Figures of Speech
Apostrophe:A direct address made to an inanimate objects or abstract ideas as if they were present and capable of understanding.
1. And, little butterfly! I know not if you sleep or feed.
2.
Tautology:Unnecessary usage of words, which do not add more meaning
1. Lies defeated and buried deep three or four hours unconscious.
2.
Hyperbole:
A statement is emphasized by an overstatement.
1. I will love thee still my dear till a’ the seas gang dry.
2.
Metonymy:
A characteristic of a thing is represented by another closely related to it.
1. Her world is an infinite shapeless white.
2.
Synecdoche:A part stands for the whole or the whole stands for a part to create the poetic effect.
1. Till the heart of me weeps to belong to the old Sunday evenings at home.
2.
Transferred epithet:The description or objective is transferred from its original noun to another closely related to it.
1. And pressing the small poised feet of a mother who smiles as she sings
2.
Figures of Speech
Antithesis:
Contrasting or opposite ideas or words are used.
1. Of my childhood days is upon me, my manhood is cast.
2.
Oxymoron:A special form of antithesis where two contradictory terms are united to convey a new meaning.
1. She made a sweet moron.
2.
Irony:A real meaning is exactly the opposite of that which is literally conveyed.
1. The life is most jolly.
2.
Euphemism;Unpleasant idea of death or a disagreeable thing is spoken in a positive manner.
1. I will luve thee still my dear while the sands of life shall run.
2.
Litotes:Use of negation is used to convey a positive meaning.
1. He knows he can never turn back.
2.
Paradox:A self –contradictory or absurd statement which has some hidden truth or a message it
1. Down in the flood of remembrances I weep like a child for the past.
2.
Internal Rhyme:Use of two or more words which rhyme within a single line of a verse
1. A child sitting under the piano in the boom of the tangling strings.
2.
Personification:Non-living objects and abstract nouns are said to have human qualities
1. Inspite of myself, the insidious mastery of song betrays me.
2.
Interrogation:Question is asked not for the sake of getting an answer, but to create the poetic effect.
1. Why all this toil and trouble?
2.
Exclamation:
Use of exclamatory form to draw attention
1. My luve’s like a red red rose.!
2.
Climax:A series of ideas or words are places in an increasing order or importance for the poetic effect.
1. She sighs and dreams and thrills and glows.
2.
Anticlimax:A series of ideas or words are places are in decreasing order of importance for poetic effect.
1. I saw pale kings, princes and warriors.
2.
Simile:Direct comparison is made between two unlike objects which have at least one common point. Words like ‘as’ and ‘like’ are used.
1. The white saucer like some full moon descends at last from the clouds of the table above.
2.
Metaphor:It is an indirect simile. Indirect comparison is made between two unlike objects, where comparison is taken for granted.
1. She nestles over the shining rim, buries her chin in the creamy sea.
2.
Onomatopoeia:Use of words which produce sound of echo for poetic effect
1. The little black cat is suddenly purring there.
2.
Epigram:A brief pointed saying which is introduced with an aim to exite, surprise and attract attention.
1. The child is the father of man.
2.
