Simile

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.

Example
1. I would have given anything for the power to soothe her frail soul, tormenting itself in its
invincible ignorance like a small bird beating about the cruel wires of a cage.

2. when I laid down the paper, I was aware of a flash rush flow I do not know what to
call it no word I can find is satisfactorily descriptive in which I seemed to see that bedroom
passing through my room, like a picture impossibly painted on a running river.

Effect/Function
- Using similes attracts attention, and appeals directly to the senses of listeners or readers,
encouraging their imaginations to understand what is being communicated. In addition, it
rhythm life-like quality in our daily speech, and in the characters of fiction or poetry.
- Simile allows readers to relate the feelings of a writer or a poet to their personal experiences. Like
metaphor it also offer variety in our ways of thinking and offer new perspectives on the world.
 Metaphor
Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between
two things that are unrelated, but which share some common characteristics. In other words, a
resemblance of two contradictory or different objects is made based on a single or some
common characteristics.

Example
Her mouth was a fountain of delight. And when he possessed her, they seemed to swoon
together at the very borderland of lifes mystery.

Effect/Function
- Using appropriate metaphors appeals directly to the senses of listeners or readers, sharpening
their imaginations to comprehend what is being communicated to them.
- Moreover, it gives a life-like quality to our conversations, and to the characters of the fiction or
poetry.
- Metaphors are also ways of thinking, offering the listeners and the readers fresh ways of
examining ideas and viewing the world.
 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.
Example
For example, when we say, The sky weeps, we
are giving the sky the ability to cry, which is a
human quality. Thus, we can say that the sky has
been personified in the given sentence.
 EFFECT/FUNCTION
It adds vividness to expressions, as we
always look at the world from a
human perspective.
It brings inanimate things to life, so that their
nature and actions are understood in a
better way.
Its use encourages us to develop a
perspective that is new as well as creative.
 Pathetic Fallacy
Pathetic fallacy is a literary device that attributes human qualities and emotions to inanimate
objects of nature. The word pathetic in the term is not used in the derogatory sense of being
miserable; rather, here, it stands for imparting emotions to something else.

Example
For example, the sentence The somber clouds darkened our mood is a pathetic fallacy as
human attributes are given to an inanimate object of nature reflecting a mood. But, The sparrow
talked to us is a personification because the animate object of nature sparrow is given the
human quality of talking.

Effect/Function
- Writers try to bring inanimate objects to life so that the nature of emotions they want to convey
are understood in a better way because it is easier for the readers to relate to the abstract
emotions when they observe it in their natural surroundings.
- In addition, the use of pathetic fallacy encourages the readers to develop a perspective that is
new as well as creative.
 Difference between Personification
and Pathetic Fallacy
Pathetic fallacy is a kind of personification that gives
human emotions to inanimate objects of nature for
example referring to weather features reflecting a mood.
Personification, on the other hand, is a broader term. It
gives human attributes to abstract ideas, animate objects
of nature or inanimate non-natural objects.
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
ends up in quite a different way than what is
generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a
difference between appearance and reality.
On the grounds of the above definition, we
distinguish two basic types of irony: (1) verbal irony,
and (2) situational irony. Verbal irony involves what
one does not mean. For example, when in response
to a foolish idea, we say, What a great idea! This is
verbal irony. Situational irony occurs when, for
instance, a man is chuckling at the misfortune of
another, even when the same misfortune is,
unbeknownst to him, befalling him.
 EXAMPLE
1. Water, water, everywhere,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink.
2. Their new boss was as civilized as a shark.
3. The new manager is as friendly as a
rattlesnake
 EFFECT/FUNCTION
Ironical statements and situations in literature
develop readers interest. Irony makes a work of
literature more intriguing, and forces the readers to
use their imaginations to comprehend the
underlying meanings of the texts. Moreover, real life
is full of ironical expressions and situations. Therefore,
the use of irony brings a work of literature to the life.
Antithesis, literal meaning opposite, is a rhetorical
device in which two opposite ideas are put together
in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.

Antithesis emphasizes the idea of contrast by parallel

structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses, i.e.
the structures of phrases and clauses are similar in
order to draw the attention of the listeners or readers.
 Setting foot on the moon may be a
small step for a man but a giant step for
mankind.
Man proposes, God disposes.
Patience is bitter, but it has a sweet fruit.
You are easy on the eyes, but hard on
the heart.
When contrasting ideas are brought
together, the idea is expressed more
emphatically.
Antithesis makes contrasts in order to
examine pros and cons of a subject
under discussion and helps to bring forth
judgment on that particular subject.
 Oxymoron
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. , such as
cruel kindness, or living death.
 Oxymoron
However, the contrasting
words/phrases are not always
glued together. The contrasting
ideas may be spaced out in a
sentence, such as, In order to
lead, you must walk behind.
 Oxymoron Example
The hero of the play was so dejected
that he was the perfect embodiment
of being alone in a crowd.
The program was not liked by the
people, for a lot of unpopular
celebrities were invited.
Open secret
Tragic comedy
Seriously funny
Awfully pretty
Foolish wisdom
Original copies
Liquid gas
 Produces a dramatic effect in both pros
and poetry.
In everyday conversation, however,
people do not use oxymoron to make
deep statements like the one above.
Instead, they do it to show wit. The use of
oxymoron adds flavor to their speech.
For example when we read or hear the
famous oxymoron- sweet sorrow, crafted
by Shakespeare, it appeals to us instantly. It
provokes our thoughts, and makes us
ponder the meaning of contradicting ideas.
This apparently confusing phrase expresses
the complex nature of love, that can never
be expressed through simple words.
 Repetition
Repetition is a literary device that
repeats the same words or phrases a
few times to make an idea clearer.
There are several types of repetition
commonly used in both prose and
poetry.
Repetition cont
Repetition could be
a word
a phrase, or
a full sentence, or
a poetical line repeated to emphasize its
significance in the entire text.
Repetition Example
When they came out of the cinema
hall they all agreed, the film was a
waste of money, it was a waste of time
and energy.
The refugees were crossing into the
neighboring country when they saw blood all
around blood on the passageways, blood
on the fields, blood on the roads.
 The general said to his army, Men You
must fight for the life of your people, your
family, and your country.

The politician declared, We will fight

come what may, we will fight on all
fronts, we will fight for a thousand
years.
 it becomes noticeable to the readers
It allows readers to take a pause each
time they come upon such repetition
to lay emphasis and create rhythm
it draws the attention of readers
towards a certain idea
 Example
I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply
rooted in the American Dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of
Georgia
I have a dream that one day eve n
I have a dream that my four little children one
day will
I have a dream today.
 Model Response
Martin Luther Kings speech is given added
power by the use of repetition. His five developed
dreams stem from his introductory reference to
the American Dream. The repetition is given
added weight by being use as the starting phrase
for each of his dream examples. The use of a
single short sentence at the end I have a dream
today. Is very powerful because the listening can
connect with each of the ideas he has
embedded in listeners minds.
1. The new boss says that, in this organization, the wrong person was
appointed for the wrong job, following the wrong procedure, but this will
not happen again.

2. When the teacher entered the class, the 6th-grade students were fighting like cats and
dogs.

3. The skyscraper was so tall that it seemed to kiss the sky.

4. The night has been unruly. Where we lay,

Our chimneys were blown down and, as they say

5. The channel was repeating the old news again and again.

6. A new road to freedom passes through this valley of death.

7. The desert was as cool as a bed of burning coals.

8. Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing.

 Fact
Facts are statements that can
be proven.
Facts may be true or false.
But facts can be proven.
 Example
As well as nicotine, each
cigarette contains more than
4,000 different chemicals, many
of which are harmful to the
body.
 Effect / Function
Facts are used to demonstrate
or emphasize a writer's point by
providing evidence to support
claims
 Example
As well as nicotine, each cigarette contains
more than 4,000 different chemicals, many of
which are harmful to the body.
Model Response
The facts used in this article provide medical
evidence that cigarettes are dangerous. The
reference to4,000 different chemicals is a fact
that is designed to shock the reader; this makes
the text more powerful.
 Opinions
Opinions are statements that
cannot be proven.
Opinions can be argued.
Opinions may be supported with
facts.
Opinions cannot be proven.
 Example
'Smoking is an awful
habit and anyone
who smokes stinks'.
 Effect / Function
Like facts, opinions emphasize
the point of a writer but make
the message more personal
rather than completely factual
 Example
'Smoking is an awful habit and anyone who
smokes stinks'.
Model Response
By expressing the strong opinion that smoking is an
awful habit and that anyone who smokes stinks,
the writer makes the message more personal,
emphasizes the negative points of smoking, and
makes the reader feel almost obliged to have a
response.