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istist of Figuof Figuresres of Speeof Speechch
PersonifcationPersonifcation - -^ is all about adding a human trait tois all about adding a human trait to an inanimatean inanimate object or an abstraction.object or an abstraction.
For exampleFor example: The picture in that magazine shouted f: The picture in that magazine shouted for attention.or attention.
SimileSimile - - is a guris a gure of speech that ce of speech that compares twompares two unrelatedo unrelated things orthings or ideas using "like" or "as" to accentuate aideas using "like" or "as" to accentuate a certain feature of an objectcertain feature of an object by comparing it to aby comparing it to a dissimilar object that is a typical example of thatdissimilar object that is a typical example of that particular trait.particular trait.
For exampleFor example: as big as a bus: as big as a bus as clear as a bell as dry as aas clear as a bell as dry as a bone etc.bone etc.
AnalogyAnalogy - is a gure of speech that e!uates two things to explain- is a gure of speech that e!uates two things to explain something unfamiliar by highlighting its similarities to something thatsomething unfamiliar by highlighting its similarities to something that is familiaris familiar. This. This gure of speech isgure of speech is commonly used in scommonly used in spoken andpoken and written nglish.written nglish.
For exampleFor example: #uestions and answers crying and laughing etc.: #uestions and answers crying and laughing etc.
- • MetaphorMetaphor - - compares two di$erent or unrelated things tocompares two di$erent or unrelated things to re%ealre%eal certain new !ualities in the subject which youcertain new !ualities in the subject which you might ha%e ignored ormight ha%e ignored or o%erlookeo%erlookedd otherwise.otherwise.
For exampleFor example: The streets of &hennai are a furnace.: The streets of &hennai are a furnace.
- • AlliterationAlliteration - is the duplication of a specic consonant sound a- is the duplication of a specic consonant sound at thet the start of each word andstart of each word and in !uick succession. 'lthough alliterations arein !uick succession. 'lthough alliterations are all about consonant sall about consonant sounds exceptions can be made when %owelsounds exceptions can be made when %owels sounds are also repeated. This gure of speech issounds are also repeated. This gure of speech is commonly seen incommonly seen in poems.poems.
For exampleFor example: "(uinness is good for you" - Tagline for (uinness: "(uinness is good for you" - Tagline for (uinness
HyperboleHyperbole - '- ' farfar-fetched o%er exaggerated description or sentence-fetched o%er exaggerated description or sentence is called as hyperbole andis called as hyperbole and is commonly used in jokes and makingis commonly used in jokes and making backhanded compliments.backhanded compliments.
For exampleFor example: )hen she smiles her cheeks fall o$.: )hen she smiles her cheeks fall o$.
OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia - - This gure of speech iThis gure of speech is partly pleasure and parts partly pleasure and partlyly business. *t is usedbusiness. *t is used to replicate sounds created by objects actionsto replicate sounds created by objects actions animals and people.animals and people.
For exampleFor example: &ock-a-doodle-do !uack moo etc.: &ock-a-doodle-do !uack moo etc.
- • ImageryImagery - is a- is a gure of speech which employs words to create mentalgure of speech which employs words to create mental images in the mind ofimages in the mind of the readerthe reader. *t is. *t is a powerful tool anda powerful tool and mostly usedmostly used by poets lyricists and authors.by poets lyricists and authors.
For exampleFor example: "&loudless e%ery day you fall upon: "&loudless e%ery day you fall upon my waking eyes in%itingmy waking eyes in%iting and inciting me to rise and through the window in the wall comeand inciting me to rise and through the window in the wall come streaming in on sunlight wings 'streaming in on sunlight wings ' million bright ambassadors of morning."million bright ambassadors of morning."
- ' portion of the lyrics to the song +choes+ by- ' portion of the lyrics to the song +choes+ by the band ,ink loydthe band ,ink loyd
- • SymbolSymbol - refers to the use- refers to the use of an object orof an object or symbol to represent orsymbol to represent or indicate something else.indicate something else.
For exampleFor example: The symbolism of a: The symbolism of a red rose lo%e/red rose lo%e/ the symbolism of a the symbolism of a whitewhite 0ag peace/ etc.0ag peace/ etc.
- • (^) PunPun - is a- is a gure of speech that plays with words togure of speech that plays with words to gi%e away obscuredgi%e away obscured meanings. ' pun is also known as paronomasia.meanings. ' pun is also known as paronomasia.
For exampleFor example: 1y son wanted a: 1y son wanted a scooterscooter. )hen *. )hen * told him they are tootold him they are too dangerous he moped around the house.dangerous he moped around the house.
- • AllegoryAllegory - is no- is nothing but anthing but an impro%iimpro%ised metaphorsed metaphor. *t is. *t is a gure ofa gure of speech which in%ol%es the use of characters or actions in a piece ofspeech which in%ol%es the use of characters or actions in a piece of literatureliterature wherein the characters ha%e wherein the characters ha%e more to them thanmore to them than meets themeets the eye.eye.
For exampleFor example: The Trojan )omen by uripides: The Trojan )omen by uripides
'esop+s ables by 'esop.'esop+s ables by 'esop.
- • TautologyTautology - is- is needless repetitineedless repetition of words toon of words to denote the same thing.denote the same thing.
For exampleFor example: &2-341 disk: &2-341 disk ,5 number 'T1 machine etc.,5 number 'T1 machine etc.
- • PalindromePalindrome - is a series of numbers words or phrases that reads the- is a series of numbers words or phrases that reads the same in either direction.same in either direction.
For exampleFor example: 1alayalam ' Toyota+s a Toyota etc.: 1alayalam ' Toyota+s a Toyota etc.
- • EuphemismEuphemism - is a- is a gure of speech where an o$ensi%e word orgure of speech where an o$ensi%e word or expression is replaced with a polite word.expression is replaced with a polite word.
For exampleFor example: 3uns the leopard past us as we stray deeper into his territory.: 3uns the leopard past us as we stray deeper into his territory.
- • AntithesisAntithesis^ - is- is a gure of speech where two %ery opposing lines ofa gure of speech where two %ery opposing lines of thought or ideas athought or ideas are placed in a somewhat balanced sentenced.re placed in a somewhat balanced sentenced.
For example:For example: 1an proposes: (od disposes.1an proposes: (od disposes.
- • (^) ApostropheApostrophe - is used when a person who is- is used when a person who is absent or nonexistent isabsent or nonexistent is spoken to.spoken to.
For exampleFor example: "Twinkle twinkle little star: "Twinkle twinkle little star 8ow * wonder what you8ow * wonder what you are.are. 9p abo%e the world so high9p abo%e the world so high ike a diamond in the sky."ike a diamond in the sky."
%limax &%limax & n a climax the words are placed inn a climax the words are placed in an ascending orderan ascending order depending on theirdepending on their signicance. These words generally re%ol%e aroundsignicance. These words generally re%ol%e around a central theme and are arranged in ana central theme and are arranged in an increasiincreasing order to create ang order to create a strong impression on the mind of the reader.strong impression on the mind of the reader.
For exampleFor example: "There are three things that will endure: faith hope and lo%e.: "There are three things that will endure: faith hope and lo%e. ;ut the greatest of these is lo%e." -;ut the greatest of these is lo%e." - < &orinthians <=:<=< &orinthians <=:<=
- • MetonymyMetonymy - is a- is a gure of speech where one word or phrase is usedgure of speech where one word or phrase is used inin place of anotherplace of another. )ith metonymies a name of a. )ith metonymies a name of a particular thing isparticular thing is substituted with the name ofsubstituted with the name of a thing that isa thing that is closely related to it.closely related to it.
For exampleFor example: ")e ha%e always remained loyal to the crown.": ")e ha%e always remained loyal to the crown."
- • OxymoronOxymoron - in%ol%es the usage- in%ol%es the usage of contradictory terms to describe anof contradictory terms to describe an object situation or incident.object situation or incident.
For exampleFor example: open s: open secret tragic comedy exact estimate original copiesecret tragic comedy exact estimate original copies etc.etc.
SynecdocheSynecdoche - This is- This is gure of speech where a part of agure of speech where a part of a particularparticular object is employed to throw light on theobject is employed to throw light on the whole thing.whole thing.
For exampleFor example: 2escribing a whole %ehicle as just: 2escribing a whole %ehicle as just "wheels"."wheels".
StereotypeStereotype - ' stereotype as far as- ' stereotype as far as the gures of speech arethe gures of speech are concerned is a con%ention a predisposition or aconcerned is a con%ention a predisposition or a set approach to anyset approach to any particular issue.particular issue.
For exampleFor example: 'll blondes are dumb.: 'll blondes are dumb.
Anastrophe &Anastrophe & 'n anastrophe refers to an'n anastrophe refers to an in%ersion or rearrangementin%ersion or rearrangement of a group ofof a group of words that usually appear in awords that usually appear in a certain ordercertain order..
For exampleFor example: (old that glitters is not all that not. 'll that glitters is gold/: (old that glitters is not all that not. 'll that glitters is gold/
- • AnaphoraAnaphora - is- is an expression which referan expression which refers to anothers to another and can beand can be ambiguous.ambiguous.
For exampleFor example: The tiger ate the: The tiger ate the snake and it died. ongfellowsnake and it died. ongfellow
Antonomasia &Antonomasia & This gure of speech uses theThis gure of speech uses the name of a person onname of a person on another person or persons possessinganother person or persons possessing characteristics that are similar tocharacteristics that are similar to the characteristics of the former.the characteristics of the former.
For exampleFor example: 8e was the 'dolf 8itler of: 8e was the 'dolf 8itler of the school.the school.
- • 'itotes'itotes - are nothing but an understatement. *t can be used when you- are nothing but an understatement. *t can be used when you are looking to underplay a positi%e withare looking to underplay a positi%e with a negati%e.a negati%e.
For exampleFor example: The food at that restaurant is not bad at all.: The food at that restaurant is not bad at all.
- • ParalipsisParalipsis^ - is a gure of speech that focuses on any- is a gure of speech that focuses on any particular thingparticular thing without really making it ob%ious.without really making it ob%ious.
For exampleFor example: * know who ate the last apple but * will not mention >aren+s: * know who ate the last apple but * will not mention >aren+s name.name.
- • (hetoric(hetoric - in writing refers to an unexplained and undue use of- in writing refers to an unexplained and undue use of exaggeration.exaggeration.
For exampleFor examplehands touched hea%en and took a !uick look at the 'lmighty?hands touched hea%en and took a !uick look at the 'lmighty?: )hen * reached the peak: )hen * reached the peak of the mountain *of the mountain * stretched out mystretched out my
- • )eugma)eugma - refers to the employment of a word to- refers to the employment of a word to bridge two or morebridge two or more words but here the word makes sense to one word or all words inwords but here the word makes sense to one word or all words in dissimilar ways.dissimilar ways.
For exampleFor example: 7he lowered her standards by raising her glass: 7he lowered her standards by raising her glass her courageher courage her eyes and his hopes.her eyes and his hopes.
- • AnticlimaxAnticlimax - as a gure speech refers to the building up a climax that- as a gure speech refers to the building up a climax that results in something that cannot really be described as aresults in something that cannot really be described as a climax.climax.
Parallelism &Parallelism & n the nglish languagen the nglish language parallelism referparallelism refers to balances to balance created between two or more similar words andcreated between two or more similar words and sentences.sentences.
For exampleFor example: * like rich desserts fast card-games and diCcult riddles.: * like rich desserts fast card-games and diCcult riddles.
Asyndeton &Asyndeton & This is a gure of speech that con%This is a gure of speech that con%eniently ignoreniently ignores thees the use of conjunctions.use of conjunctions.
For exampleFor example: 7he has pro%ided with a: 7he has pro%ided with a chance to earn a li%ing withchance to earn a li%ing with selfself-- respect with satisfaction.respect with satisfaction.
- • ParenthesisParenthesis - - refers to a self-explanatory and contradicting word orrefers to a self-explanatory and contradicting word or sentence that breaks the 0ow in asentence that breaks the 0ow in a series of sentences often withoutseries of sentences often without a$ecting the 0ow in ana$ecting the 0ow in an ob%ious mannerob%ious manner. &ommas and dashes. &ommas and dashes areare employed when a parenthesis is used.employed when a parenthesis is used.
For exampleFor example: )ould you >ris listen to me6: )ould you >ris listen to me
- • AntimetaboleAntimetabole - is a gure of speech where the second half of a- is a gure of speech where the second half of a sentence phrase or series is in thesentence phrase or series is in the exact opposite order of the rstexact opposite order of the rst part.part.
For exampleFor example: ( - (: ( - (
- • EpistropheEpistrophe - or- or epiphora is the repetition of the same word or wordsepiphora is the repetition of the same word or words at the end ofat the end of consecuti%e phrases clauses or sentences. *t isconsecuti%e phrases clauses or sentences. *t is extrextremelyemely emphatic and is usually employed toemphatic and is usually employed to stress the last word in a phrasestress the last word in a phrase oror sentence.sentence.
For exampleFor example: ")hat lies behind us: ")hat lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny comparedand what lies before us are tiny compared to what lies within us."to what lies within us." -merson-merson
- • +nderstatement+nderstatement - is a gure of speech that is used to- is a gure of speech that is used to undermine theundermine the due importance of adue importance of a statement.statement.
For exampleFor example: "' soiled baby with a neglected nose cannot be: "' soiled baby with a neglected nose cannot be conscientiously regarded as a thing of beauty." - 1ark Twain/conscientiously regarded as a thing of beauty." - 1ark Twain/
- • %hiasmus%hiasmus^ - is another important gure of s- is another important gure of speech wherein two or morepeech wherein two or more clauses are joined together through a re%ersing the syntax to con%ey aclauses are joined together through a re%ersing the syntax to con%ey a bigger point.bigger point.
For exampleFor example: "* 0ee who chases me and chase who 0ees me." - 4%id/: "* 0ee who chases me and chase who 0ees me." - 4%id/
- • EpithetEpithet - can- can be best dened asbe best dened as a descripti%e title that commonlya descripti%e title that commonly in%ol%es a word or a phrase that is used in lieu of the real name.in%ol%es a word or a phrase that is used in lieu of the real name.
- • For exampleFor example: 'lexander the (reat.: 'lexander the (reat.
