FIGURES OF SPEECH

FIGURE OF SPEECH
-A FIGURE OF SPEECH EXPRESSES AN IDEA, THOUGHT, OR IMAGE WITH WORDS
WHICH CARRY MEANINGS BEYOND THEIR LITERAL ONES.

IMAGERY
-THE USE OF VIVID DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS THAT EVOKE SENSORY IMAGES.
(SIGHT, TASTE, TOUCH, SMELL AND HEARING)
 TYPES OF FIGURATIVE SPEECH:
SIMILE
-COMPARING TWO UNLIKE THINGS USING LIKE OR AS.

EXAMPLE:
-SHE SWAYS LIKE A FLOWER.
-SHE FALLS LIKE A TEAR.
METAPHOR
- AN IMPLIED COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO UNLIKE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING
IMPORTANT IN COMMON.
EXAMPLE
- THE BOY WAS A FISH IN THE WATER.

HYPERBOLE
- IS A MAJOR EXAGGERATION OR OVERSTATEMENT.

EXAMPLE
- THE WOLF WAS 100 FEET HIGH.
PERSONIFICATION
-GIVING HUMAN TRAITS OR CHARACTERISTICS TO SOMETHING THAT ISN’T HUMAN, SUCH AS
ANIMALS, OBJECTS OR NON-LIVING THINGS.
EXAMPLE:
-TWO SUNFLOWERS MOVE IN THE YELLOW ROOM

IRONY
-AN EXPRESSION IN WHICH THE AUTHOR’S MEANING IS QUITE DIFFERENT (OFTEN THE OPPOSITE)
FROM WHAT IS LITERALLY SAID.
EXAMPLE
-WHEN I REFLECT UPON THE NUMBER OF DISAGREEABLE PEOPLE WHO I KNOW HAVE GONE TO A
BETTER WORLD, I AM MOVED TO LIVE A DIFFERENT LIFE.
 DEVICES OF FIGURE OF SPEECH
ACCUMULATION
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH THE ARGUMENTS PREVIOUSLY STARTED ARE PRESENTED
AGAIN IN A FORCEFUL MANNER. THE WORD ACCUMULATION COMES FROM LATIN WORD WHICH
MEANS MASS, PILE AND HEAP.

EXAMPLE
-THEN SHALL OUR NAMES,
FAMILIAR IN HIS MOUTH AS HOUSEHOLD WORDS,
HARRY THE KING, BEDFORD AND EXETER,
WARWICK AND TALBOT, SALISBURY AND GLOUCESTER,
BE IN THEIR FLOWING CUPS FRESHLY REMEMBERED.”
ADJUNCTION
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH A WORD, PHRASE OR CLAUSE IS PLACED AT THE BEGINNING
OR THE END OF A SENTENCE.

EXAMPLE
-FADES PHYSICAL BEAUTY WITH DISEASE OR AGE
-EITHER WITH DISEASE OR AGE PHYSICAL BEAUTY FADES.
ADNOMINATION
-IS THE REPITITION OF WORDS WITH A CHANGE IN LETTER OR SOUND.

EXAMPLE
-HE IS NOBODY FROM NOWHERE AND HE KNOWS NOTHING.
-NEWS IS WHAT SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE WANTS TO SUPPRESS;
ALL THE REST IS ADVERTISING.
ALLITERATION
-IS THE REPITITION OF INITIAL SOUNDS IN NEIGHBORING WORDS. THE INITIAL CONSONANT
SOUND IS USUALLY REPEATED IN TWO NEIGHBORING WORDS.

EXAMPLE
-SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS
-A DIME OF DOZEN
ANAPHORA
-IS A STYLISTIC DEVICE THAT CONSISTS OF REPEATING A SEQUENCE OF WORDS AT THE
BEGINNINGS OF NEIGHBORING CLAUSES TO GIVE THEM EMPHASIS.

EXAMPLE
-MAD WORLD! MAD KINGS! MAD COMPOSITION!
ANTANACLASIS
-IS A RHETORICAL DEVICE IN WHICH A WORD IS REPEATED AND WHOSE MEANING CHANGES IN
THE SECOND INSTANCE.

EXAMPLE
-YOUR ARGUMENT IS SOUND, NOTHING BUT SOUND.
ALLUSION
-A REFERENCE TO SOME HISTORICAL OR LITERARY EVENT OR PERSON THAT HAS STRIKING
RESEMBLANCE TO THE SUBJECT UNDER DISCUSSION. ALLUSION IS USED OFTEN IN PROSE.

*PROSE: WRITTEN OR SPOKEN LANGUAGE IN ITS ORDINARY FORM, WITHOUT METRICAL

STRUCTURE

EXAMPLE
-WE LIVE UNDER THE NUCLEAR SWORD OF DAMOCLES
-HE IS ROMEO TO EVERY GIRL HE MEETS
-WHEN HE MET HER, HE MET HIS WATERLOO
ANTICLIMAX
-REFERS TO A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH STATEMENTS GRADUALLY DESCEND IN ORDER OF
IMPORTANCE.
-ANTICLIMAX IS THE ARRANGEMENT OF A SERIES OF WORDS, PHRASES, OR CLAUSES IN ORDER
OF DECREASING IMPORTANCE.

EXAMPLE
-SHE IS A GREAT WRITER, A MOTHER AND A GOOD HUMORIST.
ANTIPHRASIS
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH A WORD OR PHRASE IS USED TO MEAN THE OPPOSITE OF ITS
NORMAL MEANING TO CREATE IRONIC HUMOROUS EFFECT. FROM THE GREEK: ANTI “OPPOSITE”
AND PHRASIS “DICTION”

EXAMPLE
-SHE’S SO BEAUTIFUL. SHE HAS AN ATTRACTIVE LONG NOSE.
ANTITHESIS
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH WHICH REFERS TO THE JUXTAPOSITION OF OPPOSING OR
CONTRASTING PEOPLE.

EXAMPLE
-MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES
-LOVE IS AN IDEAL THING, MARRIAGE IS A REAL THING
ASSONANCE
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH THAT IS FOUND MORE OFTEN IN VERSE THAN IN PHRASE. IT REFERS TO
THE REPITITION OF VOWEL SOUNDS TO CREATE INTERNAL RHYMING WITHIN PHRASES OR
SENTENCES.

EXAMPLE
-THE SILKEN SAD UNCERTAIN RUSTLING OF EACH PURPLE CURTAIN
-THE CRUMBLING THUNDER OF SEAS.
CATAPHORA
-REFERS TO A FIGURE OF SPEECH WHERE AN EARLIER EXPRESSION REFERS TO OR DESCRIBES
A FORWARD EXPRESSION.

EXAMPLE
-AFTER HE HAD RECEIVED HIS ORDERS, THE SOLDIER LEFT THE BARRACKS.
CHIASMUS
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH WORDS, GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTIONS, OR CONCEPTS ARE
REPEATED IN REVERSE ORDER, IN THE SAME OR A MODIFIED FORM.

EXAMPLE
-BAD MEN LIVE THAT THEY MAY EAT AND DRINK, WHEREAS GOOD MEN EAT AND DRINK THAT THEY
MAY LIVE.
CLIMAX
-REFERS TO A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH WORDS, PHRASES OR CLAUSES ARE ARRANGED IN
ORDER OF INCREASING IMPORTANCE.
EXAMPLE
- BEAUTY IS BUT A VAIN AND DOUBTFUL GOOD;
A SHINNING GLOSS THAT VADETH SUDDENLY;
A FLOWER THAT DIES WHEN FIRST IT GINS TO BUD;
A BRITTLE GLASS THAT’S BROKEN PRESENTLY;
A DOUBTFUL GOOD, A GLOSS, A GLASS, A FLOWER,
LOST, VADED, BROKEN, DEAD WITHIN AN HOUR.
DYSPHEMISM
-IS THE USE OF A HARSH, MORE OFFENSIVE WORD INSTEAD OF ONE CONSIDERED LESS HARSH.
IT IS GENERALLY USED TO SHOCK OR OFFEND.

EXAMPLE
-SNAIL MAIL FOR POSTAL MAIL
-EGGHEAD FOR GENIUS
ELLIPSIS
-IS THE OMISSION OF A WORD OR WORDS
-ELLIPSIS HELPS US AVOID A LOT OF REDUNDANCY

EXAMPLE
-LADY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHAT (SHE CAN DO)
EUPHEMISM
-IS USED TO EXPRESS A MILD, INDIRECT, OR VAGUE TERM TO SUBSTITUTE FOR A HARSH,
BLUNT, OR OFFENSIVE TERM.

EXAMPLE
-COMFORT WOMAN FOR PROSTITUTE
EPIGRAM
-REFERS TO A CONCISE, WITTY, MEMORABLE, AND SOMETIMES SURPRISING OR SATIRICAL
STATEMENT.

EXAMPLE
-THE MORE CORRUPT THE STATE, THE MORE NUMEROUS THE LAW.
EPIPHORA(EPISTROPHE)
-IS A RHETORICAL DEVICE THAT CONCISTS OF REPEATING A SEQUENCE OF WORDS AT THE
END OF NEIGHBORING CLAUSES TO GIVE EMPHASIS.

EXAMPLE
-THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THERE IS NO SOUTHERN PROBLEM. THERE IS NO NORTHERN
PROBLEM. THERE IS ONLY AN AMERICAN PROBLEM.
HYPOPHORA
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH THE SPEAKER RAISES A QUESTION AND THEN ANSWER IT.

EXAMPLE
-YOU ASK, WHAT IS OUR POLICY? I WILL SAY: IT IS TO WAGE WAR, BY SEA, LAND AND AIR, WITH ALL
OUR MIGHTY AND WITH ALL THE STRENGHT.
LITOTES
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH CONSISTING OF AN UNDERSTATEMENT IN WHICH AN AFFIRMATIVE IS
EXPRESSED BY NEGATING ITS OPPOSITE.

EXAMPLE
-SHE IS NOT VERY BEAUTIFUL
-HE IS NOT THE FRIENDLIEST PERSON I’VE MET.
OXYMORON
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH THAT COMBINES INCONGROUS OR CONTRADICTORY TERMS.

EXAMPLE
-DARK LIGHT
-LIVING DEAD

*OXYMORONS CAN ALSO BE A COMBINATION OF A NOUN AND A VERB

EXAMPLE
-THE SILENCE WHISTLES
PERSONIFICATION
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS ARE ATTRIBUTED TO AN ABSTRACT
QUALITY, ANIMAL OR INANIMATE OBJECT.

EXAMPLE
-TWO SUNFLOWERS MOVE IN THE YELLOW ROOM.
PUNS
-ALSO CALLED PARANOMASIA, INVOLVES A WORD PLAY WHICH SUGGESTS TWO OR MORE
MEANINGS, BY EXPLOITING MULTIPLE MEANINGS OF WORDS, OR OF SIMILAR-SOUNDING WORDS,
FOR AN INTENDED HUMOROUS OR RHETORICAL EFFECT.

EXAMPLE
-ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET INSTITUTION

*THE WORD “PROPHET” IS PUT IN PLACE OF ITS HOMOPHONE “PROFIT”, ALTERING THE COMMON
PHRASE “NON-PROFIT INSTITUTION”
MERISM
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH BY WHICH SOMETHING IS REFERRED TO BY A CONVENTIONAL PHRASE
THAT ENUMERATES SEVERAL OF ITS CONSTITUENTS OR TRAITS.

EXAMPLE
-LOCK, STOCK, AND BARREL (REFERRING TO THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF A GUN)
METALEPSIS
-FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH REFERENCE IS MADE TO SOMETHING BY MEANS OF ANOTHER
THING THAT IS REMOTELY RELATED TO IT, EITHER THROUGH A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP, OR
THROUGH ANOTHER FIGURE OF SPEECH.

EXAMPLE
-WAS THIS THE FACE THAT LAUNCHED A THOUSAND SHIPS
AND BURNT THE TOPLESS TOWERS OF ILIUM?
METONOMY
-WHICH A THING OR CONCEPT IS NOT CALLED BY ITS OWN NAME, BUT BY THE NAME OF
SOMETHING INTIMATELY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT THING OR CONCEPT.

EXAMPLE
-CROWN (FOR THE POWER OF A KING)
-SWORD (FOR MILITARY FORCE)
SYNECDOCHE
-IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH A PART OF SOMETHING IS USED TO REPRESENT THE WHOLE
OR THE WHOLE OF SOMETHING IS USED TO REPRESENT PART OF IT.

EXAMPLE
-PART OF SOMETHING IS USED TO REFER TO THE WHOLE THING- A HUNDRED HEAD OF CATTLE
(USING THE PART HEAD TO REFER TO THE WHOLE ANIMAL).
TAUTOLOGY
-IS A STATEMENT THAT SAYS THE SAME THING TWICE IN DIFFERENT WAYS, OR A STATEMENT THAT
IS UNCONDITIONALLY TRUE BY THE WAY IT IS PHRASED.

EXAMPLE
-THE MOBILE PHONE IS A NEW INNOVATION
-MY FIRST PRIORITY IS TO BUY FOOD FOR THE CHILDREN.