12 figure of speech with examples
Answers
Answer: 1. SIMILE
In simile two unlike things are explicitly compared. For example, “She is like a fairy”. A simile is introduced by words such as like, so, as etc.
2. METAPHOR
It is an informal or implied simile in which words like, as, so are omitted. For example, “He is like a lion (Simile) “and “He is a lion (metaphor)”. In the following examples, metaphors are underlined.
She is a star of our family.
The childhood of the world; the anger of the tempest; the deceitfulness of the riches: wine is a mocker.
She is now in the sunset of her days.
3. PERSONIFICATION
Personification is an attribution of personal nature, intelligence or character to inanimate objects or abstract notions. For example, in some phrases we use, the furious storm, the thirsty ground, and the pitiless cold. Some other examples are:
Little sorrows sit and weep. (Boccaccio)
The dish ran away with the spoon. (Blake)
4. METONYMY
Metonymy is meant for a change of name. It is a substitute of the thing names for the thing meant. Following examples will clarify the concept.
The pen is mightier than the sword.
From the cradle to the grave. = from childhood to death.
I have never read Milton. = the works of Milton.
5. APOSTROPHE
It is a direct address to some inanimate thing or some abstract idea as if it were living person or some absent person as if it were present. Example, “Boy’s mother loved him very much.”23 Common Figures of Speech (Types and Examples)
What are the figures of speech?
A figure of speech is a deviation from the ordinary use of words in order to increase their effectiveness.
Basically, it is a figurative language that may consist of a single word or phrase.
It may be a simile, a metaphor or personification to convey the meaning other than the literal meaning.
Types of figures of Speech
The figures of speech list is over a hundred but some commonly used types are given along with examples.
Most common figures of speech and examples.
Common figures of speech with examples
1. SIMILE
In simile two unlike things are explicitly compared. For example, “She is like a fairy”. A simile is introduced by words such as like, so, as etc.
2. METAPHOR
It is an informal or implied simile in which words like, as, so are omitted. For example, “He is like a lion (Simile) “and “He is a lion (metaphor)”. In the following examples, metaphors are underlined.
She is a star of our family.
The childhood of the world; the anger of the tempest; the deceitfulness of the riches: wine is a mocker.
She is now in the sunset of her days.
3. PERSONIFICATION
Personification is an attribution of personal nature, intelligence or character to inanimate objects or abstract notions. For example, in some phrases we use, the furious storm, the thirsty ground, and the pitiless cold. Some other examples are:
Little sorrows sit and weep. (Boccaccio)
The dish ran away with the spoon. (Blake)
4. METONYMY
Metonymy is meant for a change of name. It is a substitute of the thing names for the thing meant. Following examples will clarify the concept.
The pen is mightier than the sword.
From the cradle to the grave. = from childhood to death.
I have never read Milton. = the works of Milton.
5. APOSTROPHE
It is a direct address to some inanimate thing or some abstract idea as if it were living person or some absent person as if it were present. Example, “Boy’s mother loved him very much.”
6. HYPERBOLE
Hyperbole is a statement made emphatic by overstatement. For example, “Virtues as the sands of the shore.”
7. SYNECDOCHE
Synecdoche is the understanding of one thing by means of another. Here, a part is used to designate the whole or the whole to designate a part. For example, “I have the Viceroy, love the man.”, and “All hands (crew) at work.”
8. TRANSFERRED EPITHETS
In transferred epithets, the qualifying objective is transferred from a person to a thing as in phrases. For example, “sleepless night”, “sunburn mirth”, and “melodious plain”.
9. EUPHEMISM
By using the euphemism, we speak in agreeable and favorable terms of some person, object or event which is ordinarily considered unpleasant and disagreeable. For example,
He is telling us a fairy tale. (a lie)
He has fallen asleep. (he is dead)
10. IRONY OR SARCASM
In this mode of speech, the real meanings of the words used are different from the intended meanings. For example, the child of cobbler has no shoe.
11. PUN
This consists of a play on the various meanings of a word. Its effect is often ludicrous. For example,
Is life worth living? It depends upon the liver.
Obviously, the constitution is against prostitution and congress is against progress. (con means against and pro means for)
12. EPIGRAM
It is a brief pointed saying. It couples words which apparently contradict each other. The language of the epigram is remarkable for its brevity. Examples are as under:
Explanation:
23 Common Figures of Speech (Types and Examples)
SIMILE. In simile two unlike things are explicitly compared. ...
METAPHOR. It is an informal or implied simile in which words like, as, so are omitted. ...
PERSONIFICATION. ...
METONYMY. ...
APOSTROPHE. ...
HYPERBOLE. ...
SYNECDOCHE. ...
TRANSFERRED EPITHETS.