FIGURES OF SPEECH Flashcards
deviation from the ordinary use of words in order to increase their effectiveness
FIGURE OF SPEECH
verbal pattern
CHIASMUS
juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in BALANCED PHRASES
ANTITHESIS
directly addressing a nonexistent person as though it were a living being
APOSTROPHE
repetition of the same word
ANAPHORA
play on words
PUN
incongruous or contradictory terms appear SIDE BY SIDE
OXYMORON
statement that appears to CONTRADICT itself
PARADOX
inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities.
PERSONIFICATION
use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to
ONOMATOPOEIA
substitution of an inoffensive term
EUPHEMISM
consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by NEGATING its opposite
LITOTES
implied comparison between two dissimilar things that have something in common
METAPHOR
use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning
IRONY
- extravagant statement
- exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or
heightened effect (basta OA)
HYPERBOLE
part is used to represent the whole
SYNECDOCHE
stated comparison (usually formed with “like” or “as”) between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common.
SIMILE
writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is
UNDERSTATEMENT
actual intent is expressed through words that carry the opposite meaning.
IRONY
I have a ton of things to do when I get home.
HYPERBOLE
A million dollars is no small chunk of change.
LITOTES
Unfortunately, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time on the wrong day.
ANAPHORA
“Oh, you STUPID CAR, you never work when I need you to,” Bert sighed
APOSTROPHE
The famous CHEF said people should live to eat, not
eat to live.
CHIASMUS
As Abraham Lincoln said, “Folks who have no vices have very few virtues.”
ANTITHESIS
The clap of thunder went bang and scared my
poor dog.
ONOMATOPOEIA
“This is the beginning of the end,” said Eeyore, always the pessimist.
PARADOX
That kitchen knife will take a bite out of your hand if you don’t handle it safely.
PERSONIFICATION
Jessie looked up from her breakfast and said, “A boiled egg every morning is hard to beat.”
PUN
“He popped the JUMBO SHRIMP in his mouth.”
OXYMORON
“That stuffed suit with the briefcase is a poor excuse for a salesman,” the manager said angrily.
METONYMY
“You could say Babe Ruth was a decent ballplayer,” the reporter said with a wink.
UNDERSTATEMENT
Tina is learning her ABC’s in preschool.
SYNECDOCHE
Roberto was white as a sheet after he walked out of
the horror movie.
SIMILE
type of irony where a situation in life or a story is
incongruent
SITUATIONAL IRONY
component of verbal irony
OVERSTATEMENT (hyperbole), UNDERSTATEMENT (meiosis), SARCASM
type of irony that usually a literal CONTRAINDICATION of terms or situations
PARADOX
type of irony where saying one thing but meaning another
VERBAL IRONY
type of irony where audience has more information or greater perspective than the characters
DRAMATIC IRONY
