Figures of Speech

 Figure of speech is a word or phrase that makes our language beautiful, effective, and impressive. We do not consider the literal or actual meaning of the phrase and take them contextually.

There are many figures of speech that are used by writers, authors, and poets in their writings, some of these are:

• Personification:

When human qualities are attributed to non-humans, it is personification. In personification we represent a thing, an object, or an animal as a person or human.

e.g;

My car was happy to be washed.

My plants were begging for water.

Here "car" and "plants" are represented as humans or thet have given human qualities by using the term of personification.

• Simile:

Simile is the comparison between two different things that have certain qualities in common.

Authors or poets practice simile in their writings by using "as", "as like as" and "like".

e.g;

Ali is standing like a tree.

Her voice is as beautiful as a bird.

• Metaphor:

Metaphor is the direct comparison between two things without using like and as.

e.g;

The snow is white blanket.

Rumi is a beautiful doll.

• Hyperbole:

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement to create strong feelings and strong impression. Hyperbole is used by authors to prove, intensify or justify their statement. 

It is an overstatement that exaggerates a particular condition, idea, fact, or statement for emphasis.

e.g; 

I would give my right arm for a cup of tea.

I am so hungry, I could eat a horse.

• Synecdoche:

In this literary figure, a part is used to represent the whole, the whole for a part, the specific for the general, the general for the specific.

e.g; 

Ahmed got wheels this summer.

Here "wheels" are representing the car (the whole).

Now only boots can help us.

Here "boots" is the part which is representing the soldiers or army (the whole).

• Oxymoron:

In oxymoron, contradictory or opposite terms appear side by side.

e.g;

Cold fire 

Cruel kingdom 

Colorless colors

Seriously funny