ALLITERATION

Alliteration is the repetition of beginning sounds. Alliteration is a term that describes a

literary stylistic device. Alliteration occurs when a series of words in a row (or close to a row)
have the same first consonant sound. For example, She sells sea-shells down by the seashore or Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers are both alliterative phrases. In the
former, all the words start with the s sound, while in the later, the letter p takes
precedence. Aside from tongue twisters, alliteration is also used in poems, song lyrics, and
even store or brand names.
Examples are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Alices aunt ate apples and acorns around August.

Beckys beagle barked and bayed, becoming bothersome for Billy.
Carrie's cat clawed her couch, creating chaos.
Dans dog dove deep in the dam, drinking dirty water as he dove.
Erics
eagle
eats
eggs,
enjoying
each
episode

of

eating.

ANAPHORA
Anaphora is a technique of beginning several lines with the same word or words. This creates
a parallelism and a rhythm, which can intensify the meaning of the piece. In linguistics, an
anaphora is also a technique of using a word, such as a pronoun, to refer to or replace
another word in a sentence.
Examples are:
1.
2.
3.
4.

I came, I saw, I conquered - Julius Caesar

Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition! King John - William Shakespeare
We laughed, we loved, we sang
With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, - Abraham
Lincoln
5. We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. - Winston Churchill

ASSONANCE
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together. Assonance is
the repetition of a vowel sound or diphthong in non-rhyming words. To qualify as assonance,
the words must be close enough for the repetition of the sound to be noticeable. Assonance
is a common literary technique used in poetry and prose, and is widely found in English
verse.
Examples are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

A - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore (Poe)
E - Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee (Coleridge)
I - From what Ive tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire (Frost)
O - Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn (Wordsworth)
U - Uncertain rustling of each purple curtain (Poe)

EUPHEMISM

Euphemism is a word or phrase that replaces a word or phrase to make it more polite or
pleasant. euphemism is a polite, vague word or phrase that is used in place of word or
phrase that might be considered offensive, harsh, unpleasant or inappropriate to say.
Examples are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

A little thin on top instead of bald

Homeless instead of bum
Letting him go instead of fired him
Passed away instead of died
Put to sleep instead of euthanize

HYPERBOLE
Hyperbole uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect. Hyperbole (pronounced high-purr-bolee) is a figure of speech in which an author or speaker purposely and obviously exaggerates
to an extreme. It is used for emphasis or as a way of making a description more creative and
humorous. It is important to note that hyperbole is not meant to be taken literally; the
audience knows its an exaggeration.
Examples are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Ive told you a hundred times

It cost a billion dollars
I could do this forever
She is older than dirt
Everybody knows that

IRONY
Irony is using words where the meaning is the opposite of their usual meaning. Irony is a
figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is
different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that may end up in
quite a different way than what is generally anticipated.
Examples are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

After begging for a cat and finally getting one, she found out she was allergic.
A traffic cop gets suspended for not paying his parking tickets.
The Titanic was said to be unsinkable.
Dramatic irony is knowing the killer is hiding in a closet in a scary movie.
Naming a Chihuahua Brutus

METAPHOR
Metaphor compares two unlike things or ideas. metaphor is a word or phrase used to
compare two unlike objects, ideas, thoughts or feelings to provide a clearer description.
Examples are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Heart of stone
Time is money
The world is a stage
She is a night owl
He is an ogre

ONOMATOPOEIA

Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it is describing. Onomatopoeia is defined as a

word, which 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 are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The buzzing bee flew away.

The sack fell into the river with a splash.
The books fell on the table with a loud thump.
He looked at the roaring sky.
The rustling leaves kept me awake.

OXYMORON
Oxymoron is two contradictory terms used together. Oxymoron is a figure of speech in which
two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. The common oxymoron phrase is a
combination of an adjective proceeded by a noun with contrasting meanings, e.g. cruel
kindness or living death. However, the contrasting words/phrases are not always glued
together.
Examples are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

"I can resist anything, except temptation." - Oscar Wilde

"I like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief." - Charles Lamb
"And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true." - Alfred Tennyson
"Modern dancing is so old fashioned." - Samuel Goldwyn
"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business." - Henry Ford

PERSONIFICATION
Personification is giving human qualities to non-living things or ideas. Personification is a
figure of speech in which a thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes. The nonhuman objects are portrayed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like
human beings.
Examples are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Look at my car. She is a beauty, isnt it so?

The wind whispered through dry grass.
The flowers danced in the gentle breeze.
Time and tide waits for none.
The fire swallowed the entire forest.

SIMILE
Simile is a comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or "as." A simile is a
figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things.
Unlike a metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with the help of the words like or as.
Therefore, it is a direct comparison.
Examples are:
1. Our soldiers are as brave as lions.
2. Her cheeks are red like a rose.
3. He is as funny as a monkey.
4. The water well was as dry as a bone.
5. He is as cunning as a fox.

SYNECDOCHE
Synecdoche is when a part represents the whole or the whole is represented by a part.

Examples are:
1. Wheels - a car
2. The police - one policeman
3. Plastic - credit cards
4. Coke - any cola drink
5. Army - a soldier

UNDERSTATEMENT
Understatement is when something is said to make something appear less important or less
serious.
Examples are:
1. It's just a scratch - referring to a large dent
2. It is sometimes dry and sandy - referring to the driest desert in the world
3. The weather is a little cooler today - referring to sub-zero temperatures
4. I wont say it was delicious - referring to terrible food
5. The tsunami caused some damage - referring to a huge tsunami