Figure of Speech
A figure of speech is a phrase or word having
different meanings than its literal meanings. It
conveys meaning by identifying or comparing one
thing to another, which has connotation or meaning
familiar to the audience. That is why it is helpful in
creating vivid rhetorical effect.
Types of figures of Speech
There are many types of figures of speech. Here are
a few of them with detailed descriptions
Personification
It occurs when a writer gives human traits to non-
human or inanimate objects. It is similar to
metaphors and similes that also use comparison
between two objects. For instance,
Hadnt she felt it in every touch of the sunshine, as
its golden finger-tips pressed her lids open and
wound their way through her hair?
(The Mothers Recompense by Edith Wharton)
In the above lines, the speaker is personifying
sunshine as it has finger tips that wound their way
into her hair. This is trait of using finger-tips in hair is
a human one.
Understatement and Hyperbole
These two figures of speech are opposite to each
other. Hyperbole uses extreme exaggeration. It
exaggerates to lay emphasis on a certain quality or
feature. It stirs up emotions among the readers,
these emotions could be about happiness, romance,
inspiration, laughter or sadness.
Ill love you, dear, Ill love you
Till China and Africa meet,
And the river jumps over the mountain
And the salmon sing in the street.
(As I Walked Out One Evening by W.H. Auden)
In this poem, Auden has used hyperbole to stress on
how long his love his beloved would last. Just
imagine when China and Africa would meet and can
river jump up over the mountains? How salmon can
be intelligent enough so that it could sing and evolve
enough and walk the streets?
Whereas understatement uses less than whatever is
intended, such as,
You killed my family. And I dont like that kind of
thing.
The Chosen One by Boon Collins and Rob
Schneider)
In this line, the speaker is using an understatement
because someone has killed his family and he is just
taking it very normal like nothing serious has
happened.
Simile
It is a type of comparison between things or objects
by using as or like. See the following example:
My heart is like a singing bird
Whose nest is in a waterd shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
My heart is like a rainbow shell
(A Birthday by Christina Rossetti)
Rossetti has used simile thrice in this part of the
poem, comparing her heart to a singing bird, an
apple-tree, and a rainbow shell. The poet makes
comparison of heart to a happy bird in a nest, an
apple tree full with fruits and a beautiful shell in the
sea, full of peace and joy.
Metaphor
Metaphor is comparing two unlike objects or things,
which may have some common qualities.
Presentiment is that long shadow on the lawn
Indicative that Suns go down
The notice to the startled Grass
That Darkness is about to pass
(Presentiment is that long shadow on the lawn by
Emily Dickinson)
In this example, Dickinson presents presentiment as
a shadow. Presentiment actually means anxiety or
foreboding, which she calls a shadow. In fact, she
makes compares it with shadow to provide a better
description of anxiety that could creep up in a
persons life and cause fear.
Pun
Pun is the manipulation of words that have more
than one meanings. It brings humor in an
expression.
Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy Will,
And Will to boot, and Will in overplus;

(Sonnet 135 by William Shakespeare)
See the use of odd grammar rule, which is the
capitalization of word Will. Usually in the middle of
a line or sentence, writers capitalize a name. Here it
is the first name of Shakespeare. It means he has
created pun of his own name.
Function of Figure of Speech
Figure of speech is not only used to embellish the
language, but also cause a moment of excitement
when reading. It is used equally in writing as well as
in speech. It, in fact, provides emphasis, clarity or
freshness to expression. Clarity, however, may
sometimes suffer because a figure of speech
introduces double meanings such as connotative and
denotative meanings. It also strengthens the
creative expression and description along with
making the language more graphic, pointed and
vivid.

1
Alliteration
This is a very common figure of speech that involves using words that begin with the same sound.
For instance, Sally sells sea shells by the seashore is alliteration and try saying it fast to see how difficult it is!
It is often used in advertising slogans to create something catchy that more people will remember.

2
Anaphora
This figure of speech uses a specific clause at the beginning of each sentence or point to make a statement.
For instance: Good night and good luck is an example of the beginning word being the same. The more it is
used, the more of an emotional effect is can evoke among those who are listening. Another example is "Mad
world! Mad kings! Mad composition!" from King John, II, I by William Shakespeare.

3
Assonance
Remember the phrase I Like Ike? It was a very common phase for those who supported Dwight Eisenhower
during his presidential run. This is a figure of speech that focuses on the vowel sounds in a phrase, repeating
them over and over to great effect.

4
Hyperbole
It was as big as a mountain! It was faster than a cheetah! It was dumber than a rock! This figure of speech
makes things seem much bigger than they really were by using grandiose depictions of everyday things.
Hyperbole is often seen as an exaggeration that adds a bit of humor to a story.
5
Irony
This figure of speech tries to use a word in a literal sense that debunks what has just been said. Gentlemen, you
cant fight in here! This is the War Room! from Dr. Strangelove is a great example. It is often used to poke fun at
a situation that everyone else sees as a very serious matter.
There are different types of irony and here are the details and examples.
6
Metaphor
The use of metaphor compares two things that are not alike and finds something about them to make them alike.
My heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill from a book by William Sharp is a good example of
metaphor. Some writers try to use this style to create something profound out of comparing two things that
appear to have nothing at all in common.
7
Simile
In this figure of speech, two things are compared that are not really the same, but are used to make a point
about each other.
Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what youre going to get is a famous line from the movie
Forrest Gump that illustrates the simile. This is often used to make an emotional point about something. The
difference between simile and metaphor is that you can obviously see words "like" in the sentence.
8
Metonymy
In this figure of speech, one word that has a very similar meaning can be used for another. Using the word
crown for royalty or lab coats for scientists are two examples. In some ways it can be seen as a nickname
for something else; for instance, The White House said doesnt actually mean the White House said it (a house
cant speak!) but that the President said it. However, we all understand the meaning, and so the words are
interchangeable.
9
Onomatopoeia
This is the use of a word that actually sounds like what it means. Good examples include hiss or ding-dong or
fizz. These words are meant to describe something that actually sounds very much like the word itself. This is a
trick often used in advertising to help convey what something is really like.
10
Paradox
This figure of speech completely contradicts itself in the same sentence. Famous quotes that illustrate this from
George Orwells 1984 include: War is peace. Ignorance is strength. Freedom is slavery. Though we know
these things arent true, they present an interesting paradox that makes a person think seriously about what
they have just read or heard.
11
Personification
This is a way of giving an inanimate object the qualities of a living thing. The tree quaked with fear as the wind
approached is an example; The sun smiled down on her is another. This can sometimes be used to invoke an
emotional response to something by making it more personable, friendly and relatable.
12
Pun
This play on words uses different senses of the word, or different sounds that make up the word, to create
something fun and interesting. For instance: I would like to go to Holland some day. Wooden shoe? is a pun that
actually means wouldnt you? Sometimes puns are so subtle that they can be tough to pick up unless you are
really listening for them.
13
Synecdoche
This is a figure of speech in which one thing is meant to represent the whole. A few good examples include
ABCs for alphabet, new set of wheels for car, or 9/11 to demonstrate the whole of the tragedy that
happened in the United States on September 11, 2001. This is often used in journalism as a type of shorthand.
14
Understatement
This is a situation in which the thing discussed is made to seem much less important than it really is. This famous
line from Catcher in the Rye is a good example: I have to have this operation. It isnt very serious. I have this
tiny tumor on the brain. Understatement can often be used to comedic effect.

15
Antithesis
This is a contradiction that pits two ideas against each other in a balanced way. Youre easy on the eyes, hard on
the heart is a line from a country song that illustrates this perfectly. This is often used to indicate just how
something can be more than one thing at the same time.

16
Euphemism
Words that are used to soften the message are often considered euphemisms. Passed away is often used in
place of died or killed. A misunderstanding might be used in place of fight or argument. And who could
forget wardrobe malfunction, which is a fancy way of saying your clothes fell off.
17
Oxymoron
This puts two words together that seem to contradict each other. Military intelligence, real phony, civil war,
and silent yell are all examples of an oxymoron. Many people use these to promote the humor in a situation.