choose the correct figure of speech
1)It takes much time to kill a tree
a) apostrophe
b) anastrophe
c) alliteration
d)assonance
2)Not a simple jab of the knife will do it
a) internal rhyme
b)pun
c)tautology
d)litotes
Answers
Answer:
Figures of speech are departures from the direct way of speaking or writing, intended to explain, emphasize, elucidate or embellish what is being said.
They are chiefly used in poetry for the sake of vividness. They are also used in prose especially in public speeches to give added effect or beauty to what is said.
The figures of speech may be divided into five sections:
1. Figures based on Similarity or Likeness. They are :
(1) Simile (2) Metaphor
(3) Personification (4) Apostrophe
2. Figures based on Contrast, Difference or Surprise. They are :
(1) Antithesis (2) Epigram
(3) Paradox (4) Oxymoron
(5) Irony (6) Euphemism
(7) Litotes
3. Figures based on Association or Substitution. They are :
(1) Metonymy (2) Synecdoche
4. Figures based on Construction or Arrangement of words. They are :
(1) Interrogation (2) Exclamation
(3) Climax (4) Anticlimax
(5) Hyperbole (6) Transferred Epithet
(7) Tautology
5. Figures based on Sound. They are :
(1) Pun (2) Alliteration
(3) Onomatopoeia
I. BASED ON SIMILARITIES
(1) Simile
A simile is a figure in which a comparison is made between two objects of different kinds, which are alike at least at one point.
In this figure words like, as or so are always used.
Suresh is as strong as a lion.
Helen was like a lovely rose.
Note: Comparison between two objects of the same kind is not a smile but a simple comparison.
e.g. Smith is as clever as Henry.
Other Examples :
(i) The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold.
(ii) He looks as cheerful as a rose.
(iii) He roared like a lion.
(iv) It stirred the heart as a trumpet.
(v) Curses are like chickens: they come home to roost.
(vi) He walked about as proud as a peacock.
(vii) His eyes were as keen as an eagle’s.
(viii) Thy smile is as the dawn of vernal day.
(ix) That story is as old as the hills.
(2) Metaphor
The metaphor is a figure of speech in which there is a comparison of one thing with -another without the words ‘like or as’. The resemblance is implied. e.g.
(1) Ministers are the pillars of the state.
(2) The fairest rose in all Greece was Helen of Troy.
Other Examples :
(i) Infancy is the dawn of life.
(ii) The wish is the father to the thought.
(iii) And all that mighty heart is lying still.
(iv) The ship ploughs the sea.
(v) A rolling stone gathers no moss.
(vi) The camel is the ship of the desert.
(vii) He was the apple of his eye.
(viii) Those are pearls that were his eyes.
(ix) He is still in the spring of life.
(x) Idleness is the rust of the soul.
(3) Personification
Personification is a figure in which objects without life are spoken of as having the Qualities of a human being.
e.g.
(1) The earth thirsts for rain and when it rains smiles with plenty.
Other Examples :
(i) Let not ambition mock at their useful toil.
(ii) Mute nature moves her worshipper.
(iii) With the leaden foot, time creeps along.
(iv) The hills rejoice and clap their hands.
(v) Anxiety is sitting on his face.
(vi) In the meantime, life steals away.
(vii) The trembling Tiber dived beneath his bed.
(viii) The grey-eyed morn smiles on a flowering night.
(ix) The sun sank into the ocean in all his glory.
(x) Death lays his icy hand on kings.
(4) Apostrophe
The apostrophe is a figure by which the speaker addresses some inanimate thing or some abstract idea as if it were a living person, or some absent person as if it/he were present.
e.g.
(1) O Luxury I thou curst by Heaven’s decree. How ill exchanged are joys like these to thee!
(2) Come back to me, O Helen, in the pride of thy beauty.
Other Examples :
(i) Milton! thou should’st be living at this hour.
(ii) Hail! Smiling Morn! That tips the hills with gold!
(iii) Time, you old Gipsy man, will you not stay?
(iv) Roll on, thou deep and dark blue, Ocean — Roll!
(v) Hail I most divine Melancholy.
(vi) Oh! Judgement! thou art fled to brutish beasts.
(vii) O Liberty, what crimes have been committed in thy name!
(viii) O Duty, stern daughter of the voice of God I
(ix) Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
(x) The Sweet Thames! run softly, till I end my song.
II. BASED ON CONTRAST
(1) Antithesis
In Antithesis, a striking opposition of contrast of words or feelings is made in the same sentence. It is employed to secure emphasis.
e.g.
(1) Man proposes God disposes of.
(2) As is the sunset to an evening sky, so was Helen’s beauty to Troy before its downfall.
Other Examples :
(i) To err .is human, to forgive divine.
(ii) United we stand, divided we fall.
(iii) Well begun is half done.
(iv) A jack of all trades but master of none.
(v) Men are cruel but Man is kind
(vi) In righting a wrong, we sometimes wrong he right.
(vii) Not that I love Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.
(viii) Many are called but few are chosen.
Explanation:
(iv) I am not a little surprised at your conduct.
(v) He is no dullard.
(viii) Dry clashed his harness in the icy caves.
(ix) Brushing with hasty steps the dew away.
(x) Now and again came the tong-ting-tong of a sheep-bell.
Answer:
- Option c- Alliteration
- Option d - Litotes
Explanation:
- Alliteration means the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of closely connected words.
- Litotes means ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary.