many times while reading great literary works, we face difficulties in differentiating the different figures of speech. So i thought of making a simple presentation to be helpful to students in understanding the different figures of speech in english language

1. By Arpita Sen

2. • word or group of words used to give
particular emphasis to an idea or
sentiment
• Help explain abstract ideas by
creating comparisons or other
relationships between the
abstraction and concrete realities

3. • A directly stated comparison
between two unlike person or
thing that uses expressions like,
as and as ....... as
Example:
His mind is like a sponge.

4. •An implied
comparison
between two unlike
things that are alike
in the way they are
identified

5. • Unlike simile, no
expressions are used to
show the comparison in
metaphor
Example:
In the dark night, the city
lights are glimmering
fireflies

6. • Leads human
qualities to things
that are not human –
animals, plants, in
animate objects and
abstraction.

7. Example:
“Will you walk
into my parlor?”
said the spider to
the fly

8. •Addresses personified
objects as real person,
the absent as if they
were present and the
dead as if were alive

9. Example:
Ambition you are
a cruel master, I will
serve you no more

10. • A subtle metaphor, it
recalls and projects on the
imagination memories of
the past – a well known
person, event, saying or
incident – to compare with
the present scene.

11. •The reader thus
profits from the
knowledge he
gained

12. Example:
Were I Midas, I
would make
nothing else but
such golden days of
memory

13. • The substitution of one noun for
another which it suggests but it
is not base on resemblance but
on association
Example:
It is the rope for the criminal
(the cause – hanging with a rope
for the effect – death)

14. • A type of metonymy, it gives a
significant part to represent a
whole
Example:
The poor woman has ten
hungry mouths to feed.

15. • From the Greek hyper, meaning
“beyond” and ballein, meaning “to
throw” this is a deliberate
exaggeration not to deceive but to
emphasize a statement, often used
for humorous effect.
Example:
He is such a good salesman he
could sell Manila Bay to speculators

16. • Used to minimize the impression
of the size or importance of reality
or to enhance the readers
impression of what is said.
• If the understatement is positive,
it is called melosis; if it is a miid
negative understatement, it is
called litotes

17. Example:
Nena told her friend, I am a
bit hurt because I was not invited
to your wedding. (melosis)
A kinder garden pupil made a
speech at his graduation and his
proud grandfather said, “Not a
bad accomplishment.” (litotes)

18. • The use of word to signify the
opposite of what is said.
• The words used express approval or
praise, but the author’s real
intention is blame, criticism, scorn
or ridicule
• In writing, the context of irony
holds the clue; in speech, the tone
of the voice or manner of the
speaker indicates the irony
intended.