10 Basic Figures of Speech - An Easy Guide

The use of figure of speech in creative writing6. Conceit
gives ideas or sentiments a unique perspective. ItIt is an elaborate and often extravagant
involves a deviation from the more commonlymetaphor. It makes an analogy between totally
used form of word order or sentencedissimilar things. The term originally means concept
construction. Writers usually employ such figuresor idea. Conceits were widely used in the
of speech embellish their composition.17th-century metaphysical poetry. In "A
This article is attempted to throw light on variousValediction: Forbidding Mourning", John Donne uses
figures of speech that will help you realize howit where the image of the joined arms of a pair
you can craft your writing to meet yourof compasses is used to demonstrate the
expectations.attachment of a pair of lovers; even when one
1. Similemakes s move, the two are attached closely
It is a specific comparison made by means wordsbeing one.
such as "like" or "as" between two kinds of7. Euphemism
objects. "Reason is to faith as the eye to theIt involves substitution of an inoffensive term or
telescope", an example of simile.phrase for one that has coarse or sordid
2. Metaphorunpleasant associations, for instance in the use of
It uses a word or phrase denoting one kind ofwords like "toilet" for "lavatory", and "pass away"
idea in place of other word or phrase in order tofor "die".
suggest a likeness between the two.8. Hyperbole
3. AnticlimaxIt is a form of inordinate exaggeration. It means a
It involves a series of ideas that suddenly diminishperson or thing is portrayed as being better or
in importance at the end of a sentence orworse than the actual one. For example, "Dr.
passage. It is used to bring satirical effect.Jonathan drank his tea in oceans".
4. Antithesis9. Irony
It is a juxtaposition of two words, phrases,It is humorous or lightly sarcastic mode of speech.
clauses, or sentences contrasted in meaning toWords are used here to convey a meaning
offer emphasis to contrasting ideas. "To err iscontrary to their literal meaning.
human, to forgive divine", is a fine example of10. Personification
antithesis.It involves representation of inanimate or abstract
5. Climaxideas as living beings. The sentence, "Necessity is
It is an arrangement of words, clauses, orthe mother of invention" can help you make out
sentences in the order of their significance. Thethis idea better.
least powerful comes first and the others. "It isThe close study of these figures of speech will
an outrage to bind a Roman citizen; it is a crimehelp you understand the sense of crafting your
to scourge him; it is almost parricide to kill him; butideas and imagination in creating fine piece of
to crucify him-what shall I say of this?" Thisliterature, poetry or other mode of writing.
particular example rightly tells what climax means.