Top 10 Figure of speech| Importance, Definition, Examples by Types
A figure of speech
is an ornamental use of words. Figures of speeches are commonly used in poetry
to enhance the beauty, image, poetic diction and rhyme scheme of the poem.
Figures of speech
usually use in all language expressions.
To learn the figure of speech is very important where the English
language is used for communication. For
learner whose second language is English, the lack of knowledge of figure of
speech leads to the frustration. And
when the learner began to use figure of speech feel more comfortable while
using the language and also help to understand the communication in regular
conversation. Fundamentally speaking,
the figure of speech means the use of two or more words together in order to
produce a particular effect. A figure of speech used to elaborate the effect on
the reader or listener. It also includes making comparisons, contrasts,
associations and exaggerations. When one use the figure of speech in language it
conveys more clear idea about what particular person is saying.
There are
many figures of speech in English language. But only few figures of speech we
will see here. We will learn these figure of speech with the help of examples
so my readers will come to know exactly when to use each of them.
1.
Simile:
Simile is a
figure of speech in which a comparison is made between two objects of different
kinds, which are alike in at least one point. This figure of speech uses words
like – ‘as’, ‘like’, ‘so as’.
For example:
1. He is as
strong as lion.
2. My father
is as busy as bees in the morning.
3. Never
trust this man; he is cunning like a fox.
4. It was as
big as elephant.
5. His tongue
is as sharp as knife.
Some more examples of Simile using “as”
1. as black
as coal
2. as red as
blood
3. as sly as
fox
4. as good
as gold
5. as cool
as cucumber/ice
6. as old as
hills
7. as tough
as leather
8. as clear
as crystal
9. as slow
as sloth
10. as blind
as bat
11. as bold
as brass
12. as fast
as cheetah
13. as tall as giraffe
14. as white
as ghost
15. as light
as feather
16. as deep
as ocean
17. as
gentle as lamb
18. as sweet
as sugar
19. as proud
as peacock
20. as
bright as moon
21. as
innocent as lamb
Similes
using “like”
1. jumps
like a frog
2. sings
like a cuckoo
3. runs like
the wind
4. nocturnal
like on owl
5. have eyes
like a hawk
6. runs like
a horse
7. swim like
a fish
8. climb
like a monkey
9. sleeps
like a baby
10. fighting
like cats and dogs
11. fall
like a teardrops
12. eat like
a pig
2. Metaphor
A metaphor
is a figure of speech; there is a comparison between one thing with other
without using any comparative word. It describes an object or action in a way
that isn’t literally true, but helps to explain an idea or make a comparison.
It is an implied of simile. It does not like
the Simile, state that one thing is like another, but takes that for granted
and proceeds as if the two things were one. Thus, when we say, her smile is as
bright as sunshine, we use Simile here. But when we say, ‘her smile is
sunshine’ we use metaphor.
Lets see more examples of ‘metaphor’
So simile is
comparison between two things on the other side metaphor is a broadest sense,
it refers to a symbol that represents something else.
1. The camel
is a ship of desert.
2. Richard
was a lion in the fight.
3. Love is a
battlefield.
4. The waves
thundered on the shore.
5. She is
such a firecracker.
6. Jack has a stone heart.
7. Sally was
a cheetah in race.
8. My father
is my shield.
9. He is a
couch potato.
10. She is a night owl.
11. My mother is a heart of gold.
12. Laughter
is the best remedy.
13. The mind
is an ocean.
14. Sarojini
Naidu is the nightingale of India.
15. a friend
is a treasure.
3. Personification
In this
figure of speech, objects without life are spoken of as having the qualities of
human. In personification inanimate objects and abstract notions are spoken of
as having life and intelligence.
Mostly you
find personification in children book as personification is an effective use of
figurative language and relies on imagination for understanding. However
personifying nonhuman things can be effective way to illustrate a concept and
also create an imaginary world for children.
For example:
1. The hills
rejoice and clap their hands.
In the above sentence the hill are personified
and given the human quality of rejoicing and clapping.
Let’s see
some examples to clarify the concept of Personification.
1. My phone
is not cooperating with me.
2. This
article ay hot water is good for health.
3. The stars
are dancing playfully in the sky.
4. My alarm
clock likes to disturb me every early morning.
5. The moon
is peeping through the clouds.
6. The big,
full moon led me throughout the forest.
7. Justice
is a blind, at times, deaf.
8. Time is
money.
9. The wind
howled that night.
10. My phone
awakened me with mighty ring.
4. Alliteration
This figure of speech is quite easy to find
out and interesting. Alliteration is when two or more words start with same
sound or consonant are used repeatedly in phrase or sentence. it occurs when
two or more words are linked that share the same first consonant sound. Such as
‘ fish fry”
Some famous
examples of alliteration are given below
1. Sally
sells seashell by the sea shore
2. Peter
piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
3. Shut the
shutter before shouting makes you shudder.
4. The big
bad bear bored the baby bunnies by the bushes.
5.But the
butter was bitter.
6. Paula
planted pretty pink poppies in pot.
7. Go and
gather green leaves on the grass.
8. Please
pass the pen and practice the piano.
9. Bunny baked big buns with lots of butter.
10. Little
Luicy like licking the sticky lollypop.
5. Anaphora
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or
expression at the beginning at the beginning of a number of phrases, clauses or
sentence.
Anaphora is
a rhetorical device used to emphasis the meaning as well as rhythm to a
passage.
Let’s have a
look on the following sentences of Anaphora
1. stay
safe, stay happy.
2. I wish I
may, I wish I might
3. I love
everything about you. I love your eyes. I love your mind. I love your heart.
4. I
explained everything. I told everything but they did not listen.
6.
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia
is the figure of speech which uses to express a sound. This involves the use of
words that imitate the sounds associated with the action or object referred to
that is clap, hiss, , tap etc. onomatopoeia is one way a poet can create sounds
in a poem. This is a figure of speech in which, word is actually looks like the
sound and we can nearly hear those sounds aa we read it.
For example:
1. Lighting
crackles and thunder rumbles through out the ight.
2. Leaves
rustle in the wind and are whipped into the air.
3. Ticktock,
ticktock…. The sound of the clock was all that could be heard at the waiting
room at the time of interview.
4. I could
hear the buzzing bees. So I knew there was a bee’s nest around here somewhere.
5. I became nervous when my laptop started
beeping continuously.
6. We could enjoy the chirping of birds in the
morning.
.
7. Hyperbole
Hyperbole consists of an exaggeration. It is the
usage of exaggerated terms in order to emphasize the effect of something.
In daily lives hyperbole adds a conversational
urgency that’s a support of the way we communicate.
See the
following examples to get idea of “Hyperbole”
1. That
runner’s faster than the speed of lightening.
2. I am so
tired I could sleep million years.
3. It is so
hot that you could fry an egg on the sidewalk.
4. I am so
hungry I could eat horse.
5. I had a
ton of chores to do.
6. I told you thousand times not to do that.
7. These
shoes are killing be.
8. Your skin
is softer than silk.
9. This guy
has tons of money.
10. I am
dying of hunger.
8. Irony
Irony is a
mode of speech in which the real meaning is exactly the opposite of that which
is literally conveyed. It is a kind of sarcasm. It is a rhetorical device in
which statement or situation contrasts with what is expected or known. These
are often used in a humorous manner. In ironic phrase, one thing is said while
another is meant.
For examples
1. After
looking at a student’s poor test score, the teacher says, “You will surely
finish the year with highest honors”
2. When it
too hot and sunny day, one might say ironically, “wow what a nice day!”
3. If someone
is suffering from illness, one could say, “Bravo, I am feeling great today!”
4. When you
take small dish for meal, one can say, “hey you can take many items at a time”
5. Whet the
room is very small, “it’s very big room that elephants can sleep here nicely”
9. Pun
Pun is the
most frequently used figure of speech. It consists in the use of a word in such
a way that it is capable of more than one application, the object of being to
produce ludicrous effect. Pun may be a great conversation starter as they make
one sound clever and occasionally even humorous. In short, a pun is a joke that
makes a play on words.
Puns rely on
words that are similar in spelling, sound and meaning to make the listener
laugh.
For example,
1. The
tallest building in the town is the library- it has thousands of stories!
A pun is on
the difference between stories in books and stories that is floors in the
building.
2. Is life
is worth living? – it depends upon the liver.
3. Where do
polar bears vote? The North Poll
4. What
fruit do twins like best? Pears!
5. Don’t be
afraid of using computer. It won’t bite.
6. Why are
teddy bears never hungry? They are always stuffed!
7. A boiled egg is hard to beat.
8. A chicken
farmer’s favorite car is a coupe.
9. Leopards
cannot hide in jungle as they always spotted.
10. It is a
pointless to write with a broken pencil.
11. Its raining cats and dog out. Don’t step on
the poddle.
12. The helpers of Santa Clause are called as
subordinate clauses.
10.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe
is a direct address to the dead, to the absent, or to a personified object or
idea. In this figure of speech the speaker addresses some inanimate non-living
thing or some abstract idea as if was a living person or an absent person is
present.
For example
1. Liberty,
what crimes have been committed in thy name!
In the above sentence, liberty is addresses
which are an abstract idea.
2. Oh death
where is thy sting? O grave! Where is thy victory?
3. Hey! My mind what is your opinion?
4. Hello my
home, can you suggest me advice?
5. Oh time
why are running fast?
6. Oh, bed
finally I am with you!
7. Hey clouds
don’t scare me now. Do not bring rain today.
8. Oh rose, how beautiful you look!
9. Oh Sunday, why do you have to go every time?
10. Hey
burger, I like you lot so is going to eat you.
I trust
readers got clear idea about these 10 figures of speech.
One can use these figures of speech in writing
to make writing attractive and figurative.