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,

“Hadn’t 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 Mother’s 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.

I’ll love you, dear, I’ll 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 don’t 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 water’d 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 person’s 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.
 Your Love
Alamid
You're the one that never lets me sleep That lights up my whole world

Through my mind, down to my soul you I feel the warmth inside

touch my lips
Your love is like the river
You're the one that I can't wait to see
That flows down through my veins
With you here by my side I'm in ecstasy
I feel the chill inside
I am all alone without you
Your love is like the sun
My days are dark without the glimpse of
you That lights up my whole world

But now that you came into my life I feel the warmth inside

I feel complete Your love is like the river

The flowers bloom, my morning shines That flows down through my veins

And I can see I feel the chill inside

Your love is like the sun Your love is like the sun

That lights up my whole world That lights up my whole world

I feel the warmth inside I feel the warmth inside

Your love is like the river Your love is like the river

That flows down through my veins That flows down through my veins

I feel the chill inside I feel the chill inside

Every time I hear our music play Your love is like the sun

Reminds me of the things that we've That lights up my whole world

been through
I feel the warmth inside
In my mind I can't believe it's true
Your love is like the river
But in my heart the reality is you
That flows down through my veins
I am all alone without you
I feel the chill inside
My days are dark without the glimpse of
Your love, your love, won't you give
you
me, your love
But now that you came into my life

I feel complete

The flowers bloom, my morning shines

And I can see

Your love is like the sun

 Who thinks so much like me!

Jinx! Jinx again!

Love Is an Open Door Our mental synchronization

Can have but one explanation

Kristen Bell, Santino Fontana You
Okay, can I just, say something crazy? And I
I love crazy! Were
All my life has been a series of doors Just
in my face
Meant to be!
And then suddenly I bump into you
Say goodbye
I was thinking the same thing! 'Cause
like Say goodbye

I've been searching my whole life to To the pain of the past

find my own place
We don't have to feel it anymore!
And maybe it's the party talking or the
chocolate fondue Love is an open door!

But with you Love is an open door!

But with you Life can be so much more!

I found my place With you!

I see your face With you!

And it's nothing like I've ever known With you!

before! With you!
Love is an open door! Love is an open door
Love is an open door! Can I say something crazy?
Love is an open door! Will you marry me?
With you! Can I say something even crazier? Yes!
With you!

With you!

With you!

Love is an open door

I mean it's crazy

What?

We finish each other's

Sandwiches!

That's what I was gonna say!

I've never met someone