Figures of Speech:

Resemblance:
Simile-A figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds and is usually formed with like, as or than. Ex: Her smile was as warm as the sun. Metaphor-A figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity. Ex: Her eyes were glistening jewels. Personification-A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is given human qualities or abilities. Ex: The Ocean screamed its fury. Apostrophe-A figure of speech in which some absent or nonexistent person or thing is addressed as if present and capable of understanding. Ex: "Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art" Allusion-A figure of speech in which a reference is made to some familiar fact in history, literature, or religion. Ex: The killer wore a mark of Cain as he stalked his brother. Antonomasia-A rhetoric device where a word or phrase for a proper name is substituted. Ex: The Bard for William Shakespeare.

Emphasis:
Hyperbole-A figure of speech that uses an exaggerated or extravagant statement to create a strong emotional response. Ex: The world ended the day my father died. Meiosis-A figure of speech, which intentionally understates something or implies that it is less in significance, size, than it really is. Ex: BENVOLIO: "Art thou hurt?" MERCUTIO: [fatally wounded] "Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch" (Romeo and Juliet) Litotes-A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. Ex: He was not unfamiliar to the works of Shakespeare (He is familiar with Shakespeares works.) Repetition-is the simple repeating of a word or phrase, within a sentence or a poetical line, with no particular placement of the words, in order to emphasize. Ex: Reputation, reputation, reputation! O! I have lost my reputation. Rhetorical Question-A figure of speech in the form of a question posed for its persuasive effect without the expectation of a reply. Ex: If practice makes perfect, and no one's perfect, then why practice?

Parallelism/Contrast:
Irony-A figure of speech in which an expression means something the opposite of or very contrary to its literal meaning. It is also known as sarcasm and is usually used in humor. Ex: Bill Gates winning a computer. - Situational Irony (He is the owner of the world's largest software company.) Having a fight with your best friend just before your birthday, and commenting "Great, this is just what I needed". - Verbal Irony (It is probably the worst thing that could happen before your birthday.) In Romeo and Juliet, when Juliet is drugged, Romeo assumes her to be dead, and kills himself. Upon waking up Juliet finds him dead, and kills herself. Dramatic Irony (mainly based on miscommunication and misunderstanding) Analogy-A figure of speech that shows a likeness or similarity between things that are otherwise unlike. Ex: Memory is to love what the saucer is to the cup. Paradox-A figure of speech in which a statement appears to contradict itself but also contains some truth about it. Ex: The poorest man is the richest, and the rich are poor. Oxymoron-A figure of speech that uses a contradictory adjective to define an object, situation or event. Ex: We were alone together.

Sound Effects:
Onomatopoeia-A figure of speech that uses words to imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. Ex: The clock in the living room cuckooed the hour. Pun-A figure of speech that refers to the deliberate substitution of similar sounding words, to create a humorous effect. Ex: I bet the butcher the other day that he couldnt reach the meat that was on the top shelf. He refused to take the bet, saying that the steaks were too high. Alliteration-A figure of speech that 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. It is often used as a figure of speech in poetry. Ex: Don't delay dawns disarming display. Dusk demands daylight. Anaphora-A figure of speech that refers to a repetition of one particular word purposely, at the start of consecutive sentences or paragraphs. Also used to emphasize a point. Ex: I'm not afraid to die. I'm not afraid to live. I'm not afraid to fail. I'm not afraid to succeed. I'm not afraid to fall in love. I'm not afraid to be alone. I'm just afraid I might have to stop talking about myself for five minutes.

Assonance-The resemblance of similarity in sound between vowels followed by different consonants in two or more stressed syllables in a line of poetry. Ex: Then came the drone of a boat in the cove.

Substitution:
Synecdoche-A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole thing. Ex: Twenty sails came into the harbor.(Twenty ships came into the harbor.) Metonymy-A figure of speech that refers to the use of a phrase regarding associated concept, in order to describe the actual concept. Ex: He writes a fine hand. - It means he has good handwriting.

Arrangement of Words:
Climax-A figure of speech in which words, phrases, or clauses are arranged in order of increasing importance. Ex: There are three things that will endure: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. Anti-climax-A figure of speech in which there is an abrupt shift from a serious or noble tone to a less exalted one--often for comic effect. Ex: Die and endow a college or a cat.