Common Types of Figures of Speech

Simile
It directly compares two things. It uses “like” or “as”.
Metaphor
It creates implicit comparisons without the express use of “like” or “as”.
Personification
It gives objects human actions or emotions.
Apostrophe
It addresses an object or person who is usually not there.
Onomatopoeia
It creates a sound effect that mimics the thing described, making the description more
expressive and interesting.
Alliteration
A literary device that reflects repetition in two or more nearby words of initial consonant
sounds.
Pun
It involves words with similar or identical sounds but with different meanings.
Synecdoche
It uses a part to represent the whole.
Metonymy
It uses something related, but isn’t part.
Paradox
A combination of words or statements that makes the reader pause to think deeper.
Oxymoron
Two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory.
Hyperbole
It exaggerated statements and phrases to show emphasis.
Understatement
Using lesser or softer statements and phrases to make the situation seem less
important.
Irony
Which contradictory statements or situations reveal a reality that is different from what
appears to be true.
Instruction: Identify what type of figure of speech each sentence below.

Irony 1. This is my brilliant son who failed out of college.

Hyperbole 2. I’m so hungry that I could eat a horse.
Personification 3. The clouds wept for three hours.
Onomatopoeia 4. The buzzing bee flew away.
Simile 5. They fight like cats and dogs.
Metaphor 6. Life is one big roller-coaster ride.
Synecdoche 7. Check out my new wheels!
Simile 8. Kitty keeps them from being alone together as long as she can.
Understatement 9. “It was O.K.” – Said by the student who got the highest score on
the test.
Paradox 10. The beginning of the end.
Metonymy 11. The White House declared that we are at war with Mars.
Apostrophe 12. Clouds, please stop crying. The people are drowning.
Alliteration 13. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Pun 14. Her cat is near the computer to keep an eye on the mouse.