Government Degree College, Atmakur, Wanaparthy Dist.

3rd Semester - Unit:2

Vocabulary - Figures of Speech (Metaphor, Simile, Alliteration)

Simile:
A simile is a figure of speech where a direct comparison is made between two
uncomparable things using words such as ‘like’, and ‘as’ or verbs such as
compare and resemble, etc.

Examples:

1. Shivaji Maharaj fought like a lion.

2. The sheet was as white as snow.
3. O my luve is like a red, red rose.
4. We are as the deer.
5. You were as brave as a lion.
6. They fought like cats and dogs.
7. He is as funny as a barrel of monkeys.
8. This house is as clean as a whistle.
9. He is as strong as an ox.

Metaphor:
A metaphor is an imaginative way of referring something to something else. It
is an implied comparison. The main difference between Simile and Metaphor is
in using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. In Simile we use ‘like’ or ‘as’, but in
metaphor, we don’t use ‘like’ or ‘as’.

Examples:

1. The little girl is a rose.

2. Juliet is the sun.
3. Every word was a singing sparrow, a magic trick, a truffle for me.
4. Love is a vagabond.
5. Time is a thief.
6. Success is not an illegitimate child.
7. Life is a highway.
8. Her eyes were diamonds.
9. He is a shining star.

C G Lakshmi Prasad, Asst. Professor of English, GDC, Atmakur Page: 1

Alliteration:
Alliteration is a figure of speech wherein closely occurring words begin with the
same sound. Even though it involves the repetition of a letter, the focus is more
on the repetition of the same sound. For Example, Felicia’s feet.

Alliteration is also called initial rhyme. When it involves the use of the same
consonant, it is called consonantal alliteration. In case it is the repetition of the
vowel sound then it is called vocalic alliteration. Alliteration is also a repetition
of the sound of a cluster.

Examples:

1. Slimy, slithery, slippery slug (the cluster sound ‘sl’ is repeated.)

2. Thrilling Thursday (the cluster sound ‘th’ is repeated)

Types of Alliteration:

1. Assonance: repetition of vowel sounds.

Example:
➢ Meat, meat, treat.
➢ Buck, tuck, truck.

2. Consonance: repetition of consonant sounds.

Example:
➢ The black sock is in the pack.
➢ The bridge is near the ridge.
3. Symmetrical: When a phrase starts and ends with the same consonant
sound.
Example:
➢ Cage the cat.
➢ Forget the fish

Exercises:
I. In the following extract from “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe, identify
the figure of speech and write the reason for using that particular figure of
speech.
‘Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.’
Ans:

C G Lakshmi Prasad, Asst. Professor of English, GDC, Atmakur Page: 2

 ● There is the repetition of the consonant sound /d/ throughout these
two lines; deep, darkness, doubting, dreaming, dreams, dared,
dream.
● This kind of literary device is called alliteration.
● In these lines, alliteration is effectively used to express his
depressed mood.
II. Which figure of speech has been employed by the poet Robert Frost in
the following lines from the poem “The Road Not Taken”?
‘Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth
Ans.
● Yellow wood: wood is usually described as green but here the poet
says yellow wood.
● This line is one of the best examples of a metaphor. The line here
signifies the year which may be the time of late autumn when the
leaves of the tree have already turned yellow colour.
● Here, the falling of the leaves is frequently used as a symbol by the
poet whereas the metaphor is used as a figure of speech that shows
the advancing of the age.
III. Write a note on the significance of using figures of speech in literature
with special emphasis on simile, metaphor and alliteration.

A figure of speech is a deviation from the ordinary use of words in order

to increase their effectiveness. It is also known as a rhetorical figure too
because it produces a rhetorical effect. It deviates a statement from its real
meaning or common usage to create a new required effect. It usually
emphasises, embellishes, or clarifies language in both written and oral
forms. We can see its usage in literature too. The figure of speech can
easily catch the eyes and highlight the purpose of use. It is designed to
make a comparison and create a dramatic factor while writing or
speaking. Basically, it is a figurative language that may consist of a single
word or phrase. It may be a simile, a metaphor or an alliteration.

We can see many varieties in figures of speech because their prime aim is
to use language to create the desired effect. For example, the usage of

C G Lakshmi Prasad, Asst. Professor of English, GDC, Atmakur Page: 3

 expressions like the mouth of a river, round and round, the eye of a
needle, nasty place, a stream of abuse, money talks, butterflies in the
stomach, painful pride, etc. We can see it in literature, poems, movies,
speeches, etc.

Figures of speech enhance the beauty of the writing. It makes the

sentence deeper and leaves the reader with a sense of wonder. It brings
life to the words used by the writer. The figure of Speech not only shows
the writer's intent but also his purpose in using such language.

It adds flavour to the writing and makes it so much more enjoyable for
the reader.

There are five major categories of figures of speech as below:

1. Figures of resemblance: It is also known as the figure of

relationship. It is made up of simile, metaphor, or kenning.
2. Figures of emphasis: It is also known as a figure of an
understatement. It is made up of hyperbole.
3. Figures of sound: It uses alliteration.
4. Verbal games: It is also known as gymnastics. It includes puns.
5. Errors: It is created by malapropism and are usually generated
because of blunder.

Thus Simile and Metaphor come under Figures of resemblance while

alliteration comes under Figures of sound. All the figures of speech are
used in literature to beautify the language.

IV. Explain the following metaphors in your own words.

a. He is the apple of my eye:

In this metaphor, a person is described as being the apple of
someone else's eye. An apple is beautiful and shiny. So it could
mean that the person is very pretty and shines. An apple can come
in red, green and yellow and have different shades and mixes. And
every apple looks different from another. So it could mean that the
person being described is unique and colourful.
b. She is fishing for compliments.
In this metaphor, she is equated to a fisherwoman who is fishing
not for fish but for compliments. It means trying to get someone to
pay oneself a compliment.

C G Lakshmi Prasad, Asst. Professor of English, GDC, Atmakur Page: 4

 ● When she showed me her new dress, I could tell that she was
fishing for a compliment.
● Tom was certainly fishing for a compliment when he
modelled his fancy haircut for his friends.
c. Love is fire.
In this metaphor, love is equated to fire. A fire is a heat source that
can spread very quickly and can take over many types of materials.
So this metaphor could mean that love can spread very quickly
from person to person. It could also mean that love can happen to
anyone.
d. The sun is a creature of habit.
In this metaphor, The sun is equated to a creature of habit. Habit is
an action that happens regularly in the same way and at the same
time. The sun is supposed to be the one who does his work without
any rest i.e sunrise and sunset without taking a break for billions of
years.
e. Life creates nothing but clear skies ahead.
This metaphor refers to a life devoid of disaster and heartache.
Here Life is equated to a clear sky. A clear sky indicates easy life
and easy success and no problems. This metaphor suggests that
ultimately life creates solutions to all the problems that arise in life.
V. Match the words from column A and column B to make similies used in
every day life.

Column A Column B Answer

a. As cool i. as nails As cool as cucumber
b. As innocent ii. as a bat As innocent as a lamb
c. As tough iii. as a cucumber As tough as nails
d. As hot iv. as a peacock As hot as hell
e. As blind v. as hell As blind as a bat
f. As proud vi. as a lamb As proud as a peacock

C G Lakshmi Prasad, Asst. Professor of English, GDC, Atmakur Page: 5

VI. In the following lines taken from the poem “The Bangle Sellers” by
Sarojini Naidu, identify the figure of speech.

‘Some are like fields of sunlit corn,

Meet for a bride on her bridal morn,
Some, like the flame of her marriage fire,
Or, rich with the hue of her heart’s desire,
Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.’
Answer:

‘Some are like fields of sunlit corn,

Meet for a bride on her bridal morn,’

These lines are taken from Sarojini Naidu’s “The Bangle Sellers”.
Sarojini Naidu describes the bangles using different figures of speech.
Here it is a simile. The comparison is made between the yellow corn
fields bathed in sunlight and the yellow-coloured bangles worn by a
bride.

‘Some like the flame of her marriage fire,

Or, rich with the hue of her heart’s desire,
Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.’

This is also a simile. Here the red-coloured bangles are compared to the
flames of her marriage fire. The colour red symbolises a bride's passion
and desire, especially on her wedding night. The sound of the bangles is
compared to the bride’s laughter. The tender bangles are compared to her
tear.

Sarojini Naidu effectively uses the Simile in these lines.

VII. Identify the alliterations used in the given excerpt of the poem “sonnet 5”
by William Shakespeare.

‘Beauty o’er-snowed and barrenness everywhere:

Then were not summer’s distillation left,
A liquid prisoner pent in walls of glass,
Beauty’s effect with beauty were bereft,
Nor it, nor no remembrance what it was:
But flowers distilled, though they with winter meet,
Leese but their show; their substance still lives sweet.’

C G Lakshmi Prasad, Asst. Professor of English, GDC, Atmakur Page: 6

 Answer:

These lines are taken from the poem “Sonnet 5” by William Shakespeare.
‘Sonnet 5’ compares nature's four seasons with the stages of the young
man's life. The poet uses many literary devices in the poem. Some of
them are metaphor, extended metaphor, and alliteration.

Metaphor:

Beauty is compared to something that is over-snowed and covered.

Winter is compared to a liquid prisoner. Summer is compared to the
flowers and Winter is compared to the distilled flowers (scent).

Extended Metaphor:

Extended metaphors are used in this sonnet to continue a comparison

made in one sentence into the following sentence. Extended metaphors
are also used to extend beyond the usual word.

For Example:

"But flowers distilled though they with winter meet,

Leese but their show; their substance still lives sweet"

Alliteration:

The repetition of the same constant sound at the beginning of two or more
words are used three times throughout this sonnet. The significance of
using alliteration in this sonnet is to add dimension and structure to the
deeper meaning of the poem. Alliteration emphasizes specific details in
the poem bringing attention to a particular part of the text.

For example:

"Nor it nor no remembrance what it was"

C G Lakshmi Prasad, Asst. Professor of English, GDC, Atmakur Page: 7