Biju John
1. Alliteration
Explanation: The repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a series of words.
Examples:
- “She sells sea shells by the sea shore.”
- “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
- “The big, blue balloon.”
- “A basket of beautiful bluebells.”
- “Silly Sally swiftly shooed seven silly sheep.”
2. Allusion
Explanation: A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.
Examples:
- “He was a real Romeo with the ladies.” (Reference to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet)
- “This place is like a Garden of Eden.” (Reference to the Biblical paradise)
- “She has the Midas touch.” (Reference to King Midas from Greek mythology)
- “He’s a real Einstein in math.” (Reference to Albert Einstein)
- “She’s like the Joan of Arc of our time.” (Reference to Joan of Arc)
3. Anaphora
Explanation: Repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses.
Examples:
- “We shall not fail. We shall not surrender.”
- “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
- “To think on death is misery, to think on life is bliss.”
- “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
- “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.”
4. Antithesis
Explanation: Contrasting ideas placed in parallel structure.
Examples:
- “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
- “Give me liberty, or give me death.”
- “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”
- “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
- “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
5. Assonance
Explanation: The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.
Examples:
- “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.”
- “The cat sat on the mat.”
- “Hear the mellow wedding bells.”
- “The light of the fire is a sight.”
- “The early bird catches the worm.”
6. Chiasmus
Explanation: Reversal of the structure in successive phrases.
Examples:
- “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
- “Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”
- “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
- “You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.”
- “He went to the country; to the town went she.”
7. Euphemism
Explanation: A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered too harsh or blunt. Examples:
- “Passed away” instead of “died.”
- “Senior citizen” instead of “old person.”
- “Economical with the truth” instead of “lying.”
- “Let go” instead of “fired.”
- “In a better place” instead of “dead.”
8. Hyperbole
Explanation: Exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
Examples:
- “I’ve told you a million times.”
- “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
- “He runs faster than the speed of light.”
- “This book weighs a ton.”
- “I’m dying of laughter.”
9. Irony
Explanation: Expression where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning, often to highlight a discrepancy.
Examples:
- “A plumber’s house always has leaky pipes.”
- “The fire station burns down.”
- “A traffic cop gets a speeding ticket.”
- “The teacher fails the test.”
- “Saying ‘What a pleasant day!’ during a thunderstorm.”
10. Metaphor
Explanation: Implied comparison between two unrelated things.
Examples:
- “Time is a thief.”
- “The classroom was a zoo.”
- “He has a heart of stone.”
- “Her voice is music to my ears.”
- “Life is a journey.”
11. Metonymy
Explanation: Replacing the name of one thing with the name of something closely related.
Examples:
- “The White House issued a statement.” (The White House represents the President or administration)
- “The pen is mightier than the sword.” (Pen represents writing or journalism, sword represents military force)
- “The crown will find an heir.” (The crown represents royalty or monarchy)
- “We need to get more boots on the ground.” (Boots represent soldiers)
- “He’s a man of the cloth.” (Cloth represents a priest or clergy)
12. Onomatopoeia
Explanation: Words that imitate natural sounds.
Examples:
- “Buzz” (sound of a bee)
- “Sizzle” (sound of frying)
- “Clang” (sound of metal striking metal)
- “Splash” (sound of something hitting water)
- “Tick-tock” (sound of a clock)
13. Oxymoron
Explanation: A combination of contradictory terms.
Examples:
- “Deafening silence.”
- “Bittersweet.”
- “Living dead.”
- “Jumbo shrimp.”
- “Act naturally.”
14. Paradox
Explanation: A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.
Examples:
- “Less is more.”
- “The only constant is change.”
- “This statement is false.”
- “I can resist anything except temptation.”
- “The more you learn, the less you know.”
15. Personification
Explanation: Attributing human traits to non-human things.
Examples:
- “The wind whispered through the trees.”
- “The sun smiled down on us.”
- “The car coughed and sputtered to a stop.”
- “Time marches on.”
- “The flowers danced in the breeze.”
16. Pun
Explanation: A play on words exploiting multiple meanings or similar-sounding words.
Examples:
- “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.”
- “I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough.”
- “He’s reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.”
- “She’s a real gem, and that’s no crystal ball.”
- “Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field.”
17. Repetition
Explanation: Repeating words or phrases for emphasis.
Examples:
- “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.”
- “I will not give up. I will not give in.”
- “It was a dark and stormy night, and the darkness was deep and unsettling.”
- “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.”
- “I want pizza, I need pizza, I crave pizza.”
18. Simile
Explanation: Comparison using “like” or “as.”
Examples:
- “Her smile is like the sunrise.”
- “He fought like a lion.”
- “The night sky was as dark as coal.”
- “She was as busy as a bee.”
- “His explanation was as clear as mud.”
19. Synecdoche
Explanation: A part representing the whole or the whole representing a part.
Examples:
- “All hands on deck.” (Hands represent sailors)
- “The hired hands were busy at work.” (Hired hands represent workers)
- “The law came down hard on the offenders.” (Law represents the police or legal system)
- “The string of pearls was a gift.” (Pearls represent the necklace)
- “The big wheels keep on turning.” (Wheels represent vehicles)
20. Tautology
Explanation: Repetition of the same idea using different words.
Examples:
- “He is a man and a human being.”
- “Free gift.”
- “It’s a true fact.”
- “The end result.”
- “Basic fundamentals.”
21. Understatement
Explanation: Deliberately downplaying a situation or condition.
Examples:
- “It’s just a scratch” (referring to a large dent or injury).
- “I’m a little tired” (when extremely exhausted).
- “Winning this award is no big deal” (when it’s a significant achievement).
- “The hurricane made a bit of a mess” (when it caused major destruction).
- “The movie was not too bad” (when it was excellent).
22. Zeugma
Explanation: Using a single word to govern or modify two or more words, though it is appropriate to only one.
Examples:
- “He stole my heart and my wallet.”
- “She broke his car and his heart.”
- “The teacher tied up the class and her shoelaces.”
- “He lost his coat and his temper.”
- “She carried a heavy load and a heavy heart.”
23. Anadiplosis
Explanation: Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next.
Examples:
- “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
- “When I give, I give myself.”
- “Strength through unity, unity through faith.”
- “The love of wicked men converts to fear, that fear to hate, and hate turns one or both to their own destruction.”
- “What you see is what you get.”
24. Ellipsis
Explanation: Omission of words or phrases, allowing the reader to infer the meaning.
Examples:
- “I went to the store and he to the park.”
- “She said she would be back in five minutes… and then she arrived.”
- “He started to read the book… and then put it down.”
- “The best things come to those who wait… and wait.”
- “If you want something done… do it yourself.”
25. Euphemism
Explanation: Mild or indirect expression replacing one that might be considered harsh or blunt.
Examples:
- “Passed away” instead of “died.”
- “Senior citizen” instead of “old person.”
- “Economical with the truth” instead of “lying.”
- “Let go” instead of “fired.”
- “In a better place” instead of “dead.”
26. Litotes
Explanation: Understatement by using double negatives or a negative to affirm a positive.
Examples:
- “Not bad” (meaning “good”).
- “She’s not unkind” (meaning “she is kind”).
- “It’s not impossible” (meaning “it’s possible”).
- “He’s not inexperienced” (meaning “he’s experienced”).
- “It’s not the worst” (meaning “it’s acceptable”).
27. Malapropism
Explanation: Using an incorrect word that sounds similar to the intended word.
Examples:
- “He’s the pineapple of politeness” (intended: pinnacle).
- “We cannot let terrorists and rogue nations hold this nation hostile” (intended: hostage).
- “She is the best person to help you with your problem, as she has a good understanding of the topic and a wealth of knowledge” (intended: well of knowledge).
- “He’s a man of great statue” (intended: stature).
- “The law I was supposed to follow is very specific” (intended: clause).
28. Paronomasia
Explanation: A play on words with similar sounds but different meanings.
Examples:
- “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.”
- “I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough.”
- “He’s reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.”
- “She’s a real gem, and that’s no crystal ball.”
- “Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field.”
29. Periphrasis
Explanation: Using more words than necessary to express an idea.
Examples:
- “The vehicle of the day” instead of “car.”
- “A person who is not in favor” instead of “opponent.”
- “The man who is responsible for the production of goods” instead of “producer.”
- “The one who is responsible for cleaning up” instead of “cleaner.”
- “An individual who is in charge of making decisions” instead of “leader.”
30. Sibilance
Explanation: The repetition of the “s” sound for effect.
Examples:
- “She sells sea shells by the sea shore.”
- “The snake silently slithered through the grass.”
- “Softly singing, she serenaded the stars.”
- “The sibilant sounds of the sea soothed the soul.”
- “The silver sun slipped slowly below the horizon.”
These figures of speech are commonly analyzed in IBDP English literature courses to deepen students’ understanding of how language can be used creatively and effectively.
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