figures of speech.rtf

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arn how to improve your writing and oratory skills by using various figures of speech. These can beunderstood with the help of these figures of speech examples.

What are figures of speech? We can all put words together and come up with sentences to expressourselves. But sometimes, it's nice to enhance the language a little, without having to say everything

literally. The transformation from ordinary speech to extraordinary speech, can be done with the useof a variety of figures of speech. This is the main purpose of figures of speech literary devices used toenhance the !uality of language, written or spoken. "ow can you employ these to improve yourwriting and oratory skills? With the help of the following figures of speech examples, used inthe #nglish language .

Examples of Figures of Speech

$igures of speech provoke a thought process and bring depth to the language. To be able to use themwell is an art, which can be mastered over time. The more you read, the more you will be able tounderstand. With the help of the following figures of speech examples, you too can master the art ofusing them appropriately.

Alliteration: %lliteration refers to the repetition of any particular sound among words placed close

together, in a sentence. These are mainly consonant sounds, but can be vowel sounds too. &t is oftenused as a figure of speech in poetry. ome examples of alliteration are

Don't delay dawns disarming display. Dusk demands daylight. ()aul *ccan

Saras seven sisters slept soundly in sand.

Anastrophe: This refers to the inversion of the normal order of speech in a particular sentence. &t canalso be said, that the language is interrupted, and speech takes a sudden turn. This is used for thepurpose of emphasis. #xamples of anastrophe are

Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the oldman. ( #dgar %llan )oe, The Tell(Tale "eart+ riginal entence There was no ob-ect. There was no passion. &loved the old man.

hy should their liberty than ours be more! ( %driana, /omedy of#rrors, William hakespeare+ riginal entence Why should their liberty be more than ours?

Anaphora: %naphora refers to a repetition of one particular word purposely, at the start ofconsecutive sentences or paragraphs. This is again in order to emphasi0e a point. #xamples ofanaphora are

I'm not a"raid to die. I'm not a"raid to live. I'm not a"raid to"ail. I'm not a"raid to succeed. I'm not a"raid to "all in love. I'm not
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a"raid to be alone. I'm just a"raid I might have to stop talkingabout mysel" "or "ive minutes. ( 1inky $riedman, When the /at's%way

ater# water# every where# $nd all the boards did shrink %

ater# water# every where#

&or any drop to drink. ( amuel Taylor /oleridge, 2ime of the%ncient *ariner

Antonomasia: %ntonomasia refers to the substitution of a proper name, with a phrase, which thenbecomes a way of recognition for the person in !uestion. This can be explained with the help of thefollowing examples

he (ing o" Pop ( *icheal 3ackson

he )ard ( William hakespeare

he Dark (night ( Batman

Euphemism: % euphemism is the use of neutral language to remark something that may be offensiveto the receiver. #uphemism is often used by people who are diplomatic, and who wish to be politicallycorrect. ome examples of this figure of speech are

e have to let you go. 2ead 4ou're fired.

*ou're well "ed. 2ead 4ou're fat.

Hyperbole: % hyperbole is a figure of speech used for the purpose of exaggeration. &t mainly formsthe basis of several -okes, is used as a way of insults, or could simply be used to dramati0e asituation, where in reality, the situation may not be that bad. This can be understood with the help ofthese hyperbole examples

I'm so busy trying to accomplish ten million things at once. ( &'mtrying to accomplish several things at one time.

*our dog is so ugly# we had to pay the "leas to live on him. ( "erethe hyperbole has been used as an insult.

Irony: &rony refers to the use of certain words that actually intend to convey the opposite. &ronyforms the basis of sarcasm, and of humor. &t is also a way of expressing the ugly truth in a slightlygentle manner. ome irony examples are

)ill +ates winning a computer. ( ituational &rony +"e is the ownerof the world's largest software company.

,aving a "ight with your best "riend just be"ore your birthday# andcommenting - +reat# this is just what I needed . ( 5erbal &rony +&tis probably the worst thing that could happen before yourbirthday.

In /omeo and 0uliet# when 0uliet is drugged# /omeo assumes herto be dead# and kills himsel". 1pon waking up 0uliet "inds him dead#and kills hersel". ( 6ramatic &rony +mainly based on

miscommunication and misunderstandingLitotes: This figure of speech refers to the use of understatement, to affirm a particular situation orevent with the use of a negative opposite. #xamples include

,e was not un"amiliar with the work o" Shakespeare. ( "e wasfamiliar with the work of hakespeare.

2instein is not a bad mathematician. ( #instein is a greatmathematician.
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Metaphor: 7sed for the purpose of comparison, a metaphor is a figure of speech that implies themeaning of an ob-ect with i ts reference to another completely unrelated ob-ect. $or instance

he so"a is "ertile soil "or a couch potato.

)ut my heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill. ( Williamharp, The 8onely "unter

Metonymy: *etonymy refers to the use of a phrase regarding associated concept, in order todescribe the actual concept. ome metonymy examples are

he 'editorial page' has always believed... ( This refers to the beliefof the editors who write the editorial page.

,e writes a "ine hand ( &t means he has good handwriting.

Oxymoron: %n oxymoron uses a contradictory ad-ective to define an ob-ect, situation orevent. xymoron examples are

3oners club

$ stripper's dressing room

I'd give my right arm to be ambide4trous5

Onomatopoeia: uch words imitate the sounds made by certain ob-ects or actions. ome examplesof onomatopoeia are

he clatter o" utensils.

he "lutter o" birds.

Paralipsis: This figure of speech is used by people who do not wish to speak on a sub-ect, but stillmanage to disclose it. ome examples are

It would be unseemly "or me to dwell on Senator (ennedysdrinking problem# and too many have already sensationali6ed hiswomani6ing7

I will not dwell on the senator's shady history with the criminal

underworld# or on her alcoholic son... such issues should not bebrought up in a reasoned debate.

Personification: This refers to the art of bringing to life an inanimate ob-ect, trait, or action, byassociating it with a human !uality. #xamples of personification are

he picture in that maga6ine screamed "or attention.

he carved pumpkin smiled at me.

Pun: )uns refer to the deliberate substitution of similar sounding words, to create a humorous effect.$or example

I bet the butcher the other day that he couldnt reach the meatthat was on the top shel". ,e re"used to take the bet# saying thatthe steaks were too high.

Santas helpers are subordinate 8lauses.

Rhetoric: 2hetoric refers to the art of persuasion through effective speech. 9uestions that have anobvious answer are known as rhetorical !uestions. uch !uestions are not expected to be answered,as the answer is already known. These are included in persuasive speech. ome examples include

I" practice makes per"ect# and no one's per"ect# then why practice! ( Billy /organ
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hy do you need a drivers license to buy li9uor when you cannotdrink and drive!

Simile: % simile is similar to a metaphor. "owever, here, a reference between two concepts is madeby using the terms 'like' or 'as'. ome simile examples are

8ause she looks like a "lower but she stings like a bee:3ike every

girl in history. ( 2icky *artin+eorge "elt as worn out as an old joke that was never very "unny inthe "irst place.

Zeugma: This figure of speech refers to the use of only one word to describe two actions or events.The word however, logically applies only to one of the actions. $or instance

She opened the door and her heart to the orphan.

She lowered her standards by raising her glass# her courage# her

eyes and his hopes

Figures of Speech

A Figure of Speech is a departure from ordinaryform, or the ordinary course of ideas to make agreater effect.

Above is the answer for Define Figure of Speech .

Why are Figures of Speech used?

What is the use of Figures of Speech?

These must be the questions in mind. Here is the exp anation and reasons of usage of figures of speech.

!. "t#s better and best to say $He has gone to heavens# instead of $He has died#. %ou can ma&e from the two sentences

and the first one is better.

'. "t#s better to say $" have gone to answer nature#s ca # than to say $"#ve gone to toi et#.
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"n both examp es( we have used figures of speech.


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List of figures of speech

Synecdoche

Alliteration

Jingles

Exclamation

Tautology

Simile

Metaphor

Verbal Metaphor

Adjectival Metaphor

Mixed Metaphor

Personification

Apostrophe

nversion

Antithesis

Epigram

Metonymy

!eugma

"limax

Anti#"limax


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Euphemism

Periphrasis

Pathetic fallacy

$nomatopoeia

Transferred Epithet

%hetorical &uestion or nterrogation

'yperbole

Pun

rony

Poetic Phraseology

ntrusive Smartness

%edundancies

Analogy

Allegory

Propsopopoeia or Vision

Aposiopesis

repetition

%epeated propositions

Archaism

$xymoron


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Paradox

Allusion

(itotes

nnuendo

Antics

Pretentious "ircumlocution

Patroni)ing Superiority

*etermined Pictures+ue

,igures $f Speech Explanation-

Synecdoche

Define Synecdoche:When a part is used to designate the who e or the who e to designate a part or abstract for concrete for abstract then

the figure of speech is ca ed as Synecdoche.

)xamp es and exp anation of Synecdoche.

a* +ive us this dai y bread.

Bread is used to denote food.

b* A hand unhoo&ed the chain.

$Hand# is used to denote a man.

Alliteration

Alliteration Definition:"n a iteration( simi ar sound or repetition of simi ar etters are used to generate poetic effect.

)xamp es as we as exp anation of A iteration.

a* The tiny ships on the shiny sea.

The sound of $iny# is used to produce poetic effect.

b* He stopped there for stone and on y stone.


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The sound of $st# is repeated p easing y.

Simile

Define Simile:Figure of speech is Simi e when a direct comparison is made between two ob,ects of different &inds which have at

east one point in common. For producing Simi e( words $AS#( $-" )# and $S/# are used.

)xamp es of Figure of Speech Simi e.

a* He fought i&e a ion.

)xp anation0 The bravery of $H)# is direct y compared to that as of a $-ion#.

b* "t is as good as go d.

c* %ou are i&e my son

)xp anation0 "n both above examp es( figure of speech is Simi e because a direct comparison has been made

between two things.

Figure of Speech Simi e is quite simp e.

Metaphor

Define Metaphor:1n i&e Simi e( figure of speech is 2etaphor when an indirect comparison is made between two things. 2etaphor is

an imp ied Simi e.

)xamp es of 2etaphor.

a* The came is ship of desert.

)xp anation0 %ou &now that came is actua y not a ship. Thus( an indirect comparison is made between came and

ship.

b* -ife is a dream

c* A the wor d is a stage.

)xp anation0 We see in above both examp es( figure of speech is same and it is 2etaphor because of

indirectcomparison between two things.

Personification

Personification Definition:When inanimate ob,ect and abstract notions are spo&en of as having ife then the figures of speech is 3ersonification .

)xamp es of 3ersonification.

a* The sun oo&ed at me.

)xp anation0 $Sun# has been given the human qua ity of oo&ing. Hence( figures of speech is 3ersonification.
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b* 4eath ays its icy hands on &ings.

)xp anation0 $4eath# has been given $hands#. So( figure of speech is 3ersonification.

c* A stars peeped at me.

)xp anation0 $Stars# have been given human qua ity of $peeping#. Therefore( figure of speech is 3ersonification.

Apostrophe

Apostrophe Definition:"n this figure of speech( writer or spea&er turns away from the main sub,ect and ma&es a sudden( short address to a

person absent or dead or to an inanimate idea or ob,ects. This is the meaning of $Apostrophe#.

)xamp es of Apostrophe.

a* 2i ton5 Thou shou d be iving at this hour.

)xp anation0 A short address is made to a person named $2i ton# who is dead at the time of addressing. Hence( figure

of speech is Apostrophe.

b* / fame5 " ove you to praise.

)xp anation0 Figures of speech is Apostrophe here because inanimate idea is addressed.

6* /h my country5 " ove you.

)xp anation0 "nanimate ob,ect $country# is sudden y ca ed. Therefore( figure of speech is Apostrophe.

Inversion or Anastrophe

Define Inversion:When the correct prose order of a sentence is changed for poetic effect then the figure of speech is "nversion.

"nversion examp es0

a* 7arren are those mountains.

)xp anation0 Words in above examp e are not in correct prose order. Hence( figures of speech is "nversion. A so( the

correct prose order is $Those mountains are barren#.

b* Wea th " see& do not.

)xp anation0 For poetic effect( words have not been p aced in correct prose order. So( the figure of speech is

"nversion. 6orrect prose order is $" do not see& wea th#.

c* Fa se was the news.

)xp anation0 Words are not in correct order. The correct prose order is $The news was fa se#. And so the figure of

speech is "nversion.

d* +ood is your brother.

)xp anation0 The correct order of words in above sentence is $%our brother is good#. As it is understood now and very

simp e to say that figure of speech is "nversion.


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Antithesis

Define Antithesis:When opposite ideas 8opposite words* are expressed in same ine then the figure of speech used is ca ed Antithesis.

)xamp es of Antithesis0

a* He is good but " am bad.

)xp anation0 /pposite words $good# and $bad# occur in same ine and hence( figure of speech is $Antithesis#.

b* 9ot near but not so far .

)xp anation0 Figure of speech is Antithesis because opposite words $near# and $far# occur.

c* Many earn but on y few are satisfied.

)xp anation0 opposite words $many# and $few# come in same sentence. So( figures of speech is Antithesis.

Epigram Define Epigram:This figure of speech is an apparent contradiction in anguage which by causing a temporary shoc& draws our

attention to some inner or deeper meaning.

)xamp es of )pigram0

a* The chi d is father of man.

b* 6owards die many times before their death.

Metonymy Define Metonymy:"n this figure( an ob,ect is designated by the name of something which is genera y associated with it. This is ca ed

2etonymy.

2etonymy examp es0

a* The crown ru es the empire.

)xp anation0 $6rown# is used instead of $ ing# or $3rince#. So( figures of speech is 2etonymy.

b* The pen is mightier than the sword.

)xp anation0 $3en# has been used instead of $writer#. And $sword# has been used instead of $warrior#. Therefore( figures

of speech is 2etonymy.


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Jingles

Define Jingles:When words of different meanings are used p easant y( then the figure of speech is :ing es.

)xamp es of ,ing es0

a* " awaited a belated train.

b* To read his ta es is a invalidity by technicality.

E clamation

Define Exclamation:When strong emotion or fee ing is expressed( then the figures of speech is )xc amation.

)xc amation can be easi y identified by searching for exc amation mar&. So( ,ob is simp e now.

)xamp es of exc amation0

a* /h5 " forgot.

b* Hurray5 We won.

)xp anation0 "n both examp e( a strong exc amation is made. Figures of speech is exc amation.

!autology "or Pleonasm#

Define Tautology:"n a sentence( when different words of a most same meaning are used then figures of speech used is ca ed as

Tauto ogy.

)xamp es of tauto ogy0

a* " rejoiced at the happy night.

)xp anation0 Words $re,oice# and $happy# have a most same meaning. Hence( figures of speech used is ca ed as

Tauto ogy.

b* At the same old ancient inn.

)xp anation0 Words $o d# and $ancient# have a most same meaning. Hence( it is Tauto ogy.

$yper%ole

yper!ole Definition:When an exaggerated over statement is made then the figure of speech is Hyperbo e.

)xamp es of hyperbo e0

a* " shed mi ion buc&ets of tears.


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b* Are worth a your aure s.

)xp anation0 /bvious exaggerated over;statements have been made. So( it#s simp e. Figures of speech is

$Hyperbo e#.

Pun

Define Pun: A 3un consists in the use of a word in such a way that it is capab e of more than one app ication( the ob,ect being to

produce a udicrous effect.

)xamp es of 3un0

a* Rest in the bottom ay.

)xp anation0 The above examp e is capab e of giving two meanings. So( figures of speech is 3un.


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Anticlima

Define Anti"limax:"n this figures of speech( ideas are arranged in decreasing order of importance. Trend of decreasing importance is

observed.

Anti;6 imax examp es0

a* " ost my wife, house and job.

b* Flower, Snail, Shell and bits of g ass.

Euphemism

Define Euphemism:

When a harsh thing is expressed in a mi d way then the figure of speech is )uphemism.)uphemism examp es0

a* He is no more. 84ead*

b* He has gone to heavens. 84ead*

c* He has gone to attend nature#s ca . 8+one to toi et*

'nomatopoeia

Define #nomatopoeia:When the sound of the sy ab es brings out the meaning c ear y or when the words are se f;exp anatory then it isca ed /nomatopoeia.

)xamp es0

a* " heard him tap the door.

)xp anation0 Sound of tapping is echoed.

b* There was a sharp scratch .

)xp anation0 Sound of scratch is se f;exp anatory.

!ransferred Epithetpithet ! "djective

Therefore( Transferred )pithet = Transferred Ad,ective

Transferred Epithet Definition:"n a sentence( when an ad,ective is transferred from its proper word to another that is c ose y associated with it in the

sentence then the figure of speech used is ca ed $Transferred )pithet#.
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)xamp e0

a* He passed sleepless nights.

b* A man is going on a lone highway.

)xp anation0 "n first examp e( ad,ective $s eep ess# actua y be ongs to the sub,ect of sentence $H)#. "t has been

transferred to $nights#. Ad,ective $ one# is for $2an# but it has been transferred to $highway#. Hence( in both cases(figures of speech is Transferred )pithet.

Interrogation or (hetorical )uestion

Interrogation Definition:When a mere question is as&ed not for an answer but to put a point more effective y then figure of speech is

ca ed "nterrogation .

"nterrogation examp es0

a* Am " your servant?

b* "s this your attitude?

c* Who are you to question?

(epetition

Define $epetition:"n repetition( same words are repeated for ma&ing a p easing poetic effect.

a* #oad on load.

b* $ow 5$ow 5 " won.

c* The bird is chasing another bird .

)xp anation of examp es0 "n a above sentence( words have been repeated.

' ymoron

Define #xymoron:/xymoron is a specia form of antithesis where two contradictory qua ities are predicted at once.

)xamp es of /xymoron0

a* His honor rooted dishonor stood.

b* He was the wisest fool .

c* 2onument is terrific beauty .

d* " clearly %isunderstood that word.

)xp anation of /xymoron0 Figures of speech in sentences above is /xymoron.
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Parado

Paradox Definition:"n this figure of speech( absurd things are expressed but they are true. "n paradox( se f;contradictory ideas are

expressed but they are true.

)xamp es of 3aradox0

a* 3hi osophers are foo s.

b* -et him be rich and weary.

c* "ndia is the richest country in the wor d but it is inhabited by the poorest persons.

)xp anation0 Figure of speech is paradox as contradictory ideas are expressed in sentences above but they are true

as we .

*itotes %itotes Definition:"n this figure of speech( a negative statement is used to emphasi>e a strong affirmative 8positive* fee ing.

a* The boy is no fool . 8the boy is c ever*

b* " am not a little surprised. 8" am great y surprised

"n above sentences( figure of speech is -itotes.

figures of speech.rtf

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