This document defines and provides examples of various figures of speech and rhetorical devices. It discusses similes, metaphors, alterations, personification, repetition, hyperbole, idioms, puns, onomatopoeia, and apostrophes. For each figure of speech, it gives the definition and 1-3 examples to illustrate how that particular device is used.

2. A figure of speech or rhetorical figure is a word or
phrase that entails an intentional deviation from
ordinary language use in order to produce
a rhetorical effect
figures of speech are found in oral literatures as well
as in polished poetry and prose and in everyday
speech. Greeting-card rhymes, advertising slogans,
newspaper headlines, the captions of cartoons, and
the mottoes of families and institutions often use
figures of speech, generally for humorous

3.  Simile. ...
 Metaphor. ...
 Alteration . ...
 Personification. ...
 Repetition
 Hyperbole. ...
 Idiom. ...
 Pun .....
 Onamatopeia .....
 Apostrophe .......

4.  A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares
two things. between two things using comparison
words such as "like", "as", "so", or " than"
 Ex......
 You were as brave as a lion.
 They fought like cats and dogs.
 He can run faster than I can.
 This house is as clean as a whistle.
 He spoke so well that everybody was pleased.Your
explanation is as clear as mud.
 Watching the show was like watching grass grow.

5.  A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical
effect, It may provide clarity or identify hidden
similarities between two different ideas
 EX....
 The snow is a white blanket.
 He is a shining star.
 Her long hair was a flowing golden river.
 Tom's eyes were ice as he stared at her.
 The children were flowers grown in concrete gardens.
 Kisses are the flowers of affection.
 The falling snowflakes are dancers.
 The calm lake was a mirror.

6.  The definition of an alteration is a revision. In
which a series of words, usually two or more
neighbouring words
 Ex...
 Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. ...
 A good cook could cook as many cookies as a good
cook who could cook cookies.
 Black bug bit a big black bear. ...
 Sheep should sleep in a shed.
 A big bug bit the little beetle but the little beetle
bit the big bug back

7.  Giving an object or animal human characteristics to
create interesting imagery.”
 An example of personification would be in the
nursery rhyme
 Ex.....
 The wind howled in the night.
 The car complained as the key was roughly turned in
its ignition.
 Rita heard the last piece of pie calling her name.
 My alarm clock yells at me to get out of bed every
morning.
 Lightning danced across the sky

8.  Repeating the same words or phrases in a literary
work of poetry or prose can bring clarity to an
idea and/or make it memorable for the reader. ...
 EX....
 Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. "Oh, woeful, oh
woeful, woeful, woeful day! "And miles to go
before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.“
 ‘I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that', 'I'm sorry, I
didn't hear what you said', 'I'm sorry, would

9.  That extreme kind of exaggeration in speech is
the literary device known as hyperbole.
 He's running faster than the wind.
 This bag weighs a ton.
 That man is as tall as a house.
 This is the worst day of my life.
 The shopping cost me a million dollars.
 My dad will kill me when he comes home.
 Your skin is softer than silk.
 She's as skinny as a toothpick.

10.  An idiom is a figure of speech that means something
different than a literal translation of the words would lead
one to believe
 Here are 10 of the most common idioms that are easy to
use in daily conversation
 EX....
 “Hit the hay.” “Sorry, guys, I have to hit the hay now!” ...
 “Up in the air” ...
 “Stabbed in the back” ...
 “Takes two to tango” ...
 “Kill two birds with one stone.” ...
 “Piece of cake” ...
 “Costs an arm and a leg” ...
 “Break a leg”

11.  A pun, also called paronomasia, involves a word play
which suggests two or more meanings,
 a joke that makes use of one word with multiple
meanings or words that sound the same but have
different meanings
 Ex...
 Denial is a river in Egypt.
 The cyclist was two tired to win the race.
 Take my wife, please.
 Her cat is near the computer to keep an eye ...
 My librarian is a great bookkeeper.
 If you stand by the window, I’ll help you out.

12.  The formation of a word from a sound associated
with what is named (e.g. cuckoo, sizzle ).
 The use of onomatopoeia for literary effect.
 Ex..
 The “boom” of a firework exploding,
 The “tick tock” of a clock,
 The “ding dong” of a doorbel

13.  A punctuation mark (') used to indicate either possession
(e.g. Harry ' s book ; boys ' coats ) or the omission of letters
or numbers (e.g. can ' t ; he ' s ; 1 Jan. ' 99 ).
 Ex....
 I'm: “I'm planning to write a book someday.”
 You are – You're: “You're going to have a lot of fun with
your new puppy.”
 She is – She's: “She's always on time.”
 The apostrophe has three uses: 1) to form possessive
nouns; 2) to show the omission of letters; and 3) to indicate
plurals of letters, numbers, and symbols. ​Do not ​use
apostrophes to form
possessive ​pronouns ​(i.e. ​his​/​her ​computer) or ​noun ​plurals
that are not possessives.