COMPARE TO EMPHASIZE
•
SIMILE-
emphasizing something by comparing it to a thing [having common quality];
as+adj.+as+n., v.+like+n. and v.+as+n.
•
She
is (AS) (innocent=ADJ.) (AS) (an angel=N.)
•
Her
romantic mind (was=V.) (LIKE) (the tiny boxes, one within the other=N.phr.)
•
Kate
(inched=V. over her own thoughts) (LIKE) (a measuring worm=N.phr.).
•
It
has washed over me, (washed=V. me away), (AS) (if I’m nothing more than a woman
of sand=N.phr.) . . .
•
.
. . and snow (lay=V. here and there in patches in the hollow of the banks),
(LIKE) (a lady’s gloves forgotten=N.phr.).
•
METAPHOR-
emphasizing something by just directly mentioning another of the same
quality[but not related]
•
She
is (-as innocent as) an angel
•
...hurry
to reach their car, their locked hands a starfish leaping through the dark.
•
The
sun in the west was a drop of burning gold that slid near and nearer the sill
of the world.
•
Mr.
Neck storms into class, a bull chasing thirty-three red flags.
•
If
wits were pins, the man would be a veritable hedgehog.
•
Two
roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by / And that has
made all the difference.
ADDING EFFECTS TO
EMPHASIZE/DE-EMPHASIZE
•
HYPERBOLE-
situation + intensifier = exaggerated [opposite of understatement]
•
I've
told you to "clean your room" (+a million times!)
•
It
was "so cold", (+I saw polar bears wearing hats and jackets.)
•
The
skin on her face was as "thin and drawn" (+as tight as the skin of
onion) and her eyes were "gray and sharp" (+like the points of two
picks).
•
UNDERSTATEMENT-
statement with down-toner = less important [opposite of hyperbole]
•
It
rained (+a bit) "more" than usual
•
...wanders
off into another dimension as a little problem is (+possibly) "the
best" example yet
REITERATE TO EMPHASIZE
•
CHIASMUS-
first_phrase + aa [ABBA pattern]
•
We
(shape=A) our (buildings=B), and afterward our (buildings=B) (shape=A) us.
•
I'd
(rather die=A) (on my feet=B) than (live=B) (on my knees=A).
•
PLEONASM-
word + woq rd_similar_in_meaning [opposite of oxymoron]
•
(Privilege)&(birthright);
(my)(own); PI(N)(number)
•
the
(most) unkind(est); (Sahara)(desert); (Gnashing)(of teeth); (Frozen)(tundra)
SUBSTITUTION STYLE
•
METONYMY-
replacing something by what is closely associated to it
•
The
(PEN=writing) is mightier than the (SWORD=aggression).
•
(EBONY=black)
and (IVORY=white) live together in perfect harmony.
•
BODY=person;
CRADLE=birth; GRAVE=death; CROWN=royal person; SUITS=business people;
HEART=love or emotion; WASHINGTON=US government; THE WHITE HOUSE=place of the
President & staff; SILICON VALLEY=tech industry; SILVER FOX=attractive
older man; VINTAGE=wine; HAND=help
•
SYNECDOCHE-
replacing a whole by its part to represent the whole [vice versa]
•
The
(HAND=part of sculptor) that mocked them
•
The
western (WAVE=part of the sea) was all aflame
•
The
(DepEd=whole for individual) announced new plans for the education reform.
•
METAPHOR-
replacing something by the word/concept of the same quality[but not related]
•
Life
without a dream is a (TRAINWRECK=metaphor_horrible mess)
•
She
showed off her new (WHEELS=synechdoche_automobile)
•
Let's
take my new (RIDE=metonymy_automobile) out for a spin.
•
Mary's
voice is (MUSIC to my ears=metaphor_nice to hear).
•
Friends,
Romans, Countrymen, (lend me your EARS=metonymy_attention).
•
So
the whole (EAR of Denmark=synechdoche_ people of Denmark) is by a forgèd
process of my death rankly abused
•
ALLUSION-
[an indirect referencing] replacing one's description by a person, place, thing
or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance
•
Act
like a (ROMEO=passinate lover) in front of her.
•
You're
acting like my (MOTHER=lecturer).
•
PANDORA’S
BOX=mystery; GARDEN OF EDEN=paradise; NEWTON=genius student
•
ONOMATOPOEIA-
replacing something by a sound associated to it.
•
It’s
sort of whack, whir, wheeze, whine, sputter, splat, squirt, scrape, clink,
clank, clunk, clatter, crash, bang, beep, buzz, ring, rip, roar, retch, twang,
toot, tinkle, thud, pop, plop, plunk, pow, snort, snuck, sniff, smack, screech,
splash, squish, squeak, jingle, rattle, squeal, boing, honk, hoot, hack, belch.
•
I’ll
(re) you, I’ll (fa) you. Do you note me?
•
EUPHEMISM-
replacing a negative by a lesser negative
•
What’d
you do?’ I said. ‘Give her (THE TIME=rated spg) in Ed Banky’s goddam car?
•
But
he could do little for them; and now he is (GONE=dead).”
•
CIRCUMLOCUTION-
replacing something by a long/complicated definition to mask the true meaning
[Euphemism may fall under this]
•
The
vehicle that I use to drive to work in the mornings = car
CONTRADICTING STYLE
•
IRONY-
concept + but/yet[maybe hidden] + opposite concept = sarcasm
•
The
witch, who intended to eat Hansel and Gretel, is trapped by the children in her
own oven [the witch is intended to eat the children BUT she is trapped in her
own oven]
•
Sweden’s
Icehotel, built of snow and ice, contains fire alarms. [built of snow & ice
YET it contains fire alarm]
•
ANTITHESIS-
concept + but/yet[maybe hidden] + opposite_concept = neutral/balance
•
Setting
foot on the moon may be a small step for a man BUT a giant step for mankind.
•
To
err is human; to forgive divine. [Human is erring YET God is forgiving]
•
Folks
who have no vices have very few virtues. [no vices BUT has few
virtues---experiences gained even in bad
ways are still learnings]
•
LITOTES-
concept + opposite_concept + understatement[in thought] = gentle irony
•
The
(sword) (WASN'T) (useless to the warrior)."
•
To
express the (odd) and (not A LITTLE eerie) contrast between them
•
I
am (NO) (prophet) and (here is no good matter).
•
I
(CANNOT) (say) that (I consider you to be kind to the ladies).
•
OXYMORON-
word + opposite_word
•
Parting
is such (sweet) (sorrow).
•
We're
(busy) (doing nothing).
•
Prevent
the dog from barking with a (juicy) (bone)
•
(controlled)(chaos);
(old)(news); (friendly)(fight); (Waking)(Dream); (only)(choice);
(act)(naturally)
•
PARADOX-
statement opposing itself
•
If
everyone is special, no one is.
•
The
second sentence is false. The first sentence is true.
•
I
can resist everything except temptation.
OTHER FIGURE OF SPEECH
•
APOSTROPHE-
addressing something as if near or still existing
•
Twinkle,
twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.
•
Is
this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me
clutch thee! I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
•
EPIGRAM-
a witty popular statement/quotation often satirical but with positive
impression [Chiasmus may fall under this if popular quotation]
•
It
is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
•
If
we don’t end war, war will end us.” – G. Wells
•
I’m
starting with the man in the mirror.” – Michael Jackson
•
PUN-
using specific word/phrase with one or more meaning
•
The
road to success is always under "construction".
•
I
am a very committed wife. And I should be "committed" too – for being
married so many times
•
Give
me a torch: I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy I will bear the
"light".
•
As
far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my "forte".
•
RHETORICAL
QUESTION- a question does not expecting an answer for being obvious or for
might not having an answer [just an effect to lay an emphasis]
•
It's
too hot today, isn't it?
•
If
you tickle us, do we not laugh?
•
Do
you want to be a failure for the rest of your life?
SERIES STYLE
•
CLIMAX
- increasing importance series
•
There
are three things that will endure: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of
these is love.
•
...
Lost, vaded, broken, dead within an hour.
•
I
came, I saw, I conquered
•
ANTICLIMAX
- higher to lower series
•
Tension
builds in a horror movie as a young girl approaches a closed door. There is a
scratching sound coming from behind the door. When she opens it, a cat comes
out.
•
He
has seen the ravages of war, he has known natural catastrophes, he has been to
singles bars.
REPETITION STYLE
•
ALLITERATION-
(S)he (s)ells (s)ea (s)hell
•
ANAPHORA-
(Mad) world! (Mad) kings! (Mad) composition!
•
EPISTROPHE/EPIPHORA/ANTISTROPHE-
Face the (dawn), fear the (dawn), own the (dawn) [opposite of anaphora]
•
ASSONANCE-
Therefore, all s(ea)sons shall b(e) sw(ee)t to th(ee).