely, the whole is represented by the part. A synecdoche
(pronounced si-nek-duh-kee) is a member of the figurative language family. It's
an odd word for what is simply using part of a whole to represent the
whole. If you said "check out my new wheels," "wheels"
is an example of synecdoche, used to refer to a "car." A part of a
car, in this example, represents the whole of the car.
A synecdoche may use part of something to
represent the whole. It's actually very common in the English language for
part of something reference the whole.
Examples:
The word "sails" is often used to refer to a whole ship.
The phrase "hired hands" can be used to refer to workers.
The word "head" can refer to counting cattle or people.
The word "bread" can be used to represent food in general or
money
The word "wheels" refers to a vehicle.
The word "boots" refers to soldiers.
The word "bubbly" refers to champagne.
The word "glasses" refer to eyewear.
