THE ESL ACADEMY BY SIRRANA
Figure-of-Speech may be classified as under:
1. Those based on resemblance
• Simile
• Metaphor
• Personification
• Apostrophe
• Simile
• Metaphor
• Personification
• Apostrophe
2. Those based on Contrast:
• Antithesis
• Epigram
* Oxymoron
* Paradox
• Antithesis
• Epigram
* Oxymoron
* Paradox
3. Those based on Association:
• Metonymy
• Synecdoche
• Metonymy
• Synecdoche
4. Those depending on Construction:
• Climax
• Anticlimax
• Climax
• Anticlimax
*1. ALLITERATION 
Alliteration refers to the repetition of of an initial consonant sound, at least three times in a sentence.
Alliteration refers to the repetition of of an initial consonant sound, at least three times in a sentence.
*EXAMPLES
• A peck of pickled peppers
• Don't delay dawns disarming display. Dusk demands daylight.
• Sara's seven sisters slept soundly in sand.
• Sally sells sea shells by the seashore”
• A peck of pickled peppers
• Don't delay dawns disarming display. Dusk demands daylight.
• Sara's seven sisters slept soundly in sand.
• Sally sells sea shells by the seashore”
*2. SIMILE In Simile, a comparison is made between two object of different kinds which have at least one point in common. The Simile is introduced by the word ‘as…as’ or 'like'.
In Simile, a comparison is made between two object of different kinds which have at least one point in common. The Simile is introduced by the word ‘as…as’ or 'like'.
“Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get”
*EXAMPLES:*
• As active as quicksilver
• As afraid as a grasshopper
• As ageless as the sun
• As agile as a cat
• As agile as a monkey
• As alert as a bird
• As alike as two peas
• As alone as a leper
• As alone as Crusoe
• As ambitious as the devil
• As active as quicksilver
• As afraid as a grasshopper
• As ageless as the sun
• As agile as a cat
• As agile as a monkey
• As alert as a bird
• As alike as two peas
• As alone as a leper
• As alone as Crusoe
• As ambitious as the devil
*3. METAPHOR An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually have something important in common (as if two things were one.)
An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually have something important in common (as if two things were one.)
*EXAMPLES:*
• The camel is the ship of the desert.
• Life is a dream.
• The news was a dragger to his heart.
• Revenge is a kind of wild justice.
• “My heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill”
• The camel is the ship of the desert.
• Life is a dream.
• The news was a dragger to his heart.
• Revenge is a kind of wild justice.
• “My heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill”
*** *NOTE* : Every SIMILE can be compressed into a METAPHOR, and Every METAPHOR can be expanded into a SIMILE.
*EXAMPLES:*
• Tanaji fought as fiercely as a loin. (Simile)
• Tanaji was a lion in the fight. (Metaphor)
• Tanaji fought as fiercely as a loin. (Simile)
• Tanaji was a lion in the fight. (Metaphor)
• The waves thundered on the shore. (Metaphor)
• The waves broke on the shore with noise like a thunder. (Simile)
• The waves broke on the shore with noise like a thunder. (Simile)
•My love is like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June. (Simile)
• Love is a rose but you better not pick it. (Metaphor)
That's newly sprung in June. (Simile)
• Love is a rose but you better not pick it. (Metaphor)
*4. ANTITHESIS In Antithesis, a striking opposition or contrast of words or sentiments is made in the same sentence. It is employed to secure emphasis.
In Antithesis, a striking opposition or contrast of words or sentiments is made in the same sentence. It is employed to secure emphasis.
*EXAMPLES:*
• Man proposes, but God disposes.
• Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more.
• Speech is silver, but Silence is Gold.
• Many are called, but few are chosen.
• To err is human, but to forgive on divine.
• Man proposes, but God disposes.
• Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more.
• Speech is silver, but Silence is Gold.
• Many are called, but few are chosen.
• To err is human, but to forgive on divine.
*5. OXYMORON A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear side by side or at once of the same thing.
A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear side by side or at once of the same thing.
*EXAMPLES:*
• She accepted it as the kind cruelty of surgeon’s knife.
• It is an open secret.
• She accepted it as the kind cruelty of surgeon’s knife.
• It is an open secret.
*6. PARADOX A statement that appears to contradict itself in the same sentence.
A statement that appears to contradict itself in the same sentence.
*EXAMPLES
“War is peace. Ignorance is strength. Freedom is slavery.” Though we know these things aren’t true, they present an interesting paradox that makes a person think seriously about what they have just read or heard.
“War is peace. Ignorance is strength. Freedom is slavery.” Though we know these things aren’t true, they present an interesting paradox that makes a person think seriously about what they have just read or heard.
*7. IRONY The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. It is often used to poke fun at a situation that everyone else sees as a very serious matter.
The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. It is often used to poke fun at a situation that everyone else sees as a very serious matter.
*EXAMPLES
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!”
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!”
*8. APOSTROPHE An Apostrophe is a direct address to the dead, to the absent, or to a personified object or idea. This figure is a special form of Personification.
An Apostrophe is a direct address to the dead, to the absent, or to a personified object or idea. This figure is a special form of Personification.
*EXAMPLES:*
• Milton! You should not be living at this hour.
• Friend! I know not which way I must look for comfort.
• Roll on! Thou deep and dark blue Ocean, roll.
• Death! Where is thy sting? O Grave! Where is thy victory?
• Milton! You should not be living at this hour.
• Friend! I know not which way I must look for comfort.
• Roll on! Thou deep and dark blue Ocean, roll.
• Death! Where is thy sting? O Grave! Where is thy victory?
*9. EUPHEMISM Euphemism consists in the description of a disagreeable thing by an agreeable name.
Euphemism consists in the description of a disagreeable thing by an agreeable name.
*EXAMPLES:*
• You are telling me a fairy tale. (You are telling me lies)
• He is gone to heaven. (He is dead)
•We have to let you go. (You're fired.)
•You're well fed. (You're fat.)
• You are telling me a fairy tale. (You are telling me lies)
• He is gone to heaven. (He is dead)
•We have to let you go. (You're fired.)
•You're well fed. (You're fat.)
*10. HYPERBOLE Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect.
Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect.
*EXAMPLES:*
• Why, man, if the river is dry, I am able to fill it with tears.
• Hmalet! You have not cleft my heart in twain.
•“It was as big as a mountain! It was faster than a cheetah! It was dumber than a rock!”
• Why, man, if the river is dry, I am able to fill it with tears.
• Hmalet! You have not cleft my heart in twain.
•“It was as big as a mountain! It was faster than a cheetah! It was dumber than a rock!”
*11. SYNECDOCHE A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole
A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole
*EXAMPLES
ABCs for alphabet or the whole for a part
England won the World Cup in 1966.
Seeing eyes, helping hands.
ABCs for alphabet or the whole for a part
England won the World Cup in 1966.
Seeing eyes, helping hands.
*12. ONOMATOPOEIA This is the use of a word that actually sounds like what it means.
This is the use of a word that actually sounds like what it means.
Onomatopoeia (pronounced ON-a-MAT-a-PEE-a) refers to words (such as bow-wow and hiss ) that imitate the sounds
Good examples include “hiss” or “ding-dong” or “fizz.”
*13. PERSONIFICATION In Personification, inanimate objects and abstract notions are spoken of as having life and intelligence.
In Personification, inanimate objects and abstract notions are spoken of as having life and intelligence.
This is a way of giving an inanimate object the qualities of a living thing.
*EXAMPLES:*
• Death lays its icy hands on King.
• Pride goes forth on horseback, grand and gay.
• Laughter is holding her both sides.
•“The tree quaked with fear as the wind approached”
•“The sun smiled down on her”
• Death lays its icy hands on King.
• Pride goes forth on horseback, grand and gay.
• Laughter is holding her both sides.
•“The tree quaked with fear as the wind approached”
•“The sun smiled down on her”
*14. PUN A play on words , sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words.
A play on words , sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words.
A form of wordplay using similar sounding words.
*EXAMPLES:*
“The wedding was so emotional that even the cake was in tiers (tears).”
“The wedding was so emotional that even the cake was in tiers (tears).”
“Two silk worms had a race and ended in a tie.” - A “tie” can of course either be when neither party wins, but in this pun also refers to the piece of clothing usually made from silk.
“Why can a man never starve in the Great Desert? Because he can eat the sand which is there. But what brought the sandwiches there? Why, Noah sent Ham, and his descendants mustered and bred.” - There are several separate puns, including the pun on “sand which” and “sandwich,” as well as “Ham” (a Biblical figure) and “ham” and the homophonic puns on “mustered”/“mustard” and “bred”/“bread.”
*15. METONYMY A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it's closely associated. Metonyms make associations or substitutions.
A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it's closely associated. Metonyms make associations or substitutions.
In some ways it can be seen as a nickname for something else.
However, we all understand the meaning, and so the words are interchangeable.
However, we all understand the meaning, and so the words are interchangeable.
*EXAMPLES:*
The place name "Bollywood," has become a metonym for the Hindi film industry.
The place name "Bollywood," has become a metonym for the Hindi film industry.
Using the word “crown” for “king or queen” or “lab coats” for “scientists”.
“The White House said” doesn’t actually mean the White House said it (a house can’t speak!) but that the President of America (who lives in The White House) said it.
*16. RHETORICAL QUESTION A rhetorical question is a question that is asked not to get an answer, but instead to emphasize a point. They are often used to elicit thought and understanding on the part of the listener or reader.
A rhetorical question is a question that is asked not to get an answer, but instead to emphasize a point. They are often used to elicit thought and understanding on the part of the listener or reader.
*EXAMPLES
"Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who would want to live in an institution?"
"Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who would want to live in an institution?"
We also use rhetorical questions in common speech, such as the following statements:
Sure, why not?
Who knew?
Does it look like I care?
Are you kidding me?
Do birds fly?
Is the sky blu
Who knew?
Does it look like I care?
Are you kidding me?
Do birds fly?
Is the sky blu
e?
THE ESL ACADEMY
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