LIT 100: 21st Century Literature in the Philippines and to the World.

LEARNING MATERIALS FOR PRE-FINAL 2ND SEM. S.Y. 2023-2024

FIGURES OF SPEECH
Figure of Speech- an expression or word that uses with a metaphorical rather than literal meaning.

1. Simile- a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to
make a description more emphatic or vivid. Likewise, it uses the word as and like.
Examples: a. He is brave as a lion.
b. She is crazy like a fox.
2. Metaphor - a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally
applicable or implicitly compares two unrelated things, typically by stating that one thing is another.
Examples: a. That chef is magician.
b. Money is the root of evil
3. Personification – is a figure of speech in which human qualities and abilities are applied to nonhuman
objects or ideas.
Examples: a. The blanket held me close.
b. The dog scolded me.
4. Hyperbole- is a figure of speech that is an intentional exaggeration for emphasis or comic affect. Hyperbole
is common in love poetry, in which it is used to convey the lover’s intense admiration for his beloved.
Examples: a. He’s running faster than the wind.
b. The teacher asked us to be quiet a million times.
5. Allusion- is a figure of speech in which a writer makes a reference to a famous story, person, object, or
event.
Examples: a. She had the feeling she had a golden ticket: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
b. I wish I could click my heels together: The Wizard of Oz.
c. He’s young, scrappy, and eager: Hamilton
6. Apostrophe- is a figure of speech that is used to address someone who is absent or already dead. It can also be
used to address an abstract quality or idea, and even a non-living object.
Examples: a. “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”
b. “O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die.”
c. “Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are”
7. Alliteration- is a figure of speech in which the same sound repeats in a group of words.
Examples: a. “Bob brought the box of bricks to the basement.”
b. “Peter picked a peck of pickled peppers”
8. Assonance- is a figure of speech in which the same vowel sound repeats within a group of words.
Examples: a. “Who gave Newt and Scooter the blue tuna? It was too soon!”
b. “I might like to take a flight to an island in the sky.”
9. Metonymy- is a figure of speech in which one object or idea takes the place of another with which it has a close
association.
Examples: a. He is the brain behind the whole organization. (intelligence)
b. What’s your favorite dish?. (meal)
10. Paradox - is a figure of speech that is inherently self-contradictory. It is often used to make a point or to create an
Interesting situation. The word “paradox,” comes from the Greek “paradoxa,” meaning contrary to expectation.” A
paradox is often used in literature to create an intriguing plot.
Examples: a. Save money by spending it.
b. If I know one thing, it’s that I know nothing.