Figures of Speech – Merism What is merism? Merism is a figure of speech by which something is referred to by a conventional phrase that enumerates several of its constituents or traits. Examples of merism: Hook, line, and sinker. (To swallow something hook, line, and sinker means to swallow it completely.) High and low. (To search high and low means …
Stylistic Devices – Personification Personification What is Personification? Personification is a figure of speech in which human characteristics are attributed to an abstract quality, animal, or inanimate object. Examples Notice the use of personification in William Blake’s poem below: Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow Room. “Ah, William, we’re weary of weather,” said the sunflowers, shining …
In this post, you are going to get complete information bout Oxymoron Figure of Speech with lots of examples. Figures of Speech – Oxymoron Examples What is Oxymoron? An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines incongruous or contradictory terms. The plural is oxymorons or oxymora. When points put across contradict with each other, they are called Oxymoron. Oxymorons …
Stylistic Devices | Litotes What is litotes? Litotes is a figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. For example, instead of saying that someone is mean, you can say he is not very generous. Examples of litotes He’s not a very generous man. She is not very beautiful. He is not …
Stylistic Devices – Irony What is irony? Irony is a figure of speech in which there is a contradiction of expectation between what is said and what is really meant. It is characterized by an incongruity, a contrast, between reality and appearance. There are three types of irony: verbal, dramatic and situational. Types of irony …
Stylistic Devices – Hypophora What is hypophora? Hypophora is a figure of speech in which the speaker raises a question and then answers it. Hypophora is different from rhetorical questions. In a rhetorical question the answer is not provided by the writer. In hypophora, however, the writer poses the question and answers it immediately after. Hypophora …
Stylistic Devices – Hyperbole Hyperbole What is hyperbole? Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally. Hyperboles are exaggerations to create emphasis or effect. Examples Examples of …
Stylistic Devices – Epiphora (Epistrophe) What is epiphora? Epiphora (also called epistrophe) is a rhetorical device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the end of neighboring clauses to give them emphasis. This stylistic device is contrasted with anaphora which consists of repeating words at the beginning of clauses. Examples of anaphora Some examples of epiphora …
Stylistic Devices – Epigram What is an epigram? An epigram refers to a concise, witty, memorable, and sometimes surprising or satirical statement. The origin of the word epigram is Greek, from epigraphein (epi- + graphein to write) Examples Some examples of epigram are listed below: The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.” (Tacitus) “I am not young enough to …
Figures of Speech – Euphemism What is Euphemism? Euphemism is used to express a mild, indirect, or vague term to substitute for a harsh, blunt, or offensive term. Euphemism is often contrasted with dysphemism. Some euphemisms intend to amuse, while others intend to give positive appearances to negative events or even mislead entirely. Examples: These are examples …
