FIGURES OF SPEECH Flashcards
(19 cards)
uses “like” and “as”
simile
comparison of two unlike things without using “like” or “as”
metaphor
an idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human.
personification
a statement that appears at first to be contradictory, but upon reflection then makes sense.
paradox
employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is.
understatement
one object or idea takes the place of another with which it has a close association.
metonymy
represented by an exclamation, such as “Oh.”
apostrophe
creates heightened effect through deliberate exaggeration.
hyperbole
in which a part of something is used to signify the whole,
synecdoche
contradictory statements or situations reveal a reality that is different from what appears to be true
irony
commonly used to replace a word or phrase that is related to a concept which might make others uncomfortable.
euphemism
rhetorical device that is a memorable, brief, interesting, and surprising satirical statement.
epigram
pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory.
oxymoron
which literally means “opposite,” is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.
antithesis
a figure of speech featuring a phrase that utilizes negative wording or terms to express a positive assertion or statement.
litotes
that reflects repetition in two or more nearby words of initial consonant sounds.
alliteration
is defined as a word which imitates the natural sounds of a thing.
onomatopoeia
is a rhetorical device that can be defined as an ambiguous or paradoxical way of expressing things, ideas, or views.
circumlocution
means “excess.” It is a rhetorical device that can be defined as the use of two or more words (a phrase) to express an idea.
pleonasm
