FIGURES OF SPEECH Flashcards
uses “like” and “as”
simile
comparison of two unlike things without using “like” or “as”
metaphor
an idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human.
personification
a statement that appears at first to be contradictory, but upon reflection then makes sense.
paradox
employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is.
understatement
one object or idea takes the place of another with which it has a close association.
metonymy
represented by an exclamation, such as “Oh.”
apostrophe
creates heightened effect through deliberate exaggeration.
hyperbole
in which a part of something is used to signify the whole,
synecdoche
contradictory statements or situations reveal a reality that is different from what appears to be true
irony
commonly used to replace a word or phrase that is related to a concept which might make others uncomfortable.
euphemism
rhetorical device that is a memorable, brief, interesting, and surprising satirical statement.
epigram
pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory.
oxymoron
which literally means “opposite,” is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.
antithesis
a figure of speech featuring a phrase that utilizes negative wording or terms to express a positive assertion or statement.
litotes
that reflects repetition in two or more nearby words of initial consonant sounds.
alliteration
is defined as a word which imitates the natural sounds of a thing.
onomatopoeia
is a rhetorical device that can be defined as an ambiguous or paradoxical way of expressing things, ideas, or views.
circumlocution
means “excess.” It is a rhetorical device that can be defined as the use of two or more words (a phrase) to express an idea.
pleonasm
