FIGURES OF SPEECH

 FIGURES OF SPEECH

A Figure of Speech is a departure from the ordinary form of expression, or the ordinary course of ideas in order to produce a greater effect.Figures of speech often provides emphasis, freshness of expression, or clarity.

Figurative language is the opposite of literal language.

Literal language means exactly what it says.

Figurative language means something different to (and usually more than) what it says on the surface

Functions of Figures of Speech:

To arrest the attention and retain it

To stimulate the imagination

To excite the emotions

To compel by their Force and to allure by their charm

To persuade or to please

Figures of Speech may be classified as under:-

Figures of Speech may be classified as under:

a) Those based on Resemblance such as Allegory, Apostrophe, Euphemism, Imagery, Metaphor, Pathetic Fallacy, Personification and Simile

b) Those based on contrast such as Antithesis, Epigram, Oxymoron, Paradox and Pun

c) Those based on association such as Metonymy, Symbol and Synecdoche

d) Those based on construction such as Anticlimax, Climax, Colloquialism, Exclamation, Interrogation, Pathos, Rhetorical Question and Transferred Epithet

e) Those based on repetition such as Alliteration, Anaphora, Assonance, Refrain and Repetition

f) Those based on overstatement or vice versa such as Hyperbole and Litotes

g) Those based on moral and criticism such as Fable, Parable and Irony

Figures of speech that play with the literal meaning of words are called tropes, Tropes (from the Greek tropein, to turn) while figures of speech that play with the order or pattern of words are called schemes. Schemes (from the Greek schēma, form or shape)

Figures of speech can take many forms. A figure of speech can involve a single word, a phrase, an omission of a word or phrase, a repetition of words or sounds, or specific sentence structures.

1. Simile:- 

In a Simile a comparison is made between two objects of different kinds which  have however at least one point in common.

The Simile is usually introduced by such words as like, as or so. Examples:-

1. The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold.

2. The righteous shall flourish as the palm tree.

3. She is as pretty as a picture

4. He fights like a lion.

5. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.

The following are some common similes of everyday speech:-

Mad as a March Hare; as proud as a peacock; as bold as brass; as tough as leather; as

clear as crystal; as good as gold; as old as the hills; as cool as a cucumber.

Note: - A comparison of two things of the same kind is not a Simile.

2. Metaphor:- 

A Metaphor is an implied Simile. It does not, like the Simile, state that

one thing is like another or acts as another, but takes that for granted and proceeds as if

the two things were one.

Thus, when we say, 'He fought like a lion' we use a Simile, but when we say, 'He was a

lion in the fight', we use a Metaphor.

Examples:-

1. The camel is the ship of the desert.

2. Life is a dream.

3. The news was a dagger to his heart.

4. Revenge is a kind of wild justice.

Note 1:- Every SIMILE can be compressed into a METAPHOR, and Every METAPHOR can be expanded into a SIMILE.

Richard fought like a lion (Simile),

Similarly, instead of saying,

The camel is the ship of the desert (Metaphor).

we may expand it and say,

As a ship is used for crossing the ocean, so the camel is used for crossing the desert(Simile).

Other examples:-

Variety is the spice of life (Metaphor).

As spice flavours food, so variety makes life more pleasant (Simile).

The waves broke on the shore with a noise like thunder (Simile).

The waves thundered on the shore. (Metaphor)

3. Personification:-

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

Examples:-

1. Death lays its icy hands on King.
2. Laughter holding both her sides.

3. Death lays his icy hand on kings.

4. Pride goes forth on horseback, grand and gay,But Cometh back on fool, and begs its way.

.   5. Necessity knows no law.

    6. Hope springs eternal

     7. Let the floods clap their hands.

      8. I kissed the hand of death.

NOTE- We frequently use personification - whether we know it or not - when we describe

- a promising morning
- a treacherous sea
- a thankless task

The wind whispered through dry grass.

The flowers danced in the gentle breeze.

Time and tide waits for none.

4. Apostrophe:- 

An Apostrophe is a direct address to the dead, to the absent, or to apersonified object or idea. This figure is a special form of Personification.

Examples:-

1. Milton! Thoushouldn’t be living at this hour.

2. O Friend! I know not which way I must look for, comfort,

3. Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean-roll!

4. O death! Where is thy sting? O grave! Where is thy victory?

5. O liberty, what crimes have been committed in thy name?

6.  Roll on! Thou deep and dark blue Ocean, roll.
7. O Solitude !where are the charms that sages have seen in thy face ?

5. Hyperbole:-

Hyperbole is an exaggeration and things are made to appear greater or lesser than they usually are. Hyperbole is a literary device often used in poetry, and is frequently encountered in casual speech. Occasionally, newspapers and other media use hyperbole when speaking of an accident, to increase the impact of the story.

No one imagines that a hyperbolic statement is to be taken literally. It can also be termed as OVERSTATEMENT. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally.
Examples:

    I.     The burglar ran as fast as lightning.

   II.     The professor's ideas are as old as the hills.

   III.     The troops were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions.

   IV.     Her brain is the size of a pea.

   V.     I have told you a million times not to lie!

   VIMy grandmother is as old as the hills.

  VII      Your suitcase weighs a ton!

    VIII    She is as heavy as an elephant!

6. Euphemism: -

Euphemism consists in the description of a disagreeable thing by an agreeable name.
Examples:
   You are telling me a fairy tale. (You are telling me lies)
   He is gone to heaven. (He is dead)

  You are becoming a little thin on top (bald).

 Our teacher is in the family way (pregnant)

7. Antithesis:-

 In antithesis a striking opposition or contrast of words or sentiments ismade in  the same sentence. It is employed to secure emphasis.

Examples:-

1. Man proposes, God disposes.

2. Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.

3.United we stand, divided we fall.

        To err is human, to forgive is divine.

     We look for light, but all is darkness

4. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.

5. Speech is silver, but silence is golden.

6. Many are called, but few are chosen.

7. He had his jest, and they had his estate.

8. Oxymoron:- 

Oxymoron is a special form of Antithesis, whereby two contradictoryqualities are predicted at once of the same thing.

An Oxymoron is when two terms or words are used together in a sentence but they seem to contradict each-other. Oxymoron is a statement which, on the surface, seems to contradict itself - a kind of crisp contradiction. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately uses two differing ideas. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole.

Examples:

          Life is bitter sweet.

           He is the wisest fool of them all.

    He was condemned to a living death.

His honour rooted in dishonourstood.And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.

"I can resist anything, except temptation." - Oscar Wilde

"I like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief." - Charles Lamb

"Modern dancing is so old fashioned." - Samuel Goldwyn

"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business."

9. Epigram: - 

An Epigram is a brief pointed saying frequently introducing antitheticalideas which excite surprise and arrest attention.

Examples:-

1. The child is father of the man.

2. A man can't be too careful in the choice of his enemies.

3. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

4. In the midst of life we are in death.

5. He makes no friend, who never made a foe.

6. Know then thyself, presume not God to scan;

7.The proper study of mankind is man,

8. The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool,

10. Irony: -

 Irony is a mode of speech in which the real meaning is exactly the opposite

of that which is literally conveyed.

Examples:-

As soft as concrete

        As clear as mud

       He was suspended for his little mishap.

       The homeless survived in their cardboard palaces.

  The butter is as soft as a marble piece.

       Here, under leave of Brutus, and the rest,

(For Brutus is an honourable man)

I come to speak in Caesar’s funeral.

Here the use of the word, “honourable” is ironical.

11. Pun: -is a word or phrase used in two different senses. It is usually used in plays where one word has two different meanings and is used to create humor. Pun is a play of words – either their different meanings or upon two different words sounding the same.
Humorous use of a word to suggest different meanings or of words of the same sound and different meanings create humor and interest while reading also.

Examples:-

1. Is life worth living? It depends upon the liver.

2. An ambassador is an honest man who lies abroad for the good of his country.

3. Truly, Sir, all that I live by is with the awl; I meddle with no tradesman’s matters, nor women's matters, but with awl.

4. Time flies like an arro