Figures of Speech

Tropes Definition
the substitution of a word for a word whose meaning is close to the original word

Example
The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet black bough." (Ezra Pound,)

metaphor

metonymy

a noun is substituted for a noun in such a way that we substitute the cause of the thing of which we are speaking for the thing itself; this might be done in several ways: substituting the inventor for his invention, the container for the thing contained or vice versa, an author for his work, the sign for the thing signified, the cause for the effect or vice versa

The pen is mightier than the sword

onomatopeia

use of words to imitate natural sounds; accommodation of sound to sense

The buzzing of innumerable bees

synecdoche

substitution of part for whole, genus for species, or vice versa

Was this the face that launched a thousand? chips Dr. Faustus

irony

expressing a meaning directly contrary to that suggested by the words

Your friend turns up in ripped jeans. With a smirk, you say, "I see you have put on your best clothes!" What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young. George Bernard Shaw I must be cruel only to be kind. Shakespeare, Hamlet My vegetable love should grow Vaster than empires, and more slow. A. Marvell Why not waste a wild weekend at Westmore Water Park?

paradox

a seemingly self contradictory statement, which yet is shown to be true

oxymoron

a condensed paradox at the level of a phrase

hyperbole

exaggerated or extravagant statement used to make a strong impression, but not intended to be taken literally

alliteration

repetition of the same sound beginning several words in sequence

euphemism

substitution of an agreeable or at least non-offensive expression for one whose plainer meaning might be harsh or unpleasant

Praying to the porcelain altar (vomiting into the toilet) If something happens to me (if Ii die) Sanitation worker (trash collector.

personification attribution of personality to an impersonal thing

England expects every man to do his duty.

Figures of Omission ellipsis

Definition
omission of a word

Example
The average person thinks he isn't." Father Larry Lorenzoni

Figures of Repetition (words) polyptoton anaphora pleonasm

Definition
repetition of the same word or root in different grammatical functions or forms repetition of a word at the beginning of a clause, line, or sentence the needless repetition of words; a tautology on the level of a phrase

Example
Disturb his hours of rest with restless trances,/ Afflict him in his bed with bedrid groans. The Rape of Lucrece Mad world! Mad kings! Mad composition!---King John, No one, rich or poor, will be excepted

Figures of Repetition (clauses and ideas) tautology chiasmus antithesis periphrasis

Definition
repetition of the same idea in different words; pleonasm on the level of a sentence or sentences reversal of grammatical structures or ideas in sucessive phrases or clauses, which do not necessarily involve a repetition of words repetition of clauses or idea by negation the replacement of a single word by several which together have the same meaning; a substitution of more words for less

Example
With malice toward none, with charity for all. Lincoln It is boring to eat; to sleep is fulfilling. Burns with one love, with one resentment glows The prodigal robs his heir; the miser robs himself He was one of those anomalous practitioners in lower departments of the law who

Figures of Unusual Word Order hyperbaton

Definition
departure from ordinary word order

Example
Why should their liberty than ours be more? The Comedy of Errors