This document defines and provides examples of various figures of speech used in creative writing, including similes, metaphors, oxymorons, antithesis, paradoxes, irony, understatements, metonymy, synecdoche, allusions, personification, apostrophes, hyperboles, and litotes. It discusses how each figure utilizes techniques like comparison, contrast, representation, exaggeration, and negation to convey meaning beyond the literal definition or juxtapose two opposing ideas. A total of 14 different figures of speech are outlined and exemplified.

1. LANGUAGE OF
CRETIVEWRITING
Prepared by: LYSSA R. MERCADDO

2. FIGURE OF SPEECH
- word or phrase that possesses a separate meaning
from its literal definition
- classified into figures of comparison, contrast,
representation, order, omission and addition, and sound.

3. Figures of Comparison
1. Simile – indirect comparison of two essentially unlike
things
- uses the word “like” or “as”
E.g. She is like a flower.
The boys sleeps as soundly as a kitten.
All his charges against you collapsed as like a
sand castle.

4. Figure of Comparison
2. Metaphor - directly compares two things as if they are
the same
- does not use the words “like” or “as’’
E.g. She is a flower.
He sounds a kitten while sleeping.
His charges against you is a sand castle.

5. Figure of Contrast
3. Oxymoron – Juxtaposition (placed side by side) of
two contrasting words
E.g. His girlfriend is pretty ugly.
She seems a living dead person.
Teiresias, the blind seer, made a prophecy to
King Oedipus.

6. Figure of Contrast
4. Antithesis - juxtaposition of two contrasting ideas
in paralleled structure.
E.g. To err is human, to forgive is divine.
He come to late, but departed too soon.
Though the sun is shining, I can feel the rain.

7. Figure of Contrast
5. Paradox - a seemingly self-contradictory statement
which can be proven to be true
E.g. Cowards die many times before deaths.
The more you hate, the more you love.
There is nothing so stable as change.

8. Figure of Contrast
6. Irony - a statement of one idea, the opposite of which
is meant
E.g. You’re so lovely today; you look like a Christmas
tree.
A pilot is scared of heights.
The mathematician doesn’t know how to count.

9. Figures of Contrast
7. Understatement - makes a situation less important
than it really is
E.g. You’re not stupid, you just need to read lots of
book.
The examination is very easy, all I have to do
is read all my notes.
Your father is now living with God.

10. FIGURE OF REPRESENTATION
8. Metonymy – a figurative substitution of literal noun for
another noun
E.g. For details, call the desk.
The suit enters the room.
The story was written by the pen.

11. Figure of Representation
9. Synecdoche - a figurative representation of a part
for a whole
E.g. The poor man had ten mouths to feed.
My brother bought a new red wheel.
They live in the same roof.

12. Figure of Representation
10. Allusion - a figurative reference to biblical,
mythological, literary, scientific, political, or
historical place, personage, event, idea or
thing
E.g. I already found my Romeo.
They have a Garden of Eden in their house.
Spider is my Achilles’ heel.

13. Figure of Representation
11. Personification - a figurative attribution of personal or
human qualities to things that are not
human
E.g. Earth with her thousand voices praises God.
The grass danced to the music of the breeze.
The wind whispered something to me.

14. Figure of Representation
12. Apostrophe - a direct address to an inanimate object,
an absent or a dead person
E.g. O Death!Where is thy sting?
O Captain! May Captain!
Our fearful trip is done
Rain, please ease my pain.

15. Other Figures
13. Hyperbole - An exaggeration or overstatement for
literary effect
E.g. The orphaned child cried an ocean of tears.
I will catch the stars for you.
I’m very hungry, I can eat a whole horse.

16. Other Figures
14.Litotes- use two negative words to express a positive
idea
E.g. He is no fool.
She’s not pretty that she attracts many men.
Her room is not unclean.

17. Reference:
■ John Oliver M. Ramos & Junie Mart A.Talisay (2017).
Fundamental of CreativeWriting: Brilliant Creations
Publishing, Inc.