Figures of Speech

Question 1

Alliteration

Answer 1

• Alliteration refers to the repetition of a consonant sound, at least three times in a sentence.
• Used to make things more memorable
• Example: Sara’s seven sisters slept soundly in sand.

Question 2

Antithesis

Answer 2

• Antithesis is defined as an opposition or contradiction between two concepts in a statement.
• Example: You’re easy on the eyes, hard on the heart…

Question 3

Euphemism

Answer 3

• A euphemism is the use of neutral language to remark something that may be offensive to the receiver. Euphemism is often used by people who are diplomatic, and who wish to be politically correct.
• Examples:
  •We have to let you go. Read: You’re fired.
  •You’re well fed. Read: You’re fat.

Question 4

Hyperbole

Answer 4

• A hyperbole is a figure of speech used for the purpose of exaggeration. It mainly forms the basis of several jokes, is used as a way of insults, or could simply be used to dramatize a situation, where in reality, the situation may not be that bad.
• Example: I’m so busy trying to accomplish ten million things at once.

Question 5

Idiom

Answer 5

• An idiom is a figure of speech that is used to help express a situation with ease, but by using expressions that are usually completely unrelated to the situation in question.
• Example: It takes two to tango.

Question 6

Irony

Answer 6

• Irony refers to the use of certain words that actually intend to convey the opposite. Irony forms the basis of sarcasm, and of humor. It is also a way of expressing the ugly truth in a slightly gentle manner.
  •Bill Gates winning a computer.- Situational Irony (He is the owner of the world’s largest software company.)
  •Having a fight with your best friend just before your birthday, and commenting -“Great, this is just what I needed”.- Verbal Irony (It is probably the worst thing that could happen before your birthday.)
  •In Romeo and Juliet, when Juliet is drugged, Romeo assumes her to be dead, and kills himself. Upon waking up Juliet finds him dead, and kills herself.- Dramatic Irony (Mainly based on miscommunication and misunderstanding.)

Question 7

Metaphor

Answer 7

• Used for the purpose of comparison, a metaphor is a figure of speech that implies the meaning of an object with its reference to another completely unrelated object.
  •The sofa is fertile soil for a couch potato.
  •But my heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill.

Question 8

Oxymoron

Answer 8

• An oxymoron uses a contradictory adjective to define an object, situation or event.
• Example: a Loner’s club

Question 9

Paradox

Answer 9

• While an oxymoron is a contradictory phrase, a paradox is a contradictory statement which may appear false, but is in fact true.
• Example: •Deep down, you’re really shallow.

Question 10

Onomatopoeia

Answer 10

• Such words imitate the sounds made by certain objects or actions.
• Examples: clatter, flutter

Question 11

Personnification

Answer 11

• This refers to the art of bringing to life an inanimate object, trait, or action, by associating it with a human quality.
  •The picture in that magazine screamed for attention.
  •The carved pumpkin smiled at me.

Question 12

Pun

Answer 12

• Puns refer to the deliberate substitution of similar sounding words to create a humorous effect.
  •Santa’s helpers are subordinate Clauses.

Question 13

Simile

Answer 13

• A simile is similar to a metaphor. However, here, a reference between two concepts is made by using the terms ‘like’ or ‘as’.
• Cause she looks like a flower but she stings like a bee