Norte, Judy Anne D. May 13, 2014BSA 3/GEC-Engl5 (World Literature) Mr. Edilberto M. de los Reyes

Figures of Speech

1. Simile – it is a rhetorical figure expressing comparison or likeness that directly compares two objects through some connective word such as like, as, so, than, or a verb such as resembles. Although similes and metaphors are generally seen as interchangeable, similes acknowledge the imperfections and limitations of the comparative relationship to a greater extent than metaphors.

Examples: as busy as a horse as happy as a clam

2. Metaphor – it is a figure speech that describes a subject by asserting that it is, on some point of comparison, the same as another otherwise unrelated object. Metaphor is a type of analogy and is closely related to other rhetorical figures of speech achieve their effects via association, comparison or resemblance.

Examples: apple of my eye light of my life

3. Personification – it means representing a non-human living thing, inanimate object, or idea as human or attributing to it human traits and qualities, such as a physical body, emotions, desires, sensations, physical gestures and speech.

Examples: The stars danced playfully in the beautiful scenery The destroyed house appeared depressed.

4. Hyperbole – it is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally.

Examples: I am so hungry I could eat a horse. I have a million things to do.

5. Apostrophe – it is an exclamatory figure of speech. It occurs when a speaker breaks off from addressing the audience and directs speech to an absent third party.

Examples: God deliver me from fools. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

6. Irony – it is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or event characterized by an incongruity, or contrast, between what the expectations of a situation are.

Examples: A person who claims to be a vegan and avoids meat but will eat a slice of

pepperoni pizza because they are hungry. A man who is a traffic cop gets his license suspended for unpaid parking tickets.

7. Metonymy – it is a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is called not by its own name but rather by the name of something associated in meaning with that thing or concept.

Examples: The pen is mightier than the sword. To fish pearls.

8. Synecdoche – it is a type of trope, which is a figure of speech. When used in literature, a synecdoche will add to the visual imagery of the passage and enhance the reader’s experience.

Example: Music is my bread and butter. He is the breadwinner.

9. Euphemism - is a generally innocuous word or expression used in place of one that may be found offensive or suggest something unpleasant.

Examples: Passed away instead of died. Correctional facility instead of jail.

10. Onomatopoeia – it is a word that phonetically imitates, resembles or suggests the source of the sound that it describes. It refers to the property of such words. 

Examples: Water plops into pond. Trilling as a melodic hill