Figures of Speech
Figures of speech are the way of expression of ideas, thoughts or specialized opinions in non-literary language producing a greater effect. This art of expressive language is classified into various forms.
Simile:
It is a way of expression wherein there is a comparison between two things of a different kind but having one common idea. Usually, it is expressed using words like ‘like’; ‘as’ and ‘so’.
For Example:
He fought like a lion in the war.
His brain is as soft as cheese.
The dark clouds will move and so will I.
Metaphor:
It is also another way of expression with a comparison between two objects of a different kind but a common idea. It is also called as an implied simile. Usually, it is NOT associated with words namely ‘like’; ‘as’; ‘so’.
For Example:
He is a lion in the war.
The camel is the ship of the desert.
Personification:
It is a way of expression wherein inanimate things and abstract concepts are given life and intelligence like human beings.
For Example:
The flowers are dancing in the rain.
The anger is holding his hands.
Apostrophe:
It expresses the direct addressing to the dead, or to the absent or to the thing or notion which is personified.
For example:
O death! where is thy sting?
James! you should be living at this hour.
Hyperbole:
It is a way to emphasize our opinions and ideas by an overstatement.
For Example:
If the river were dry, I am able to fill with my tears.
The manager gave me tons of work to do.
Euphemism:
It is a figure of speech where there is a description of disagreeable fact with the agreeable term.
For Example:
He has fallen asleep forever. ( i.e. he is dead)
He is a differentially abled person. (i.e. he is handicapped)
Antithesis:
It refers to the words or sentiments which are contradictory to each other are made in one sentence.
For Example:
Man Proposes, God Disposes
Many were called, but few arrived.
Oxymoron:
It is a literary device in which two opposite words or sentiments are joined together to create an effect.
For Example:
Parting is such a sweet sorrow.
She accepted their kind cruelty.
Epigram:
It is an expression of antithetical ideas which captures attention.
For Example:
The art lies in hiding the art.
The child is the father of the man.
Irony:
It is a literary device where the real meaning of the expression is an exactly the opposite of which is conveyed. The irony is usually of three categories; verbal; situational and dramatic.
For Example:
If a person is stuck in a hurricane and he says” What a nice calm weather it is!”
The police station is robbed. (situational)
Pun:
It is the usage of words in such a way that it is capable of more than one application, the words would produce the ludicrous effect.
For Example
You were right so I left.
Geometry is so pointless.
Synecdoche:
It is a figure of speech which designates in two types of expressions; a part which implies the whole meaning or the whole for a part.
For Example:
The pen is mightier than the sword.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Transferred Epithet:
It is a way of expression in which an epithet is transferred from a noun to describe another noun in the sentence.
For Example:
She passed a sleepless night.
Lord Ullin reached the fatal shore.
Interrogation:
It is a way of expression of ideas through questions for the sake of getting answers.
For Example:
Can you be sick for a home never seen?
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Exclamation:
It is a literary device which makes an exclamatory statement to emphasize its ideas.
For Example:
What a piece of work is man!
Life is not a joke!
Climax:
It is a figure of speech where the series of ideas are arranged in increasing order of importance.
For Example:
He ran into the house, searched the wardrobe, found a small envelope and took it along.
The party was simple, austere and sublime.
Anti-climax:
It is a figure of speech which arranges the ideas and thoughts in decreasing order of importance. It is mostly used as a ridicule.
For Example:
Here thou, great Marie! Whom all the courtesans obey, the citizens adore.
We have discovered this huge cave after struggling through the woods and researching in the libraries.