FIGURES

OF
SPEECH

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
One meaning of "figure" is
"drawing" or "picture".
Figurative language creates
pictures in the mind of the
reader or listener. These
pictures help convey the
meaning faster and more vividly
than words alone.

He
He

ran fast. (Literal)

ran like the wind.

(Figurative)

SIMILE

A comparison using like

or as.
Examples:
She was as smart as an owl.
The student was as quiet as a
mouse.
My backpack was like a bag
of bricks.

METAPHOR
A

figure of speech stating two things

are similar.

Examples:
The strawberry was a fresh summer
day.
The rain came down in full cold
buckets.
The test was a long never-ending
marathon.

PERSONIFICATION
Giving human qualities to
things and ideas.
Examples:
The tree leaves danced in the
wind.
The chair stood up straight and
tall.
The car jumped to the finish line.

HYPERBOLE
Hyperbole

is an exaggeration or
overstatement. It is often, but
not always, used for comic effect.
Examples:
Her brain is the size of apea.
He isolder than the hills.
I willdieif she asks me to
dance.

ALLITERATION
Repeated

consonant sounds at the

beginning of words.
Examples:
Betsy bought bigger bottoms for
baby Billy.
Samantha saw seven silly soldiers
selling strawberries Saturday.
Maria made millions of
marshmallow muffins for many
mellow messengers.

ALLUSION
An

allusion is a reference, either

direct or indirect, to a wellknown person, place or event.
Allusions are often used within a
metaphor or simile. The
comparison alludes to an event
or person of significance that
everyone should understand.

Examples:
When your parents learn about your
new plan to raise money, it's going to
sink like theTitanic.(allusion to a
historical event)
When you feel betrayed by a friend,
you can say, "You too,Brutus?"
(allusion to Julius Caesar-Brutus
betrayed Caesar)
Potato chips are my diet'sAchilles
heel. (reference to Achilles in
mythology)

IRONY
Irony

is a figure of speech
in which words are used in
such a way that their
intended meaning is
different from the actual
meaning of the words.

Types

of irony

Verbal

irony:
It is a contrast between what
issaidand what ismeant.
Example:
His argument was as clear as
mud.

 Dramatic

irony:
It occurs when the audience or the
reader knows more than the
character about events. In other
words, what the character thinks is
true is incongruous with what the
audience knows.
Example:
The two identical twins were arguing.
One of them told the other: "You're
ugly"

Situational

irony:
This refers to the contrast
between the actual result of a
situation and what was
intended or expected to
happen.
Example:
The thieves robbed the police
station.

METONYMY
It

is afigure of speechthat replaces

the name of a thing with the name of
something else with which it is
closely associated.
Metonymy is different from a
metaphor. A metaphor draws
resemblance between two different
things. Metonymy, however, develops
relation on the grounds of close
associations.

Examples:
Let me give you a hand. (Hand
means help.)
England decides to keep check
on immigration. (England refers
to the government.)
The pen is mightier than the
sword. (Pen refers to written
words and sword to military
force.)

ONOMATOPOEIA
Onomatopoeia

is defined as a
word, which imitates the
natural sounds of a thing. It
creates a sound effect that
mimics the thing described,
making the description more
expressive and interesting.

Examples:
The buzzing bee flew away.
The sack fell into the river
with a splash.
The books fell on the table
with a loud thump.
He looked at the roaring sky.
The rustling leaves kept me
awake.

OXYMORON
Oxymoron

is a figure of speech
in which two opposite ideas are
joined to create an effect. The
common oxymoron phrase is a
combination of an adjective
proceeded by a noun with
contrasting meanings, e.g.
cruel kindness or living
death.

 However,

the contrasting words/phrases

are not always glued together. The
contrasting ideas may be spaced out in a
sentence, e.g. In order to lead, you must
walk behind.
Examples:
Open secret
Tragiccomedy
Seriously

funny
Awfully pretty
Foolish wisdom
Original copies
Liquid gas

PARADOX
The

term Paradox is from the

Greek word paradoxon that
meanscontrary to expectations,
existing belief or perceived
opinion.
Example:
Your enemys friend is your
enemy.

 Paradoxes

are similar to oxymorons,

but where an oxymoron puts
opposite words together, a paradox
puts opposite ideas together.
Example:
The child is father of the man.
When a man is old, his son or
daughter needs to take care of him.
The child thus becomes a parent to
his or her own parent.