1.

Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things. Unlike
a metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with the help of the words “like” or “as”. Therefore, it is a direct comparison.

 Our soldiers are as brave as lions.

 Her cheeks are red like a rose.

 He is as funny as a monkey.

 The water well was as dry as a bone.

 He is as cunning as a fox.

2. Metaphor

Metaphor is a figure of speech which makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things that are
unrelated but share some common characteristics. In other words, a resemblance of two contradictory or different objects
is made based on a single or some common characteristics.

In simple English, 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. “He is the black sheep of the family” is a metaphor
because he is not a sheep and is not even black. However, we can use this comparison to describe an association of a black
sheep with that person. A black sheep is an unusual animal and typically stays away from the herd, and the person you are
describing shares similar characteristics.

Furthermore, a metaphor develops a comparison which is different from a simile i.e. we do not use “like” or “as” to
develop a comparison in a metaphor. It actually makes an implicit or hidden comparison and not an explicit one.

My brother was boiling mad. (This implies he was too angry.)

The assignment was a breeze. (This implies that the assignment was not difficult.)

It is going to be clear skies from now on. (This implies that clear skies are not a threat and life is going to be without
hardships)

The skies of his future began to darken. (Darkness is a threat; therefore, this implies that the coming times are going to be
hard for him.)

Her voice is music to his ears. (This implies that her voice makes him feel happy)

3. Personification is a figure of speech in which a thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes. The non-
human objects are portrayed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like human beings.

For example, when we say, “The sky weeps” we are giving the sky the ability to cry, which is a human quality. Thus, we
can say that the sky has been personified in the given sentence.

 Look at my car. She is a beauty, isn’t it so?

 The wind whispered through dry grass.

 The flowers danced in the gentle breeze.

 Time and tide waits for none.

 The fire swallowed the entire forest.

4. Hyperbole, derived from a Greek word meaning “over-casting” is a figure of speech, which involves an
exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis.
It is a device that we employ in our day-to-day speech. For instance, when you meet a friend after a long time, you say,
“Ages have passed since I last saw you”. You may not have met him for three or four hours or a day, but the use of the
word “ages” exaggerates this statement to add emphasis to your wait. Therefore, a hyperbole is an unreal exaggeration to
emphasize the real situation. Some other common Hyperbole examples are given below.

 My grandmother is as old as the hills.

 Your suitcase weighs a ton!

 She is as heavy as an elephant!

 I am dying of shame.

 I am trying to solve a million issues these days.

It is important not to confuse hyperbole with simile and metaphor. It does make a comparison but unlike simile and
metaphor, hyperbole has a humorous effect created by an overstatement.

5. Onomatopoeia is defined as a word, which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. It creates a sound effect that
mimics the thing described, making the description more expressive and interesting.

For instance, saying, “The gushing stream flows in the forest” is a more meaningful description than just saying, “The
stream flows in the forest.” The reader is drawn to hear the sound of a “gushing stream” which makes the expression more
effective.

In addition to the sound they represent, many onomatopoeic words have developed meanings of their own. For example,
“whisper” not only represents the sound of people talking quietly, but also describes the action of people talking quietly.

 The buzzing bee flew away.

 The sack fell into the river with a splash.

 The books fell on the table with a loud thump.

 He looked at the roaring sky.

 The rustling leaves kept me awake.

The different sounds of animals are also considered as examples of onomatopoeia. You will recognize the following
sounds easily:

 Meow

 Moo

 Neigh

 Tweet

 Oink

 Baa

Groups of Onomatopoeic Words

Onomatopoeic words come in combinations as they reflect different sounds of a single object. For example, a group of
words reflecting different sounds of water are; plop, splash, gush, sprinkle, drizzle, drip etc.

Similarly, words like growl, giggle, grunt, murmur, blurt, chatter etc. denote different kinds of human voice sounds.

Moreover, we can identify a group of words related to different sounds of wind, such as; swish, swoosh, whiff, whoosh,
whizz, whisper etc.
 6. 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. It may also be a situation that may end up in quite a different way than what is
generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a difference between the appearance and the reality.

Types of Irony

On the grounds of the above definition, we distinguish two basic kinds of irony i.e. verbal irony and situational irony. A
verbal irony involves what one does not mean. When in response to a foolish idea, we say, “what a great idea!” it is a
verbal irony. A situational irony occurs when, for instance, a man is chuckling at the misfortune of the other even when
the same misfortune, in complete unawareness, is befalling him.

Difference between Dramatic Irony and Situational Irony

Dramatic irony is a kind of irony in a situation, which the writers frequently employ in their works. In situational irony,
both the characters and the audience are fully unaware of the implications of the real situation. In dramatic irony, the
characters are oblivious of the situation but the audience is not. For example, in “Romeo and Juliet”, we know much
before the characters that they are going to die.
In real life circumstances, irony may be comical, bitter or sometimes unbearably offensive.

 I posted a video on YouTube about how boring and useless YouTube is.

 The name of Britain’s biggest dog was “Tiny”.

 You laugh at a person who slipped stepping on a banana peel and the next thing you know, you slipped too.

 The butter is as soft as a marble piece.

 “Oh great! Now you have broken my new camera.”

7. Alliteration is a commonly used style of figurative language that most people don’t even realize they are using!
The word “Alliteration” comes from the Latin word “Latira” which means “letters of the alphabet.” This may be
because alliteration deals directly with the letters that comprise a phrase and the sounds the words make instead of
the words themselves. It is characterized by a number of words, typically three or more, that have the same first
consonant sound fall within the same sentence or phrase.

Alliteration is typically used to create flow and to create onomatopoeia when someone is reading aloud, which is why it is
often found in poetry and song lyrics. For example:

“Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers.”

This sentence is alliterative because the “P” sound occurs repeatedly in six words. That sound, while making the sentence
difficult to say, also creates a puckering effect on the reader’s mouth, much like one would have after eating pickles.

Not all sentences with alliteration have a deeper meaning like that one, sometimes it can even be accidental. Note that
words don’t have to start with the same letters to have alliteration, it is all about the sound of the word.

Let it Be, by The Beatles

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

Bad Blood by Taylor Swift

And, baby, now we’ve got bad blood

So Sick by Ne-Yo

Said I’m so sick of love songs, so sad and slow

8. Assonance takes place when two or more words, close to one another repeat the same vowel sound, but start with
different consonant sounds.

For instance, in the following sentence:

The same vowel sound of the short vowel “-e-” repeats itself in almost all the words, excluding the definite article. The
words do share the same vowel sounds, but start with different consonant sounds – unlike alliteration, which
involves repetition of the same consonant sounds. Below are a few assonance examples that are common.

 We light fire on the mountain.

 I feel depressed and restle

 Go and mow the lawn.

 Johnny went here and there and everywhe

 The engineer held the steering to steer the vehicle.

“If I bleat when I speak it’s because I just got . . . flee”

— Deadwood, by Al Swearengin

“Those images that yet,

Fresh images beget,

That dolphin-torn, that gong-tormented sea.”

— Byzantium, by W. B. Yeats

“Strips of tinfoil winking like people”

— The Bee Meeting by Sylvia Plath

“I must confess that in my quest I felt depressed and restless.”

— With Love, by Thin Lizzy

9. Synecdoche is a literary device in which a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to
represent a part.

Synecdoche may also use larger groups to refer to smaller groups or vice versa. It may also call a thing by the name of the
material it is made of or it may refer to a thing in a container or packing by the name of that container or packing.

It is very common to refer to a thing by the name of its parts. Let us look at some of the examples of synecdoche that we
can hear from casual conversations:

 The word “bread” refers to food or money as in “Writing is my bread and butter” or “sole breadwinner”.

 The phrase “gray beard” refers to an old man.

 The word “sails” refers to a whole ship.

 The word “suits” refers to businessmen.

 The word “boots” usually refers to soldiers.

 The term “coke” is a common synecdoche for all carbonated drinks.

 “Pentagon” is a synecdoche when it refers to a few decision makers.

 The word “glasses” refers to spectacles.

 “Coppers” often refers to coins.

10. Litotes is a figure of speech featuring a phrase that utilizes negative wording or terms to express a positive
assertion or statement.

As a figure of speech, the meaning of litotes is not literal. Instead, litotes is intended to be a form of
understatement by using negation to express the contrary meaning. This is a clever use of language in its
combination of negative terms as a function to express a positive sentiment or statement.
 Litotes is commonly used as an understatement or ironic figure of speech. It is a successful device in that it
affirms a positive statement or sentiment typically through the use of double negatives. Here are some common
examples of litotes you may find in everyday conversation:

 The novel is not bad.

 You’re not wrong.

 I can’t disagree with your logic.

 My feelings are not unhurt.

 He is hardly unattractive.

 That lesson is not hard.

 My car was not cheap.

 I won’t argue with the referee.

 Visiting family is not uncommon.

 The results are not inaccurate.

 That compliment is not unwelcome.

 I can’t turn down that offer.

11. Metonymy is a figure of speech in which one object or idea takes the place of another with which it has a close
association. In fact, metonymy means “change of name.”

As a literary device, it is a way of replacing an object or idea with something related to it instead of stating what is
actually meant.

Metonymy enables writers to express a word or thought in a different way by using a closely related word or
thought. Therefore, this is a method for writers to vary their expression and produce an effect for the reader.

 Hollywood (represents associations with the movie industry)

 Turf (represents associations with area of residence or expertise)

 Feds (represents associations with government law enforcement)

 Press (represents associations with news organizations)

 Breeze (represents associations with something that is simple, straightforward, or easy)

 Broadway (represents associations with New York drama productions and stage fame)

 Coast (represents associations with seaside, ocean area, regions of land near water)

 Booze (represents associations with alcohol or liquor)

 Academics (represents associations with school, college, university, classes, or studying)

 Management (represents associations with administration, leadership, or person in charge of something)

12. Oxymoron is a figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by
side. This contradiction is also known as a paradox.

In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm.

 Awful good

 Bittersweet

 Civil war

 Deafening silence

 Exact estimate

 Found missing

 Genuine imitation

 Humane slaughter

 Icy hot

 Jumbo shrimp

 Living dead

 Minor miracle

 Negative growth

 Old news