FIGURES OF

SPEECH II
WHAT ARE FIGURES OF SPEECH?

• A figure of speech is a word or phrase that possesses a

separate meaning from its literal definition.
• It is used to provide a dramatic effect to your writing.
 IMAGERY

• Imagery is the use of any descriptive words or phrases that result in a

clearer mental picture of the person, place, thing or situation being
described.
• Example:
• She was overwhelmed by the sweet smell of cookies when she walked in.
• The jewels, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, sparkled at her throat.
 ANTITHESIS

Antithesis is a figure of speech that juxtaposes (places side by side) two

contrasting or opposing ideas.
• Example:
• Man proposes, God disposes.
• Many are called, but few are chosen.
• That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
 OXYMORON
• An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory or
opposite words to create a certain poetic effect.
• Generally, the ideas will come as two separate words placed side by side.
• Example:
• The movie was a tragic comedy.
• The girl was pretty ugly.
• His mother is awfully nice.
 REPETITION
• Repetition is a literary device that involves intentionally using a word or
phrase for effect, two or more times in a speech or written work.
• Example:
• Now you see me; now you don’t
• Rain, rain go away
• Smile, smile, smile at your mind as often as possible.
 CLIMAX
• A climax is a list, very often consisting of three elements in which each
element intensifies the statement made by the previous one. It is in the
ascending order of importance.
• Example:
• I came, I saw, I conquered.
• Let a man acknowledge his obligation to himself, his family, his country and his
God.
 ANTI-CLIMAX

• An anti-climax is the opposite of climax. It refers to a figure of speech in

which statements gradually descend in order of importance.
• Example:
• He lost his family, his car and his cell phone.
• I die, I faint, I fall.
• He was a rogue, a liar, a trickster.
THANK YOU