Figures of Speech

- Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Hyperbole,

and Onomatopoeia

What is a Figure
of Speech?

Figures of Speech
- Afigure of speechis a rhetorical device that achieves a
special effect by using words in distinctive ways. It can be
a special repetition, arrangement or omission of words
with literal meaning, or a phrase with a specialized
meaning not based on the literal meaning of the words.

 Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that makes a
comparison, showing similarities between two
different things using as and like.

Examples
OUR SOLDIERS ARE AS
BRAVE AS LIONS.

 THE FROGS EYES

SPARKLED LIKE
DIAMONDS.

Metaphor

- Metaphor is a figure of speech which

makes a hidden comparison between two
things that are unrelated but share some
common characteristics.

Examples
MY BROTHER
WASBOILING MAD.

 SHE IS A
WALKING
ENCYCLOPEDIA.

 Personification
-Personification is a figure of speech in
which a thing, an idea or an animal is
given human attributes. The non-human
objects are portrayed in such a way that
we feel they have the ability to act like
human beings.

Examples
THE DANDELIONS
DANCED IN THE
GENTLE BREEZE.

 THE RUNNING
CLOCK DISTURBED
ME LAST NIGHT.

Hyperbole
- Hyperbole derived from a Greek word
meaning over-casting is a figure of
speech, which involves an
exaggeration of ideas for the sake of
emphasis.

Examples
MY
GRANDMOTHER
IS AS OLD AS THE
HILLS.

 IM SO HUNGRY! I
COULD EAT AN
ELEPHANT.

Onomatopoeia
- imitates the natural sounds of a
thing. It creates a sound effect that
mimics the thing described, making
the description more expressive and
interesting.

Examples
MY BAG FELL INTO
THE RIVER WITH A
SPLASH.

 TWEET! I HEARD
BIRDS FROM
OUTSIDE.

The End

References
http://literarydevices.net/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figure_of_speech
http://grammar.about.com/od/rhetoricstyle/a/20figures.
htm