Class 11 English Grammar

1. An English Language
Seminar
FIGURES OF SPEECH

2. Simile
Example:
Definition:
Comparing two unlike things using like or as.
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
Explanation:
The bride and the pearl are unlike things.
When you compare the softness of carrying
the bride to the softly carried pearl, you are
using a simile.

3. Simile
More examples:
She sways like a flower.
She skims like a bird.
She hangs like a star.
She falls like a tear.
His temper was as explosive as a volcano.

4. An implied comparison between two unlike
things that actually have something
important in common.
Example:
Camel is the ship of desert.

5. Simile vs Metaphor
The definition of a metaphor is similar to the
definition of a simile but there is one important
difference between the two.
Remember the definition of simile has two parts:
•Two unlike things are being compared
•The words like or as are used to make the comparison
But in Metaphor the words like or as are not
used for comparison

6. Simile vs. Metaphor
Use the following examples to figure out the
definition of metaphor.
Simile: Mike is like a teddy bear.
Simile: Mike is as soft as a teddy
bear.
Metaphor: Mike is a teddy bear.
Simile: That boy is like a pig.
Simile: That boy is as messy as a pig.
Metaphor: That boy is a pig.

7. Personification
Definition:
Giving human traits or characteristics to something
that isn’t human, such as animals, objects or non-
living things
Think of it this way:
When a writer uses personification, he or she
gives characteristics of a person to an animal,
object or thing.

8. Personification
Example:
The willow tree shook her long hair.
Explanation:
The example is referring to the way that the
willow tree’s long branches sway in the wind.
By saying “shook her long hair”, the tree is
given characteristics of a human.

9. Personification
More examples:
The car danced across the icy road.
The angry clouds marched across the sky.
The stars in the clear night sky winked at me.
The tulips nodded their heads in the breeze.

10. Alliteration!
Alliteration is the repetition of beginning
consonant sounds, such as “Six silly swans went
swimming in the sea.”
It’s important to note that not
every word in the sentence has to
begin with the same letter in order
for it to be considered alliteration.
In the above example, only 5 out of
8 words begin with an “s”.

11. Alliteration
Take a look at the following examples of
alliteration..
Brad wore his blue and brown blazer.
She springs like a beam on the brow of
the tide.
Gaily, O Gaily we glide and we sing.
Six swans went swimming in the sea.

12. Alliteration
Have you figured it out yet?
Here are more examples to help refine your
definition.
Alliteration  Sue shook her silky silver hair
as the sun was setting.
NOT Alliteration  Elizabeth easily eyed an
elephant in the elevator.

13. Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a major exaggeration or overstatement.
Authors use this figure of speech to emphasize a point
or add humor.
Example:
I nearly died laughing

14. Hyperbole
Think about the following examples of hyperbole.
You will later select the best definition for this
figure of speech.
My backpack weighs a ton.

15. Hyperbole
Another example:
The wolf was 100 feet high.

16. Hyperbole
More examples:
You could have knocked me over with
a feather.
I’ve told you a million times!

17. Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like its
meaning.
It can also be described as the use of a word which
imitates a sound.
Other examples include: screech, whirr, sizzle,
crunch, bang, , zap, roar, growl, click, snap, crackle,
and pop.

18. Onomatopoeia
When you see this: You often hear this:
Buzz and ring are both examples of onomatopoeia.

19. Oxymoron is a special
form of Antithesis,
whereby two
contradictory qualities
are predicted at once
of the same thing.

20. Irony is a mode of speech in which the
real meaning is exactly the opposite of
that which is literally conveyed.
Eg: For Brutus is an honourable
man; So are they all, all
honourable men
The quote (spoken by Marc Antony) is reporting that Brutus (a
tyrant) is an honourable man.
However, Marc Antony does not agree and is saying that if
Brutus is an honourable man then everyone is honourable; in
effect, he is no different than anyone else (and is indeed
worse).

21. In this figure, an epithet (a word
or phrase that describes a
person or thing) is transferred
from its proper word to another
that is closely associated with
it in the sentence.
Example
Sleepless Night