Study Notes
Figures of Speech are rhetorical devices that deviate from the literal meaning to enhance writing. They are used in various forms of media to add beauty and life to words.
- Simile — is when you compare two different things using like or as. Example: He is as brave as a lion.
- Metaphor — is when you compare two different things without using like or as. Example: Time is money.
- Personification — giving human qualities or attributes to inanimate objects. Example: Lightning danced across the night.
- Alliteration — repetition of consonant sounds. Example: She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
- Assonance — repetition of vowel sounds. Example: The light of the fire is a sight in the night.
- Apostrophe — talking to absent or inanimate objects. Example: "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are."
- Hyperbole — exaggeration or emphasizing. Example: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
- Pun — humorous use of words of different meanings or the words of the same sound but different meanings. Example: A sleeping bull is called a bull dozer.
- Onomatopoeia — is where the word is described by the sound they make. Example: The bang of the thunder scared my dog.
- Euphemism — is when we replace blunt words with soft or mild words. Example: He passed away in his sleep.
- Irony — is a contrast between what is said and what is done. Example: The Titanic was said to be unsinkable but got sunk on its first trip.
- Oxymoron — are when two contrasting words are used together in a sentence. Example: The room was filled with a deafening silence.
- Understatement — is showing something of no importance or less importance. Example: I won the lottery and was a bit excited.
- Anaphora — is when many verses or phrases start with the same word. Example: I came, I saw, I conquered.
Exam Tips
Key Definitions to Remember
- Simile: Comparison using like or as.
- Metaphor: Direct comparison without like or as.
- Personification: Giving human traits to non-human things.
- Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds.
- Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds.
- Apostrophe: Speaking to absent or inanimate objects.
- Hyperbole: Exaggeration for effect.
- Pun: Play on words with multiple meanings.
- Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds.
- Euphemism: Mild terms replacing harsh ones.
- Irony: Contrast between expectation and reality.
- Oxymoron: Contradictory terms together.
- Understatement: Downplaying importance.
- Anaphora: Repetition at the start of sentences.
Common Confusions
- Confusing metaphors with similes due to their comparative nature.
- Mixing up alliteration and assonance because both involve repetition of sounds.
Typical Exam Questions
- What is a simile? A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using like or as.
- Provide an example of personification. Example: The wind whispered through the trees.
- How does irony differ from sarcasm? Irony involves a contrast between expectations and reality, while sarcasm is a form of irony that is often meant to mock or convey contempt.
What Examiners Usually Test
- Ability to identify and explain different figures of speech.
- Understanding of how figures of speech enhance writing.
- Application of figures of speech in descriptive writing.