FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Figurative Language is phrasing that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to get
the message or point across. It helps in expressing words, used in an extraordinary
way to add beauty and emotional intensity of the language. Students can express
more than one Figures of Speech if it fits the sentence.
SIMILE:
A Simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two
different things. A simile draws resemblance with the help of the words “like” or “as”.
Therefore, it is a direct comparison.

Eg: Our soldiers are as brave as lions.

Explanation: Soldiers are compared to lions for their bravery.

METAPHOR:

Metaphor is a figure of speech which makes a resemblance of two contradictory or different

objects is made based on a single or some common characteristics. When you portray a
person, place, thing, or an action as being something else, even though it is not actually that
“something else,” you are speaking metaphorically.

Eg: “He was a lion in the fight.”

PERSONIFICATION:

In Personification, inanimate objects and abstract nouns are spoken of as having life and
intelligence.

Eg: The wind sang through the meadow.

Explanation: Wind is given the human quality of singing.

APOSTROPHE:

An Apostrophe is a direct address to the dead, to the absent, or to a personified object or

idea. An Apostrophe detaches himself from the reality and addresses an imaginary
character in his speech.

Eg: Milton! Death! You should not be living at this hour.

Death! Where is thy sting? O Grave! Where is thy victory?

Explanation: Milton is dead and is being addressed. Death and Grave are object and are
addressed.

ANASTROPHE (INVERSION):

When the prose order is changed to suit poetic effect, it is called Anastrophe.

Eg: Barren are those mountains. = Those mountains are barren.

Explanation: The prose order is: Sub + Verb + Object + Rest of the sentence.

ANTITHESIS:

In Antithesis, a striking opposition or contrast of words or sentiments is made in the same

sentence. It is employed to secure emphasis.

Eg: Man proposes, but God disposes.

Explanation: proposes and disposes are opposites.

EPIGRAM:

Epigram is a memorable, brief, interesting and surprising satirical statement used frequently
introducing ideas which excite, surprise and catch the attention, it is called Epigram. They
cause the reader/listener to think a bit more about the statement made

Eg: “Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.”

“A word to the wise isn’t necessary; it’s the stupid ones who need all the advice.”

“The child is a father of man.”

“He makes no friend, who never made a foe.”

METONYMY:

It is a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else
with which it is closely associated. (OR) When an object is designated by the name of
something which is generally linked with it, it is called Metonymy.

Eg: The Crown / The Staff (for the King)

The Bench (for the Judge)
Cradle to Grave (from Infancy to Death)

SYNECDOCHE:

When a part is used to designate the whole or the whole to designate a part or abstract for
concrete or concrete for abstract, it is called Synecdoche.
A synecdoche may use part of something to represent the entire whole. It may use an entire
whole thing to represent a part of it.

Eg: (Part to Represent Whole)

The word “bread” can be used to represent food in general or money (e.g. he is the
breadwinner; music is my bread and butter).
(Whole to Represent a Part)
If “the world” is not treating you well, that would not be the entire world but just a part of it
that you've encountered.
ALLITERATION:
Alliteration occurs when a series of words in a row (or close together) have the same first
consonant sound.
Eg: “See the tiny ships on the shiny sea.
 The alphabets ‘iny’ is repeated producing phonetics.

 The letters ‘y’, ‘s’ repeated for poetic effect.

 The alphabets ‘shi’ repeated producing phonetics.

EXCLAMATION!
When a strong feeling or emotion is expressed, it is called Exclamation.
Eg: She is won! We are gone!
 She is won…depicts happiness.

 We are gone…depicts sadness.

TAUTOLOGY:
When different words of the same meaning are used, it is called Tautology.
Eg: We will meet at some old ancient inn (‘old’ and ‘ancient’ means the same.)
HYPERBOLE (HYPER-BUH-LI)
When a statement is made emphatic by overstatement or exaggeration, it is called
Hyperbole.
Eg: Ten thousand times I told you to keep quiet… (Ten thousand times is an exaggeration)
It was so cold; I saw Polar Bears wearing jackets.
PUN:
When there is more than one meaning in the same word, it is called Pun.
Eg: Is life worth living? It depends on the liver.

Explanation: Liver refers to the internal part of the body and also is with reference to the
person who wishes to survive or not.
A horse is a very stable animal.

IRONY:
Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their
intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. 
Eg: “What a nice day” when it is raining.
Brilliant, I’ve been fired!
CLIMAX:
When the ideas are presented in the ascending order, it is called Climax.
Eg: "There are three things that will endure: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest
of these is love."

ANTICLIMAX:
When the ideas are presented in descending order, it is called Anticlimax.
Eg: He lost his family, his car and his cell phone.
EUPHEMISM:
When unpleasant facts are presented in a pleasant form, it is called Euphemism.

Eg: He is a special child (disabled or retarded).

He is no more.

ONOMATOPOEIA:

When the sound of the syllables brings out the meaning clearly or when a word is
self-explanatory, it is called Onomatopoeia.

Eg: The slow repeated tap. (The sound of tapping is echoed in syllables).

The door creaking. (The word ‘creaking’ is self-explanatory).

TRANSFERRED EPITHET:

When an epithet (Adjective) is transferred from its proper word to another that it is
closely linked with in the sentence, it is called Transferred Epithet.

Eg. A pilgrim going a lone highway.

Explanation: The Adjective ‘lone’ is applicable to the ‘Pilgrim’ but is applied to the
‘highway’)

RHETORICAL QUESTION OR INTERROGATION:

When a question is asked not for the sake of getting an answer but to put a point
more effectively, it is called Rhetorical Question.

Eg: How many times have I told you to keep quiet?

REPETITION:

When the same words are repeated, it is called Repetition.

Eg. Home! Home! Sweet home!

ARCHAISM:

When antiquated (old) words are used, it is called Archaism. (hath, thou, thee,
therefore, perchance, albeit)

Eg: O God, Where art thou?

OXYMORON (= SHARP, DULL):

When two contradictory qualities are predicted at once of the same thing, it is called
Oxymoron. It is a special form of Antithesis.

Eg: He was the wisest fool.

PARADOX:

Paradox is a statement that seems absurd or self-contradictory, but may be true.

Eg: Truth is honey which is bitter.

I must be cruel to be kind.

LITOTES:

When an affirmative is conveyed by negation of the opposite, the effect being to

suggest a strong expression by means of a weaker, it is called Litotes.

Eg: The boy is no fool. (The boy is very clever)

PERIPHRASES:

When a simple thing is introduced in a roundabout way, it is called Periphrases.

Eg: The hair of the dog (could say “the dog’s hair”)
“The answer is in the affirmative.” instead of “YES”.
“The answer is in the negative.” instead of “NO”.

***********