Stylistic devices. In literature and writing, a figure

Stylistic devices

In literature and writing, a figure of speech (also called stylistic device or rhetorical device) is the use of any of a variety of techniques to give an auxiliary meaning, idea, or feeling. Sometimes a word diverges from its normal meaning, or a phrase has a specialized meaning not based on the literal meaning of the words in it. Examples are metaphor, simile, or personification. Stylistic devices often provide emphasis, freshness of expression, or clarity.

alliteration Alliteration is the repetition of initial sounds in neighboring words. Alliteration draws attention to the phrase and is often used for emphasis. The initial consonant sound is usually repeated in two neighboring words although sometimes the repetition occurs also in words that are not neighbors. Examples: sweet smell of success, a dime a dozen, bigger and better, jump for joy share a continent but not a country Here is an example of alliteration in a poem by Wordsworth: And sings a solitary song That whistles in the wind.

alliteration 1. Only the repetition of the same sound is valid in an alliteration not the consonants themselves. Examples Although they start with different consonants, they constitute perfect instances of alliteration : keen camarad. philosophy fan. A neat knot need not be re-knotted. 2. By contrast, if neighboring words start with the same consonant but have a different initial sound, the words are not alliterated. Examples: a cute child highly honored (pay attention to the ‘h’ in honored; it is silent)

Allusion The act of alluding is to make indirect reference. It is a literary device, a figure of speech that quickly stimulates different ideas and associations using only a couple of words. Example: Describing someone as a "Romeo" makes an allusion to the famous young lover in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare In an allusion the reference may be to a place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art, either directly or by implication. Examples of allusion: David was being such a scrooge!. (Scrooge" is the allusion, and it refers to Charles Dicken's novel, A Christmas Carol. Scrooge was very greedy and unkind, which David was being compared to.) The software included a Trojan. (allusion on the Trojan horse from Greek mythology) to wash one’s hands of it. (allusion on Pontius Pilatus, who sentenced Jesus to death, but washed his hands afterwards to demonstrate that he was not to blame for it.) to be as old as Methusalem (allusion on Joseph’s grandfather, who was 969 years old according to the Old Testament)

There are many advantages of using an allusion: You don't need to explain or clarify a problem in a lengthy way. You make the reader become active by reflecting on the analogy. You make your message memorable.

Anaphora Anaphora is a stylistic device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses to give them emphasis. This rhetorical device is contrasted with epiphora, also called epistrophe, which consists of repeating words at the end of clauses. Examples Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition! (William Shakespeare, King John, II) It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way... (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities)

Euphemism Euphemism is used to express a mild, indirect, or vague term to substitute for a harsh, blunt, or offensive term. Euphemism is often contrasted with dysphemism. Some euphemisms intend to amuse, while others intend to give positive appearances to negative events or even mislead entirely. Examples: Going to the other side for death, Passed away for die. On the streets for homeless. Adult entertainment for pornography. Comfort woman for prostitute Between jobs for unemployed.

Epiphora Epiphora (also called epistrophe) is a rhetorical device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the end of neighboring clauses to give them emphasis. This stylistic device is contrasted with anaphora which consists of repeating words at the beginning of clauses. Examples 1. There is no Negro problem. There is no Southern problem. There is no Northern problem. There is only an American problem. ( Lyndon B. Johnson in We Shall Overcome) 2. ... this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address)

Hyperbole Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally. Hyperboles are exaggerations to create emphasis or effect. Examples The bag weighed a ton. I was so hungry; I could eat a horse! She's older than the hills. I could sleep for a year; I was so tired. He's filthy rich. He's got tons of money. I've told you a million times to help with the housework.

Ellipsis Ellipsis (or elliptical construction ) is the omission of a word or words. It refers to constructions in which words are left out of a sentence but the sentence can still be understood. Examples The words between parentheses can be omitted and the sentences can still be meaningful. Lacy can do something about the problem, but I don’t know what (she can do.) She can help with the housework; Nancy can (help with the housework), too. John can speak seven languages, but Ron can speak only two (languages.)

Oxymoron An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. (The plural is oxymorons or oxymora.) Examples: An oximoron can be made of an adjective and a noun: Dark light Deafening silence Living dead Open secret Virtual reality Oximorons can also be a combination of a noun and a verb. The silence whistles

Simile A simile is a figure of speech comparing two unlike things, often introduced with the word "like" or "as". It takes the form of: X is (not) like Y X is (not) as Y X is (not) similar to Y Examples: He fights like a lion. He swims as fast as a fish. He slithers like a snake. "My dad was a mechanic by trade when he was in the Army, When he got the tools out, he was like a surgeon."

Metaphor Unlike simile, metaphor (from the Greek language: meaning "transfer") is language that directly compares seemingly unrelated subjects. It is a figure of speech that compares two or more things not using like or as. In the simplest case, this takes the form: X - is - Y Examples: All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; (Shakespear)

Metonymy Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept. Examples: Crown. (For the power of a king.) The White House. (Referring to the American administration.) Dish. (To refer an entire plate of food.) The Pentagon. (For the Department of Defense and the offices of the U.S. Armed Forces.) Pen. (For the written word.) Sword - (For military force.) Hollywood. (For US Cinema.) Hand. (For help.)