Figures of speech can be broken into two main groups: figures of speech that play with the ordinary meaning of words (such as metaphor, simile, and hyperbole), and figures of speech that play with the ordinary arrangement or pattern in which words are written (such as alliteration, ellipsis, and antithesis).
| Figures of Speech | Examples |
|---|---|
| Euphemism | He passed away in his sleep |
| Irony | Your hands are as clean as mud |
| Anaphora | Dr Martin Luther King Jr: “I Have a Dream” Speech |
| Apostrophe | Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are |
What are the different kinds of figures of speech?
What are the 5 types of figure of speech?
- Hyperbole. Hyperbole is used to overstate or emphasize a concept.
- Symbol.
- Simile.
- Personification.
- Metaphor.
What are figures of speech with three examples?
What Are Figures of Speech and How Do Authors Use Them?
- Simile. A simile compares one object directly to another using the words “like” or “as.” Once upon a time, there were a king and queen who had no children.
- Metaphor. Metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different objects that have common qualities. ...
- Pun. Puns are plays on words. ...
- Personification. ...
- Hyperbole. ...
- Understatement. ...
- Paradox. ...
- Oxymoron. ...
What are some examples of figures of speech?
There are hundreds of figures of speech and these are some of the common ones with example:
- Metaphor An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually have something important in common. ...
- Paradox A statement that appears to contradict itself. Eg: "If you wish to preserve your secret, wrap it up in frankness." "The swiftest traveler is he that goes afoot."
- Pun
How to explain the different figures of speech?
Types of Figures of Speech
- ] Simile. A simile is a figure of speech that uses comparison. ...
- ] Metaphor. A metaphor and a simile are quite similar actually. ...
- ] Personification. Another very interesting figure of speech is personification. ...
- ] Hyperbole. Hyperbole in the Greek language translates to ‘excess’. ...
- ] Onomatopeia. This is a figure of speech where words or phrases indicate sounds. ...
What are the 8 kinds of figure of speech?
Types of Figures of SpeechPersonification. This type of figure of speech is constructed by attributing certain human characteristics to otherwise inanimate objects. ... Metaphor. ... Simile. ... Alliteration. ... Onomatopoeia. ... Hyperbole. ... Euphemism. ... Irony.More items...•
What are the 10 types of figure of speech?
Among these are:Simile. ... Metaphor. ... Implied metaphor. ... Personification. ... Hyperbole. ... Allusion. ... Idiom. ... Pun.More items...•
What are the 12 types of figure of speech?
Some common figures of speech are alliteration, anaphora, antimetabole, antithesis, apostrophe, assonance, hyperbole, irony, metonymy, onomatopoeia, paradox, personification, pun, simile, synecdoche, and understatement.
What are the different types of figure of speech?
Types of Figures of SpeechSimile.Metaphor.Personification.Paradox.Understatement.Metonymy.Apostrophe.Hyperbole.More items...
What are the 23 figures of speech?
23 Common Figures of Speech (Types and Examples)SIMILE. In simile two unlike things are explicitly compared. ... METAPHOR. It is an informal or implied simile in which words like, as, so are omitted. ... PERSONIFICATION. ... METONYMY. ... APOSTROPHE. ... HYPERBOLE. ... SYNECDOCHE. ... TRANSFERRED EPITHETS.More items...
What are 5 examples of personification?
Each example shows an object exhibiting a human character trait.Lightning danced across the sky.The wind howled in the night.The car complained as the key was roughly turned in its ignition.Rita heard the last piece of pie calling her name.My alarm clock yells at me to get out of bed every morning.More items...
What are the 20 example of figure of speech?
ExamplesFigures of SpeechExamplesEuphemismHe passed away in his sleepIronyYour hands are as clean as mudAnaphoraDr Martin Luther King Jr: “I Have a Dream” SpeechApostropheTwinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are6 more rows
How many figures of speech are there in English?
Professor Robert DiYanni, in his book Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, Drama and the Essay wrote: "Rhetoricians have catalogued more than 250 different figures of speech, expressions or ways of using words in a nonliteral sense."
What is parts of speech with examples?
There are eight parts of speech in the English language: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. The part of speech indicates how the word functions in meaning as well as grammatically within the sentence.
What are the five most common figures of speech?
Five well-known types of figures of speech include hyperbole, symbols, simile, personification and metaphor.Hyperbole. Hyperbole is used to overstate or emphasize a concept. ... Symbol. ... Simile. ... Personification. ... Metaphor.
What are examples of a metaphor?
Common metaphor examplesLife is a highway.Her eyes were diamonds.He is a shining star.The snow is a white blanket.She is an early bird.
What are figure of speech in English?
: a form of expression (such as a simile or metaphor) used to convey meaning or heighten effect often by comparing or identifying one thing with another that has a meaning or connotation familiar to the reader or listener.
What is figure of speech simple definition?
A figure of speech is a non-literal expression that is used to say something in a more colorful, interesting or colloquial way, such as using the t...
What are the 10 figure of speech?
Look back at the lesson under the heading "Figures of Speech Types" for a more detailed list and explanation of over twenty-five common figures of...
What is figure of speech and examples?
A figure of speech is a literary device that creates a special effect by using words in a distinctive way. For example, the phrase "falling in love...
Why do we use figures of speech?
Using original figures of speech in our writing is a way to convey meanings in fresh, unexpected ways. They can help our readers understand and stay interested in what we have to say.
What is figurative language?
Figurative language is often associated with literature and with poetry in particular. Whether we're conscious of it or not, we use figures of speech every day in our own writing and conversations. For example, common expressions such as "falling in love," "racking our brains," and "climbing the ladder of success" are all metaphors —the most ...
What is figure of speech?
Here’s a quick and simple definition: A figure of speech is a literary device in which language is used in an unusual—or "figured"—way in order to produce a stylistic effect. Figures of speech can be broken into two main groups: figures of speech that play with the ordinary meaning of words (such as metaphor, simile, and hyperbole ), ...
How to organize figures of speech?
The oldest and still most common way to organize figures of speech is to split them into two main groups: tropes and schemes. Tropes are figures of speech that involve a deviation from the expected and literal meaning of words.
What is a trope in a sentence?
Generally, a trope uses comparison, association, or wordplay to play with the literal meaning of words or to layer another meaning on top of a word's literal meaning. Some of the most commonly used tropes are explained briefly below, though you can get even more detail on each from its specific LitCharts entry.
Why is alliteration used in writing?
By using words that alliterate—"sin and sorrow" and "decay and death," for example—Hawthorne is making the reader feel that these ideas are connected, rather than simply stating that they are connected. Alliteration is a figure of speech—a scheme—because it uses the mechanics of language to emphasize meaning.
What is figurative language?
Figurative language refers to words or expressions that have non-literal meanings: This definition associates figurative language only with the category of figures of speech called tropes (which are figures of speech that play with the literal meaning of words).
Why are metaphors considered tropes?
Metaphors are tropes because their effect relies not on the mechanics of the sentence, but rather on the association created by the use of the phrase "cats and dogs" in a non-literal manner. Simile: A simile, like a metaphor, makes a comparison between two unrelated things.
How does Rihanna use assonance?
Rihanna uses assonance when she repeats the " eye " sound throughout the chorus of "Diamonds.". This make the words echo one another, which emphasizes the similarity between the singer, the person she's talking about, and the "diamonds in the sky" to which she's comparing them both.
What is figure of speech?
VIEW MORE. A figure of speech is a deviation from the ordinary use of words in order to increase their effectiveness. Basically, it is a figurative language that may consist of a single word or phrase. It may be a simile, a metaphor or personification to convey the meaning other than the literal meaning.
What is the figure of speech where the word is used to describe a sound?
Onomatopoeia-. It is the figure of speech where the word is used to describe a sound. When we explain any action by putting the sounds into language, it is known as onomatopoeia. It is generally used in fiction or in nursery rhymes, for eg- Old Macdonald had a farm eea eea ooo.
What is pun in play?
A pun is generally used in plays where one word has two different meanings. It is used to create humour. Humorous use of words of different meanings or the words of the same sound but different meanings is known as PUN.
What is an oxymoron in a figure of speech?
Oxymoron-. An Oxymoron is when two words are used together in a sentence but they seem to be in contrast with each other. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that willingly uses two differing ideas.
What is the series of words that begin with the same letter?
It is the series of words which commence with the same letter. Alliteration consists of the repetition of a sound or of a letter at the beginning of two or more words.
What are some examples of personification?
Ocean’s sound is music to my ear. 3. Personification-. In Personification, non-living things, abstract ideas or qualities are mentioned as humans or living things.
Why is figure of speech important?
Importance of Figure of Speech-. It enhances the beauty of the writing. It makes the sentence deeper and leaves the reader with a sense of wonder. It brings life to the words used by the writer . The figure of Speech not only shows the writers intent but also his purpose of using such language. It adds flavour to the writing ...
Table of Contents
Emma told her best friend, "I'm falling in love with Jake!" But was Emma literally falling? No! She was using a figure of speech.
Figures of Speech Examples
Figures of speech and idioms help English writers and speakers to describe things in a vivid and interesting way. Idioms are expressions that have a figurative meaning separate from the literal meaning of the words used to make them. Here are some sentences containing figures of speech and idioms:
Figures of Speech Types
The English language includes hundreds of types of figures of speech. Here is a helpful list of some of the best-known types:
What is figure of speech?
As we all know, figures of speech is a word or phrase used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or vivid effect. It is often used to portray life in the use of English language. For instance, the sentence "life is beautiful" is more lively and colourful when put this way..life is as beautiful as the sunset (figure of speech used= simile).
What is the meaning of figures of speech?
Meaning of Figures of Speech. As stated earlier, figures of speech is the word or phrase used to give life to the English language. It is a literary device used to create images and enhance expression. It can also be said to be the colour of the language.
What is the use of words to imitate sounds?
Onomatopoeia simply is the mimicry of sounds. It is the use of words to imitate sounds and is expressive too. Onomatopoeia is derived from two Greek words, onoma meaning "name" and poiein meaning "to make," so onomatopoeia literally means "to make a name (or sound)."
What is literary device?
This literary device has a way of expressing some fact or idea in a roundabout or indirect way instead of stating clearly. It can be said to be the use of verbose words or talking in circles.
What is an example of alliteration?
For example: Kindly keep the kettle clean for the king. Four fabulous fish and flowers filled Fayol's farm.
What is figure of speech?
Figure of speech are an integral part of any language, which are used extensively not only in our day to day speech, but also in written texts and oral literature. These are a word or a phrase used in a distinctive way to produce a rhetorical effect. To say in very simple terms, it is a phrase whose actual meaning is different from its literal ...
Why do we use different figures of speech?
All of us use different figures of speech in our everyday life, no matter which language we speak. Being familiar with different types of figures of speech can not only increase your vocabulary in a particular language, but also help you in your career. This is especially for those who want to pursue a career in translation, poetry or writing.
What is personification in a sentence?
Personification is a figure of speech that attributes human nature or human qualities to abstract or inanimate objects. For example, we often use the phrases like the howling wind, dancing leaves, time flies etc. Some examples of personification in a sentence are:
What is a figure of speech that consists of an exaggeration?
Hyperbole . A hyperbole is a figure of speech that consists of an exaggeration. It is the usage of exaggerated terms in order to emphasise or heighten the effect of something. Some examples of using hyperboles in a sentence include: I have told you a million times to not touch my stuff! She has got a pea-sized brain.
What is an alliteration?
Alliteration is a type of figure of speech in which a sentence consists of a series of words that have the same consonant sound at the beginning. Some popular examples of alliteration in a sentence include:
What is anaphora in speech?
Anaphora. It is a repetition of a word or phrase at the start of several sentences of clauses. Some of the examples of anaphora figures of speech are as follows: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “I Have a Dream” Speech. Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities.
What is a metaphor in a sentence?
A metaphor is a figure of speech which is used for implying a comparison between two things that have something in common but are in general different from each other. Some examples of the usage of metaphors in a sentence is as follows:
Why use figures of speech?
Skilled writers know how to use figures of speech and other literary devices to provide more vivid descriptions and help readers to understand the feeling they want to convey. As a communication tool, figures of speech give color and life to the messages we wish to share with others.
What is personification in literature?
Personification is the process of giving human traits to inanimate or non-human subjects. Classic writer L.M. Montgomery frequently uses personification in the way that her main characters interact with trees and other things in nature.
What does a simile mean in fairy tales?
A simile compares one object directly to another using the words “like” or “as.” The following passage from the classic fairy tale Snow White uses simile to describe the color of the girl’s complexion:
Why do writers use puns?
Most often, writers intend puns to be humorous, but they may also use them to provoke the reader to think. William Shakespeare is known for using puns.
What is the meaning of metaphor?
Metaphor. Metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different objects that have common qualities. Read the following excerpt from a poem by Emily Dickinson, in which she compares hope to a bird: Here, the comparison of hope to a bird is not direct, as it would be if she were to say, “Hope is like a bird.”.
What is a paradox?
Paradox. A paradox is a statement that appears to be silly or self-contradictory, but actually contains a truth. Writers use it to show an opinion contrary to traditionally accepted beliefs, challenging the reader to think. One example is found in George Orwell’s Animal Farm.
What is figure of speech?
What are the figures of speech? A figure of speech is a deviation from the ordinary use of words in order to increase their effectiveness. Basically, it is a figurative language that may consist of a single word or phrase. It may be a simile, a metaphor or personification to convey the meaning other than the literal meaning.
What are some examples of figures of speech?
SIMILE. In simile two unlike things are explicitly compared. For example, “She is like a fairy”. A simile is introduced by words such as like, so, as etc. 2. METAPHOR. It is an informal or implied simile in which words like, as, so are omitted.
What is a metaphor?
METAPHOR. It is an informal or implied simile in which words like, as, so are omitted. For example, “He is like a lion (Simile) “and “He is a lion (metaphor)”. In the following examples, metaphors are underlined. She is a star of our family.
What is the meaning of "she is a star of our family"?
The childhood of the world; the anger of the tempest; the deceitfulness of the riches: wine is a mocker. She is now in the sunset of her days. 3. PERSONIFICATION . Personification is an attribution of personal nature, intelligence or character to inanimate objects or abstract notions.
Figure of Speech Definition
- What is a figure of speech? Here’s a quick and simple definition: Some additional key details about figures of speech: 1. The ancient Greeks and Romans exhaustively listed, defined, and categorized figures of speech in order to better understand how to effectively use language. The names of most figures of speech derive from the original Greek or L...
Figure of Speech Examples
- Figures of speech can make language more inventive, more beautiful, more rhythmic, more memorable, and more meaningful. It shouldn't be a surprise, then, that figures of speech are plentiful in all sorts of written language. The examples below show a variety of different types of figures of speech. You can see many more examples of each type at their own specific LitChart …
Why Do Writers Use Figures of Speech?
- Figures of speech is a category that encompasses a broad variety of literary terms, so it's difficult to give one answer to this question. Writers use different figures of speech to achieve different effects. Schemes (figures of speech that manipulate sound, syntax, and word order) can make language more beautiful, persuasive, or memorable. Writers can use schemes to draw attention …
Other Helpful Figure of Speech Resources
- Silva Rhetoricae on Figures of Speech:An excellent reference from BYU that explains the various ways that figures of speech have been categorized over history, including into schemes and tropes.
- Silva Rhetoricae on schemes and tropes:
- The Oxford Reference Page for Figure of Speech:A helpful definition of figures of speech in t…
- Silva Rhetoricae on Figures of Speech:An excellent reference from BYU that explains the various ways that figures of speech have been categorized over history, including into schemes and tropes.
- Silva Rhetoricae on schemes and tropes:
- The Oxford Reference Page for Figure of Speech:A helpful definition of figures of speech in the context of the ancient study of rhetoric (did you know that the Roman rhetorician Quintillian defined...
- What Are Tropes in Language?Skip to the "Distinction Between Figures and Tropes" section and read to the end—full of informative and thought-provoking discussion about tropes.
