5. The grown up, the young and the little children attended the fete.
3. Climax:- A climax is a figure of speech in which words are arranged in an ascending order so far as their ideas are concerned.
Examples:
1. He owns a cycle. a bike and a car.
2. I bought a rubber, a pencil and a drawing note.
3. The little children, the young lads and the old people had come to the fair.
4. Infancy, childhood, youth, middle age and old age are the stages of man.
5. A day is made up of morning, noon, afternoon, evening and night.
4. Enjambment:- An enjambment is a figure of speech in which a phrase or a sentence continues to the next line of a poem without a punctuation mark. Enjambment can end a line in the middle of a sentence too.
Examples:
1. The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
2. I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
3.Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And being one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
4.When the humid shadows hover
Over all the starry spheres
And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears,
5.What a bliss to press the pillow
Of a cottage-chamber bed
And lie listening to the patter
Of the soft rain overhead!
5. Exclamation:- An exclamation is a figure of speech in which a strong feeling is expressed.
Examples:
1. What a piece of work man is!
2. O, What a ghastly sight!
3. Alas! I am undone.
4. Bravo! Well done India.
5. Phew! What a dastardly act it was!
6. Hyperbole:- A hyperbole is a figure of speech in which an obvious overstatement is made or a statement is exaggerated.
Examples:
1. It is less than nothing.
2. He has amassed tons and tons of money.
3. She shed oceans of tears.
4. The sea rose mountain high.
5. I met my friend after ages.
7. Interrogation:- An interrogation (also known as a rhetorical question) is a figure of speech in which a question is asked not for an answer but for an opposite assertion.
Examples:
1. Who will dare to challenge him?
2. How can we forget that deadly evening?
3. Where was the need to waste money?
4. Who can bear that humiliation?
5. Why will government ignore the public interest?
8. Inversion:- An inversion is a figure of speech in which the correct prose order is not maintained. That's to say, the words are written in a jumbled way for a better poetic effect.
Examples:
1. Away he went all of a sudden.
2. Smiling he spoke to me.
3. Fed the child the kind mother.
4. Back came home the students after the school.
5. Wins the race steady and slow.
9. Litotes:- Litotes is a figure of speech in which a strong affirmation is conveyed by using the negative of the contrary.
Examples:
1. He is not an ordinary person.
2. This is not a silly question.
3. I am not a fool to follow him.
4. The IAS exam is not a child's play.
5. That was not a futile talk.
10. Repetition:- A repetition is a figure of speech in which a word or a phrase is repeated for a better poetic effect.
Examples:
1. Tell me, tell me what you want from me.
2. No more, no more can I bear all this injustice.
3. Repeat, please repeat your answer.
4. You should not commit a mistake again and again.
5. l like him, so I help him.
11. Tautology:- A tautology is a figure of speech in which related or synonymous words are used for better poetic effect.
Examples:
1. Will their cowardly and dastardly acts ever bring them peace?
2. His brave and courageous efforts will always be saluted.
3 The sad and pitiful news shocked all.
4. Ram was a liberal and generous king.
5. His witty and intelligent answers fetched him the first prize.
6. He is a dull and lazy boy.
7. She is intelligent, smart and hardworking.
12. Transferred Epithet (Adjective): A transferred epithet (adjective) is a figure of speech in which an adjective belonging to one noun is transferred to another noun, which has a close connection with the former.
Examples:
1 No one understood his desirous look.
2 Her anxious eyes melted my heart.
3. The eager feet of the devotees thronged the temple surroundings.
4. Your young mind is unable to understand this.
5. The tender hues of the flowers fascinate all.
3. Figures based on contrast
1. Anti thesis: An antithesis is a figure of speech in which words or ideas of opposite meanings are used in the same sentence.
Examples:
1. Man proposes, God disposes.
2 To err is human; to forgive divine.
3. United we stand; divided we fall.
4 Many are called, but a few are chosen.
5. Prosperity gains friends; adversity tries them.
2. Epigram: An epigram just as a paradox is a figure of speech in which contradictory ideas are conveyed in an exciting and proverbial way which are true though seem ridiculous.
Examples:
1. The child is the father of man.
2 Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
3. Forewarned is forearmed.
4. Cowards die many times before their death.
5. Failure is the pillar of success.
6. Unless we end war, war will end us.
3. Euphemism; A euphemism is a figure of speech in which a harsh reality is conveyed in a mild or soft manner.
Examples:
1. He closed his eyes forever.
2 Nature draped her snowy blanket on the grass.
3. Death lays his icy hands on the kings.
4 Many people passed away in the blast.
5 The culprits were treated with sticks.
4. Oxymoron: An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory words are placed side by side in a sentence.
1. He is regularly irregular in his duty.
2. Indian cricket players are consistently inconsistent.
3. It was the kind cruelty of the surgeon's knife.
4. Parting is bitter sweet.
5. He was the wisest fool.
6. Don't be idly busy.
5. Paradox: A paradox is a figure of speech in which a truth is expressed in a ridiculous or contradictory way.
Examples:
1. The part is greater than the whole.
2. Nothing is better than something. (unwelcome)
3. There is no one so poor as a wealthy miser.
4. He is the best teacher who teaches nothing.
5. Illnesses that make us healthier.
6. Irony: An irony is a figure of speech in which something positive is written to mean just the opposite.
Examples:
1 Today the politicians are the parents of the public.
2. Today the movies are replete with high human values.
3. Today most schools omit textual chapters to minimize the burden of the students.
4. Today beauty contests and fashion shows are conducted to glorify the hidden and neglected beauty.
5. In India reservations in higher studies, bureaucracy and elections aim at the uplift of the backward classes and women.
4. Figures based on Sound
1. Alliteration: Alliteration is a figure of speech/poetic device in which the starting
letter/sound of a word is repeated sweetly or musically. The letter may be
either a vowel or a consonant.
Examples:
Examples:
1. She sells seashells on the seashore.
2. A load of learning is lumbering in his head.
3. How high his highness holds his haughty head.
4. A sweet, sad smile spread across her face.
5. The blind blasts of the bombs deafened all.
6. Hari hurried home to watch the IPL match.
7. The bees are buzzing relentlessly.
2. Assonance: Assonance is a figure of speech/poetic device in which only a vowel
sound is repeated anywhere in a word sweetly or musically. It creates an
internal rhyme too.
Examples:
1. Clap your hands and
stamp your feet.
2. The crying creatures
are dying.
3. The prime function of
the rhyme should soothe the ears.
4. The child could not
try to switch on light.
5. The men on the plains
suffer mainly due to the unseasonal rains.
6. Tyger, Tyger burning bright in the
forest of the night.
7. No company ever
likes its workers to go on strikes.
3. Consonance: Consonance
is a figure of speech/poetic device in which the same consonant sound is repeated
anywhere in a word sweetly or musically.
Examples:
1.
I like my new bike very much.
2.
The captain will hold the trophy of gold.
3.
The child told, “The step was too bold.”
4.
They stood on the road for free drink and food.
5.
His boss faced a great loss.
6.
The women walked on the road with heavy loads.
7.
Only a fool will dive into a cold pool at night.
4. Onomatopoeia: An onomatopoeia is a figure of speech/poetic device
in which a sound expressing word is used.
Examples:
1. The dogs are barking.
2. The peon is ringing
the bell.
3. The priest is blowing
a conch.
4. The students are
banging the desk
5. The birds are
twittering.
6. The bees are humming.
7. The owls are hooting.
8. The elephants are
trumpeting.
9. The monkeys are
coughing.
5. Pun: A pun is a figure
of speech/poetic device in which a play upon the meaning of words is employed.
Sometimes one word carries two meanings; and two different words with different
meanings carry the same sound.
Examples:
1. A thief steels his
nerves when he steals.
2. Women powder the face,
while the soldiers face the powder.
3. The world knows the sole
force, but not the soul force.
4. A mirror reflects
without speaking, while a woman speaks without reflecting.
5. Photographs always
reply with a negative.
6. Life depends upon the
liver.
7. A life of love is
better than a love of life.
8. What we refuse to eat
is thrown off as refuse.
9. We miss you Miss.
10. An honest ambassador
lies abroad for the good of the country.
11. His pupils are good.
12. He pours spirits
down to keep his spirits up.
5. Figures based on
substitution:
1. Metonymy
2. Synecdoche
1. Metonymy: [One word is used for another]: A metonymy is a figure of
speech/poetic device in which instead of a person or a thing, a name closely
associated with the person or the thing is used.
1. A sign for the person or thing symbolized:
Examples:
1. They requested the Chair for a favour. (Here, the Chair, instead of the Chairman, is used.)
2. Sceptre and crown
must tumble down. (Here, the Sceptre and crown, instead of the king's powers, are used.)
2. An instrument for the agent:
Examples:
1. Pen is mightier than
the sword.
(Here, the pen, instead
of the writer, and sword, instead of the soldier, are used.)
2. Give every man thy ear
but few thy tongue.
(Here, the ear is used for
hearing, and the tongue is used for the speech.)
3. A container for the thing contained:
Examples:
1. The kettle is boiling.
(Here, the kettle, instead of tea, is used.)
2. India will not succumb
to terrorism. (Here, India, instead of the Indians, is used.)
3. The country was
relishing the victory. (Here, the country, instead of the country men, is used.)
4. An author for his writings:
Examples:
1. I am reading
Longfellow these days. (Here, Longfellow is used for his writings.)
2. Let's go through
Vishnu Sharma. (Here, Vishnu Sharma is used for his book Panchatantra.)
3. Have you read Valmiki?
(Here, Valmiki is used for his epic, the Ramayana.)
5. The name of a feeling for the object producing
the feeling:
Examples:
1 Sania Mirza is the
pride of India. (Here, Sania, the object, produces a feeling of “pride”.)
2 Krishna was the light
of Yashoda's eyes. (Here, Krishna, the object, produces a feeling of “light".)
3. Sachin was the only
hope of Indian cricket team. (Here, Sachin, the object, produces a feeling of 'hope'.)
2. Synecdoche: A synecdoche is a figure speech/poetic device in which
understanding of one thing is made through another.
1. A part is used for the whole:
Examples:
1. Many hands make light
work.
(Here, hands are the parts,
used for the whole, the people.)
2. Don't kick at the
poor people's stomachs.
(Here, stomachs are the parts,
used for the whole, the poor people.)
3 Uneasy lies the head
that wears a crown.
(Here, the head is the part,
used for the whole person, the king.)
4. The poor man has many
mouths to feed.
(Here, the mouths are the
parts, used for the whole, the persons/members in the family.)
2. The whole is used for a part:
Examples:
1. India won the match.
(Here, India is the whole,
used for the eleven players, a part.)
2. Gandhiji was a
creature of unusual greatness.
(Here, creature is the whole, used for the
part - a man.)
3. Miss India is coming.
(Here, Miss India is the
whole, used for the victorious lady contestant – a part.)
3. Abstract for concrete:
Examples:
1. Youthful love is
wild.
(Here, love, an abstract
noun, is used for a concrete noun, 'lover'.)
2 Passion is more
destructive than constructive.
(Here, passion, an
abstract noun, is used as concrete, for the passionate men.)
3. Revenge is devilish.
(Here, revenge, an abstract
noun, is used for a concrete noun, the persons who takes revenge.)
4. An idle mind is the
devil's workshop.
(Here, idle mind, an
abstract noun, is used for workshop, a concrete noun.)
4. Concrete for the abstract:
Examples:
1. How many would like
to throw away their Chairs?
(Here, chairs, concrete,
are used for the abstract, positions or ranks.)
2. Ravana dictates me to
sin.
(Here, Ravana, a concrete
noun, is used for the abstract, evil power.)
3. There is a Vibhishan
in his heart.
(Here, Vibhishan,
concrete, is used for the abstract, Reason/Scruple.)
5. A material noun for the thing made of/from
it:
Examples:
1. The criminals were
put in irons.
(Here, irons stand for
the handcuff.)
2. The stone of the
leader reminds us of his greatness.
(Here, stone stands for the stone statue.)
3. The guest was greeted
with the flowers.
(Here, the flowers stand for the bouquets /garlands.)
4. Her diamonds shield a
lot.
(Here, diamonds stand for
the ornaments made of diamonds.)
N.B. The above figures of speech are taken from the author's grammar book "TIPS TO BE TOP."
Copyright: Dr. Shankar D Mishra
