What is Figure of Speech:
“Figure of Speech” is the art of elegant and effective composition and embodies the important rules of graceful composition that has the power to persuade or convince the listener or reader.
What are the types of Figure of Speech:
There are seven classes of Figure of Speech
● Figures based on similarity => Simile, Metaphor, Parable, Allegory
● Figures based on association => Metonymy, Synecdoche, Transferred Epithet, Allusion.
● Figures based on contrast => Antithesis, Epigram, Oxymoron, Climax, Anti-climax.
● Figures based on imagination => Personification, Apostrophe, Pathetic Fallacy, Hyperbole
● Figures based on indirectness => Irony, Innuendo, Peripharasis, Euphemism.
● Figures based on sound
=> Pun, Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Assonance.
● Figures based on construction
=> Interrogation, Exclamation, Chiasmus, Zeugma, Litotes, Hyperbaton, Asyndeton, Polysyndeton, Hendiadys.
● Simile
This is a figure of speech in which a comparison between two objects of distinctly different is clearly made and the comparison is generally indicated such as – like, as, as if.
Example: She is as red as rose.
Explanation: This is a case of Simile where a comparison between two different objects like ‘she’ (a girl) and ‘rose’ has been made with the use of ‘as’. The comparison is clear about the redness of both the girl and the rose.
● Metaphor
This is a figure of speech based on the similarity in which a comparison between two different things has been made in an indirect or implied manner without clearly being stated.
Example: The camel is the ship of the desert.
Explanation: This is a case of Metaphor where an implied comparison has been made between two different things ‘camel’ and ‘ship’. But the comparison is not clearly stated or explained.
● Metonymy
This is a figure of speech in which we mention the name of one thing to mean another very closely but not inseparably connected with it.
Example: I am reading Tennyson.
Explanation: This is a case of Metonymy. In this sentence the name of the author “Tennyson” is used for his literary works. There is a close relation between the author and his works. I am reading Tennyson means I am reading his works. Therefore, in this sentence the name of one thing is used to mean another which is closely but not inseparably connected with it.
Other Example: I am sipping Darjeeling. (Darjeeling means tea of Darjeeling).
● Synecdoche
This is a figure of speech in which we mention the name of one thing to mean another inseparably connected with it.
In this figure of speech, the name of the species is used for that of the genus.
Example: I shall not take bread today.
Explanation: Here bread means food. Bread is a kind of species which indicates the food as genus.
In this figure of speech, the name of a genus is used for that of the species.
Example: Mary said to her cat, “Drink pretty creature drink.”
Explanation: Here creature means cat. Creature belongs to genus which indicates the cat as species.
In this figure of speech, the name of the abstract quality is used for that of a concrete thing.
Example: Let not ambition mock their useful toil.
Explanation: Here ambition means ambitious person. Ambition is an abstract quality which here indicates the concrete ambitious person.
In this figure of speech, the name of a concrete thing is used for that of an abstract quality.
Example: The mother in her could not bear the sight of the dead body.
Explanation: Here mother means motherly affection. Mother is here Indicating the abstract quality motherly affection.
In this figure of speech, the name of a part is used for that of a whole.
Example: She is a girl of sixteen springs.
Explanation: Here springs refer to the years. Springs treat as a part of season indicate the year as a whole.
In this figure of speech, the name of the whole is used for that of a part.
Example: The smiling year has come.
Explanation: Here smiling year indicates the spring. Smiling year as a whole indicates the spring as a part of season.
In this figure of speech, the name of an individual is used for that of the class of which he is the type.
Example: Who says there is no Mirzafor in India?
Explanation: Here Mirzafor indicates the class of the treacherous persons.
In this figure of speech, the name of the material is used for that of the thing made.
Example: He is bound in iron.
Explanation: Here iron indicates the chain made of iron.
● Hypallage (Transferred Epithet)
This is a figure of speech, in which an epithet or a descriptive term is transferred from one thing to which it properly belongs to another accompanying thing or circumstance closely connected with it.
Example: The lover passed a sleepless night in thought of his sweetheart.
Explanation: This is a case of Transferred Epithet. In this sentence, the epithet ‘sleepless‘ has been transferred from the noun ‘lover’ to which it properly belongs to another accompanying word ‘night’ to beautify the sentence.
● Antithesis
In Antithesis, words or phrases, obviously contrasted or opposed in meaning, are set off against each other in a balanced form for the sake of emphasis.
Example: The day is gone, the night comes on.
Explanation: In this sentence, two ideas — the day is gone and the night comes on are obviously contrasted in meaning set off against each other in a balanced form for the sake of emphasis.
● Epigram
Epigram is an apparently contradictory statement which at the first sight seems to be absurd but being closely examined it rouses our attention to some important meaning underneath.
Example: They also serve who only stand and wait.
Explanation: This is an apparently contradictory statement- how can they serve who only stand and wait ? At first sight, the statement seems to be absurd. But if we closely examine it, we find there is deep meaning underneath. The meaning is true service is nothing but perfect obedience. Therefore, those who stand and wait with perfect obedience to get order from their master also serve the master well.
● Oxymoron
This is a figure of speech in which two terms contradictory in meaning are used side by side in one phrase to suggest a subtle meaning.
Example: The student is regularly irregular.
Explanation: In this sentence, regularly and irregular two terms contradictory in meaning are used side by side in one phrase to suggest a subtle meaning. It means that the student is often absence and he does it regularly.
● Climax
This is a figure of speech in which different words or ideas are arranged in an ascending order according to their importance, so that each word or idea becomes more striking and impressive than the preceding one. The sense rises gradually and gains impressiveness.
Example: To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.
Explanation: In this sentence, different ideas namely – to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield are arranged in an ascending order according to their importance.
More Example: I came, I saw, I conquered.
A heart to restore, a head to contrive and a hand to execute.
● Anti-climax
This is a figure of speech in which there is a sudden descent from the dignified and elevated idea to the petty and common place idea so that the effect is ludicrous and excites our laughter.
Example: He lost his father, mother, wife and a dog in the war.
Explanation: In this we see that there is a sudden descent from the dignified thing like father, mother, wife to petty thing like dog.
● Personification
In this figure of speech, based on imagination, human qualities are attributed to an inanimate object or an abstract idea.
Example: This city now doth, like a garment, wear the beauty of the morning.
Explanation: This is a case of Personification. In this sentence the city which is an inanimate object is imagined as a lady. The city to whom human qualities are attributed wears garments like a lady.
● Apostrophe
Apostrophe is a one kind of figure of speech in which a direct passionate address is made to a person or an abstract idea of object.
Example: Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour.
Explanation: In the above sentence, we see that the poet Milton is addressed with deep passion as if Milton is present before the speaker. So this is a case of Apostrophe.
More Example: O Cuckoo! Shall I call thee bird.
● Litotes
Litotes is a figure of speech in which a negative expression is used to assert a strong affirmative.
Example: Kolkata is no mean city.
Explanation: This is a case of Litotes. In this sentence the speaker uses deliberately a negative expression to assert a strong affirmative. By ‘no mean city’, he actually means ‘a great city’ to produce a strong effect on the mind of the listeners.
More Example: The man is not a fool. (i. e intelligent)
● Interrogation
This is a figure of speech in which the question is asked by the speaker but no answer is expected from the listener because the answer remains too obvious in the question itself.
Example: Does anyone wish to get plucked in the examination?
Explanation: In this sentence, a question is asked by the speaker. But no answer is expected from the listener because the answer is too obvious in the question itself, that is to say nobody wishes to get plucked in the examination.
● Exclamation
Under sudden or intense emotion our language becomes abrupt, Inverted or elliptical. This is called Exclamation.
Example: Oh! for a draught of vintage.
What a piece of work!
Explanation: In above sentences, the sudden emotion of the speaker is expressed. So this is the case of Exclamation.
● Hendiadys
This is a figure of speech in which two nouns are joined by one conjunction. But strictly speaking, there should be only one noun and the other noun should be an adjective. Generally the first noun does the work of an adjective.
Example: Life and suffering I can not bear.
Explanation: This is a case of Hendiadys where two nouns ‘life’ and ‘suffering’ are joined by one conjunction ‘and’. But strictly speaking there should be one only one Noun. It may be said ‘suffering of life’.
● Chiasmus
This figure of speech consists of an inversion of the order of words or phrases when repeated or subsequently referred to, in a sentence. It serves to make a statement more emphatic and impressive.
Example: Beauty is truth, truth beauty.
Explanation: In this sentence we get an inversion of the order of words, when repeated or subsequently referred to. The order of words ‘Beauty is truth’, is inverted in ‘truth beauty’ to make the sense more emphatic and impressive.
● Zeugma
This is a figure of speech where one verb is connected with two nouns to each of which a separate verb should be properly supplied.
Example: The feast and noon grew high.
Explanation: This is a case of Zeugma where one Verb ‘grew’ is connected with two nouns ‘feast’ and ‘moon’ to each of which a separate Verb should properly be supplied.
● Euphemism
It consists in toning down the harsh language. In it e avoid disagreeable expression and use another less harsh and more agreeable expression. Such softening of language is due to the desire for politeness in speech which points at an unpleasant idea instead of naming it directly.
Example: He breathed his last.
Explanation: In this sentence, the language has been toned down. An unpleasant tone like the man died is expressed in an agreeable way by softening of language.
More Example: The bank has stopped payment.
● Irony
In Irony we mean just the very opposite of what we say. It may be called a disguised form of satire. In a grab of apparent praise we actually condemn. The real intention becomes clear from the very tone or manner of speech.
Example: A very bright boy indeed to get plucked in the same examination for seven times.
Explanation: In this sentence, the speaker means just the very opposite of what he says. By saying ‘a very bright boy’, he means just the very opposite, that is ‘a very bad boy’. In a grab of apparent praise he actually condemns the boy.
More Example: A very fine friend you were to forsake me in my danger.
● Innuendo
This figure of speech consists in a subtler trick of speech than irony, satire, sarcasm. In it suggestiveness is given about something ‘bad’. It is an indirect hint of an injurious nature made very artfully to damage.
Example: He comes of a rich but honest parents.
Explanation: The statement indirectly refers to the dishonesty of the rich. This is a figure of speech by which a thing is insinuated or hinted instead of stating plainly.
● Periphrasis
This is a figure of speech in which the plain idea of a thing is expressed in a round about way for a fine effect.
Example: The orbid maiden with whitefire leaden.
Explanation: In this sentence, the plain idea of the ‘moon’, has been expressed in a round about way by the use of the words ‘the orbid maiden with whitefire leaden’ for a fine effect. So this is a case of Periphrasis.
More Example: The weakening eye of day. (eye of day means the sun)
● Onomatopoeia
This is a figure of speech in which words are arranged in such a suitable way that their sounds echo the very sense they intend to express.
Example: The Niagara stuns with thundering sound.
Explanation: In this sentence, the different words have been so skillfully arranged that they produce a sounding effect of flowing of Niagara.
● Pun
Pun is a figure of speech in which there is a play upon words that are either exactly alike in sound or similar in sound but are different in meaning.
Example: He has a sound knowledge in sound of physics.
Explanation: This is a case of Pun where the word ‘sound’ is exactly alike or similar in form but it has different meaning. In the first place, ‘sound’ means deep and in the other place, ‘sound’ means sound chapter of physics.
● Alliteration
This is a figure of speech consists in repetition of the same consonant letter or syllable that may occur either at the beginning or about the middle portion or at the end of words to enhance the musical effect.
Example: Life is made up of sobs, sniffles and smiles with sniffles predominating.
Explanation: In the above sentence, the letter ‘s’ repeatedly used at the beginning of several successive words like ‘sobs’, ‘smiles’, ‘sniffles’ just to enhance the musical effect.
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