FIGURATIVE SPEECH
A figure of speech is a deviation from the ordinary use of words in order to
increase their effectiveness. It usually emphasises, embellishes, or clarifies
language in both written and oral form. We can see its usage in literature,
in advertisements, posters, slogans, newspapers, magazines, cartoons,
etc.
Importance of Figure of Speech
It enhances the beauty of the writing. It makes the sentence deeper and
leaves the reader with a sense of wonder. It brings life to the words used
by the writer. The figure of Speech not only shows the writer's intent but
also his purpose in using such language.
It adds flavour to the writing and makes it not only enjoyable for the reader,
BUT also produces a rich description and clarity. The effect can be visual,
musical, or sensory.
Literary devices can be categorized as:
Devices of Comparison
1. Simile
2. Metaphor
3. Personification
4.Apostrophe
Devices of Sound
5. Alliteration
6. Assonance
7. Onomatopoeia
8. Repetition
Devices showing contrast/difference 9. Hyperbole
and surprise
10. Oxymoron
11. Litotes
12. Irony
13. Satire
14. Antithesis
15. Paradox
16. Euphemism
Devices showing association and 17. Synecdoche
substitution
18. Transferred Epithet
Devices showing reference
19. Symbol
20. Allusion
21. Allegory
Devices based on play of words
Pictorial device
22. Pun
23. Tautology
24. Imagery
Devices of Comparison
The simplest and the most effective literary device is the use of
comparison. Devices that show comparison are:
Simile
1. SIMILE
Metaphor
Personification
Apostrophe
A simile is the direct comparison of two unlike or dissimilar objects using
the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. A simile is used with the aim of sparking an
interesting connection in the reader’s mind.
An example of a simile is, “The cat sat in the chair like a king overlooking
his kingdom.” The cat’s sitting posture is compared to that of a king who
relaxes in a special chair that is reserved for him and not any other person
in the kingdom.
We heighten our ordinary speech by the continual use of such
comparisons as ‘cool as a cucumber’, ‘as cunning as a fox’, ‘as dead as a
doornail’, ‘as dry as a bone’, tough as leather’, ‘stubborn as a mule’, ‘crazy
as coot’, ‘sing like an angel’ ,‘act like an animal’, ‘eat like a bird’ ‘fight like
cats and dogs’, etc.
These are all recognizable because similes use the words ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Some examples:
 The boy was as brave as a lion in the jungle.
 The assistant was as busy as a bee when she was preparing the
podium for the presidential address.
 The new teacher is as tall as a giraffe.
 The new neighbor is as curious as a cat; nothing escapes her
attention.
Note: The two objects compared must be dissimilar.
Example:
 ‘I wandered like a lost boy’ is not a simile.
 ‘He eats like a greedy man’ is not a simile.
Simile in longer sentences:
 Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as
your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
 The baby was like an octopus, grabbing all the cans on the grocery
store shelves.
 The hostess flitted like a delicate butterfly from table to table, making
sure we were comfortable.
Similes from Literature:
Take this example from The Odyssey:
 ‘I drove my weight on it from above and bored it home
as a shipwright bores his beam with a shipwright’s drill’
In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare uses similes to emphasize
the youthful romanticism of the ill-fated couple.
 ‘O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
As is a winged messenger of heaven’
In Eve Merriam - poem 'Simile Willow and Ginkgo'
 ‘The willow is like an etching,
Fine-lined against the sky.’
From ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ by William Wordsworth
‘I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills’
From The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
‘Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breathe nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean.’
Popular songs, too, make use of simile:
 It's been a hard day's night, and I've been working like a dog - The
Beatles
 Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
 These are the seasons of emotion and like the winds they rise and fall
- Led Zeppelin
How to make a simile?
Take a common word: book
Was the book heavy? Was it light?
If we choose ‘heavy’, ask ‘as heavy as what’? What else is heavy?
An elephant? A stone? A house?
Therefore, when we use simile, we say :
The book was as heavy as a stone/elephant/house.
Compare the description with a simple description ‘a heavy book’. Does the
simile not sound more interesting, vivid, funny?
The worm was soft? Wriggly? Small?
The chalk was white? Hard?
Comparisons are made of traits that are common to both objects. This could
be colour, size, texture, sound, element, and so on.
A simile can be expressed as one word or as an elaborate phrase. You can
be as creative as you like.
Example:
Colour:
As red as – rubies/sun ripened cherries glistening on a tree/roses
As black as- coal/ tar/a moonless night
As green as- grass/a leaf/the sleeping summer meadows
Textures:
As rough as- sandpaper/gravel/ the hide of an armadillo that was hardened
by the sun
As soft as- cotton/feather/wool/a baby’s tender cheek
As smooth as – cram/satin/the skin of a slippery seal
Sounds:
As loud as- foghorn/a siren/ a booming clarinet/ the clap of resounding
thunder on a stormy night
As quiet as- the dead/ an empty room/ a silent nun
As squeaky as – new shoes/a mouse/an old wooden staircase
Size:
As big as- a mountain/an elephant/an overgrown giant who desperately
needs a diet
as little as- a mite/ a grain of sand/a tiny pebble on a vast beach
as tall as – a tower/a giant/ a mountain to a snail
2. METAPHOR- INDIRECT COMPARISON:
A metaphor is a statement that compares two things that are not alike.
Unlike similes, metaphors do not use the words “like” or “as.” Such
statements only make sense when the reader understands the connection
between the two things being compared.
An example of a popular metaphor is “Time is money.” The statement
compares time and money, and it does not literally mean that the amount
of time you have equals the money that you have. Instead, it means that
time is a valuable resource, and it should be used effectively to earn
money. Any time wasted means that a person loses the chance to make
more money.
Other examples of metaphors include:
 The warrior has a heart of stone.
 Love is a battlefield.
 Baby, you are my sunshine.
 Chaos is a friend of the legislator.
 I am drowning in a sea of grief.
 My roommate is going through a rollercoaster of emotions.
Note:

A metaphor states that one thing is another thing

It equates those two things not because they actually are the same, but for the
sake of comparison or symbolism

If you take a metaphor literally, it will probably sound very strange (are there
actually any sheep, black or otherwise, in your family?)

Metaphors are used in poetry, literature, and anytime someone wants to add
some color to their language.
If you’re a black sheep, you get cold feet, or you think love is a highway,
then you’re probably thinking metaphorically. These are metaphors
because a word or phrase is applied to something figuratively: unless
you’re actually a sheep or are dipping your toes in ice water, chances are
these are metaphors that help represent abstract concepts through
colorful language.
Take these famous metaphor examples used in literature:
All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They
have their exits and their entrances.-William Shakespeare
America has tossed its cap over the wall of space.-John F. Kennedy
Chaos is a friend of mine.-Bob Dylan
A good conscience is a continual Christmas.-Benjamin Franklin
In a famous example from Shakespeare, Romeo compares Juliet to
the sun over several lines.
But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and
Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is
already sick and pale with grief.
How to Come Up with a Metaphor
You don’t need anything but your imagination to come up with a good
metaphor, but some added flair can go a long way. Remember, metaphors
often represent something that is hard to take literally.
Example:
It’s been a real circus at home since Mom went on vacation.
You wouldn’t typically refer to your house as a circus, but this sentence
implies that things are wild, full of excitement, and maybe a bit chaotic
with Mom out of the house.
The next time you think your writing could use some energy, try giving it a
jolt with a well-crafted metaphor. It’s sure to be a lightning bolt for your
writing.
3. PERSONIFICATION
Personification is one of the many literary devices writers use to make their
writing more engaging. With personification, you emphasize a nonhuman’s characteristics by describing them with human attributes. That
non-human can be an object, an animal, or even an idea or a concept.
Examples:
She sat down at the tired, overworked desk.
Coming home from the lake empty-handed, I figured the fish colluded to
avoid me.
Personification isn’t limited to one part of speech or type of phrase. You
might come across personification expressed as a verb, an adjective, or
even a whole phrase. Take a look at some of the different ways you can
work personification into your writing:
The image of a cozy hammock on a tropical beach spoke enticingly to him.
The perfectly sun-kissed strawberries were calling my name, so I bought
them to go with dessert.
More birds joined the chorus, turning the sparrow’s solo into an ensemble
performance.
When you personify an object, animal, or anything else that’s not human in
your writing, you make that “thing” feel more human. By humanizing a
non-human through personification, you can do several things:
 Make it easier for readers to empathize with it
 Make a human character’s relationship with the non-human clearer
to readers
 Make it easier for the reader to empathize with the human characters
in the story
 Demonstrate the non-human’s role in the story more clearly.
And, personification is fun! It livens up dramatic and narrative writing
through engaging figurative language.
Examples of personification in Literature:
 “Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.”
- “Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson
 “Diana and I were only over in the Haunted Wood. It’s lovely in the
woods now. All the little wood things—the ferns and the satin leaves
and the cracker berries—have gone to sleep, just as if somebody
had tucked them away until spring under a blanket of leaves.”‘Anne of Green Gables’ by L.M. Montgomery
 I stood still a few moments to recover breath, and till the waters went
from me, and then took to my heels and ran with what strength I had
further towards the shore. But neither would this deliver me from the
fury of the sea, which came pouring in after me again; and twice
more I was lifted up by the waves and carried forward as before, the
shore being very flat.- ‘Robinson Crusoe’ by Daniel Defoe
 As they were poor, owing to the amount of milk the children drank,
this nurse was a prim Newfoundland dog, called Nana, who had
belonged to no one in particular until the Darlings engaged her. She
had always thought children important, however, and the Darlings
had become acquainted with her in Kensington Gardens, where she
spent most of her spare time peeping into perambulators, and was
much hated by careless nursemaids, whom she followed to their
homes and complained of to their mistresses. She proved to be
quite a treasure of a nurse. How thorough she was at bath-time, and
up at any moment of the night if one of her charges made the
slightest cry . Of course her kennel was in the nursery. She had a
genius for knowing when a cough is a thing to have no patience with
and when it needs stocking around your throat. She believed to her
last day in old-fashioned remedies like rhubarb leaf, and made
sounds of contempt over all this new-fangled talk about germs, and
so on.- ‘Peter Pan’ by J.M. Barrie
Use of personification can take your descriptions to the next level.
4. APOSTROPHE
As a literary device, an apostrophe is a poetic phrase or speech made by a
character that is addressed to a subject that is not literally present in the
literary work. The subject may be dead, absent, an inanimate object, or
even an abstract idea. A literary apostrophe is designed to direct a reader
or audience member’s attention to the entity being addressed as a means
of indicating its importance or significance. In addition, apostrophe is also
utilized as a way for a character to express their internal thoughts and
feelings to someone or something that is not able to respond.
Note: its most common purpose is to display intense emotion.
Example, in John Donne’s poem “Death, be not proud,” the poet
addresses Death as if it is a living, present person. Here is an abstract idea:
Death, Be Not Proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;
Examples of Apostrophe in Shakespeare:
 “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” (Romeo and Juliet)–
Juliet addresses an “absent” Romeo, unaware that he is nearby.
 “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of
most excellent fancy” (Hamlet)–Hamlet addresses the skull of Yorick,
former jester to the king, which has been unearthed by gravediggers.
 “Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, more hideous when thou
show’st thee in a child than the sea-monster!” (King Lear)–King Lear
addresses the abstract idea of ingratitude as it is displayed, in his
mind, by his daughter Goneril.
Devices of Sound
Alliteration
5. ALLITERATION
Assonance
Onomatopoeia
Repetition
Alliteration is a literary device that reflects repetition in two or more
nearby words of initial consonant sounds. Alliteration does not refer to
the repetition of consonant letters that begin words, but rather the
repetition of the consonant sound at the beginning of words.
Alliteration is found in clichés:
(Cliché is a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of
original thought.)
 Sweet smell of success
 Bigger and better
 Jump for joy
 rocky road
 big business
 jumping jacks
 no nonsense
 tough talk
 quick question
Alliteration is found in phrases:
 give up the ghost
 good as gold
 home sweet home
 last laugh
 leave in the lurch
 mad as a March hare
 make a mountain out of a molehill
 method to the madness
 neck and neck
 nervous nelly
 pleased as punch
 primrose path
 right as rain
 ride roughshod
Alliteration in Tongue Twisters:
 Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers;
 Betty Botter bought some butter but, said she, the butter’s bitter.
 She sells sea shells on a sea shore.
Alliteration from Literature:
 Behemoth biggest born of earth upheaved
-- John Milton
 "But blessed forms in whistling storms
Fly o'er waste fens and windy fields"
-Alfred Tennyson
 "And we beseech you, bend you to remain/Here, in the cheer and
comfort of our eye,/Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son" --Hamlet by William Shakespeare
6. ASSONANCE
Assonance is a figure of speech in which the same vowel sound
repeats within a group of words. An example of assonance is: "Who
gave Newt and Scooter the blue tuna? It was too soon!"
Note:
Assonance occurs when sounds, not letters, repeat. In the example
above, the "oo" sound is what matters, not the different letters used to
produce that sound.
Assonance does not require that words with the same vowel sounds be
directly next to each other. Assonance occurs so long as identical
vowel-sounds are relatively close together.
Assonant vowel sounds can occur anywhere (at the beginning or end,
on stressed or unstressed syllables) within any of the words in the
group.
Assonance Examples in Literature:
 "When Zeus ...
stills the winds asleep in the solid drift ...
The Iliad
 Journey's jargon, how I in harsh days
Hardship endured oft.
"The Seafarer"(poem)
 “Good gracious! How you hop!
Over the fields and the water too:
The duck and the Kangaroo
Use of sound ‘o’ (Good, you, hop, too)
7. ONOMATOPOEIA:
Onomatopoeia, pronounced on-uh-mat-uh–pee–uh, is defined as a word
that imitates the natural sounds of a thing. It creates a sound effect that
mimics the thing described, making the description more expressive and





interesting. Onomatopoeia can make a poem or piece of writing appeal to
the sense of hearing. Words like bam, whoosh or slap sound just like the
thing they refer to.
Example:
Bacon sizzled on the pan.
She woke to the sound of chirping.
The tires screeched as he slammed on the brakes.
“Ugh,” the boy groaned.
Ding, dong, the doorbell rang.
Sound words
Spray
clang
clank
clap
gurgle
eek
sprinkle
squirt
whoosh
whizz
whip
Onomatopoeia from Literature:
Take a look at the different onomatopoeia examples in Todd Rundgren's
song, appropriately named Onomatopoeia.
"Onomatopoeia every time I see ya
My senses tell me hubba
And I just can't disagree.
I get a feeling in my heart that I can't describe. . .
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."
8. REPETITION
Repetition is a literary device that involves intentionally using a word or
phrase for effect, two or more times in a speech or written work. For
repetition to be noticeable, the words or phrases should be repeated
within close proximity of each other. Repetition sometimes has the effect
of a chant, and also adds musical quality to the poetry.
Example:
Time after time
Heart to heart
Boys will be boys
Hand in hand
Get ready; get set; go
Hour to hour
Sorry, not sorry
Over and over
Home sweet home
Examples of Repetition from Literature:
Deep River by Shusaku Endo
 “Hatred was spreading everywhere, blood was being spilled
everywhere, wars were breaking out everywhere.”
- Deep River
by Shusaku Endo
 “The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
-- Stopping by Woods On a
Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost
 “Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage, against the dying of the light.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight,
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
--- "Do Not Go Gentle
into the
Good Night" by Dylan Thomas
DEVICES SHOWING CONTRAST/DIFFERENCE AND SURPRISE
Hyperbole
Oxymoron
9. Hyperbole
Irony
Satire
Paradox
Euphemism
Litotes
Antithesis
Hyperbole is a figure of speech and literary device that creates heightened
effect through deliberate exaggeration. Hyperbole is often a boldly
overstated or exaggerated claim or statement that adds emphasis without
the intention of being literally true. In rhetoric and literature, hyperbole is
often used for serious, comic, or ironic effects.
Examples of hyperbole in everyday speech:
 I’m so hungry that I could eat a horse.
 That purse looks like it cost a million dollars.
 He feels buried under a mountain of work.
 I’m dying of thirst.
 That dog is the cutest thing alive.
 She loves him more than life itself.
 This suitcase weighs a ton.
 He heard an ear-splitting shriek.
 This race is going to be the death of me.
 I’m so tired that I could sleep for a week.
 That song is the worst thing I have ever heard.
Examples of Hyperbole from Literature:
 ‘Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world.’ ----- Ralph Waldo Emerson’s
poem "The Concord Hymn:"
 Ten thousand I saw at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.---- From ‘I Wandered Lonely as a
Cloud’ by William Wordsworth
10. OXYMORON
Oxymorons are oppositional words joined to create a unique word or
phrase. An oxymoron can seem absurd yet make perfect sense at the
same time. For example, the phrase “virtual reality” is formed from
contrasting words. The word “oxymoron” is an oxymoron itself, derived
from the Greek words “oxys” (meaning “sharp”) and “moros” (meaning
“dull”).
Oxymorons can support a lighthearted mood or tone, as well as
emphasize conflict. The juxtaposition of two opposing words can add
dramatic effect, create a playful tone, reveal a deeper meaning, or add
irony.
Example:
absolutely unsure
seriously funny
original copy
plastic glasses
clearly confused
bittersweet
exact estimate
Examples of Oxymoron in Literature
 Juliet says, “Parting is such sweet sorrow”-- William Shakespeare,
Romeo and Juliet
 The shackles of love straiten’d him
His honour rooted in dishonour stood
And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true
----Alfred Lord Tennyson, Idylls of the King
The following excerpt is often used as a literary example of oxymoron.
 Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!
O anything, of nothing first create!
O heavy lightness! Serious vanity!
Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
11. IRONY
Irony is a figure of speech in which there is a contradiction of expectation
between what is said and what is really meant. It is characterized by an
incongruity, a contrast, between reality and appearance.
EXAMPLE : A child runs away from someone throwing a water balloon at
him and falls into the pool. This is ironic because the child ends up wetter
than he would have been, thwarting his expectations of what would
happen when he ran away from the water balloon. The cobbler's children
have no shoes.
There are three types of irony: verbal, dramatic and situational.
Verbal irony:
It is a contrast between what is said and what is meant. Example: Julius
Caesar
Dramatic irony:
It occurs when the audience or the reader knows more than the character
about events. In other words, what the character thinks is true is
incongruous with what the audience knows. Example: The Gift of the Magi
Situational irony:
This refers to the contrast between the actual result of a situation and
what was intended or expected to happen. Example: Pride and Prejudice
Examples of irony:
His argument was as clear as mud.
The two identical twins were arguing. One of them told the other: "You're
ugly"
The thieves robbed the police station.
Examples of Irony from Literature:
Verbal Irony in Literature:
 Julius Caesar, the famous play written by William Shakespeare,
holds an important example for verbal irony: “Yet Brutus says he
was ambitious; and Brutus is an honorable man”. This is said by
Mark Antony who really implies that Brutus is dishonorable.
 “My life is my foe’s debt” – this is said by Romeo, where he implies
his love with his enemy.
Dramatic Irony in Othello
 Othello is one of the most heartrending tragedies ever written, and
Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony is one of the reasons the play is
so powerful to read and watch.
We know that the handkerchief used as proof of Desdemona’s infidelity
was, in fact, stolen by Emilia at Iago’s behest. Desdemona was framed by
Iago, and we know she is innocent. But we are powerless to stop Othello;
he has resolved to murder his wife.
Iago, whom Othello considers a friend, has been plotting Othello’s demise
for the duration of the play. Othello does not know that Iago is the one
pulling the strings, but we do. We know he is the one who convinces
Roderigo to kill Cassio, even as we watch him pretend to help Cassio after
he is wounded. Only we see Iago kill Roderigo before he can reveal the
truth. In this way, we are complicit with Iago’s misdeeds. We are the only
witnesses, and yet we can do nothing.
Dramatic Irony in Romeo and Juliet
 In the final act of this archetypal love story, Shakespeare employs
dramatic irony to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
Friar Laurence sends a messenger to tell Romeo about Juliet’s plan to
drug herself into deathlike coma. We watch in horror as the messenger
fails to deliver this vital piece of information. And though we know that
Juliet is not really dead, we see Romeo poison himself because he cannot
live without her.
Situational irony in The Gift of the Magi
 In this short story by O. Henry, a wife sells her hair to buy her
husband a watch chain, and her husband sells his watch to buy her
combs for her hair. Both have made sacrifices in order to buy gifts
for one another, but in the end, the gifts are useless. The real gift is
how much they are willing to give up to show their love for one
another.
Situational irony in “Messy Room” by Shel Silverstein
 Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
His underwear is hanging on the lamp.
His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair,
And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp.
His workbook is wedged in the window,
His sweater’s been thrown on the floor.
His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV,
And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door.
His books are all jammed in the closet,
His vest has been left in the hall.
A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed,
And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall.
Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
Donald or Robert or Willie or–
Huh? You say it’s mine? Oh, dear,
I knew it looked familiar!
12.Satire
Satire is strictly a literary genre for the artful ridicule of folly or vice as a
means of exposing or correcting it. The subject of satire is generally
human frailty, as it manifests in people’s behavior or ideas as well as
societal institutions or other creations. Satire utilizes tones of amusement,
contempt, scorn, or indignation towards a flawed subject with the hope of
creating awareness or to improve them through self-derisive laughter.
Satire aims to create humor and points out the flaws in a system but with a
purpose to force the subject to improve or correct their behaviour.
Satire Examples in Literature
 Gulliver's Travels (Jonathan Swift, 1726) This popular novel, still read
today, is a mock travel journal. ...
 Brave New World (Aldous Huxley, 1932) ...
 Animal Farm (George Orwell, 1945) ...
 Slaughterhouse-Five (Kurt Vonnegut, 1969) ...
 American Psycho (Bret Easton Ellis, 1991)
 Alice in Wonderland– Novel by Lewis Carroll that satirizes the corrupt
political and judicial system of Victorian England.
 Mark Twain’s ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ satirized racism.
 In the visual media the most iconic satirist in the history of cinema
was Charlie Chaplin. His 1940 masterpiece ‘The Great Dictator’ is
widely viewed as one of the most important satire movies of the 20th
century.
Satire in poetry
 And could he be indeed so old
As by the newspapers we’re told?
Threescore, I think, is pretty high;
’Twas time in conscience he should die
This world he cumbered long enough;
He burnt his candle to the snuff;
And that’s the reason, some folks think,
He left behind so great a stink …
From Jonathan Swift, ‘A Satirical Elegy on the Death of a Late Famous
General’.

O God, O Venus, O Mercury, patron of thieves,
Lend me a little tobacco-shop,
or install me in any profession
Save this damn'd profession of writing,
where one needs one's brains all the time.
From ‘The Lake Isle’ by Ezra Pound
 Oh, the progress of Woman has really been vast
Since Civilization began.
She's usurped all the qualities which in the past
Were reckoned peculiar to Man.
She can score with a bat, use a rod or a cue;
Her tennis and golf are sublime.
Her aim with a gun is uncommonly true,
But Man beats her hollow at crime.
From ‘A Solitary Triumph’ by P G Wodehouse
13. Paradox
The word “paradox” derives from the Greek word “paradoxons,” meaning
contrary to expectation. Paradox is a statement that appears at first to be
contradictory, but upon reflection then makes sense. This literary device is
commonly used to engage a reader to discover an underlying logic in a
seemingly self-contradictory statement or phrase. As a result, paradox
allows readers to understand concepts in a different and even nontraditional way.
Common Examples of Paradox
 less is more
 do the thing you think you cannot do
 the enemy of my enemy is my friend
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the beginning of the end
if you don’t risk anything, you risk everything
earn money by spending it
nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent
Examples of Paradox in Literature
 I must be cruel only to be kind;
Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.
From Hamlet (William Shakespeare)
 I could just remember how my father used to say that the reason for
living was to get ready to stay dead a long time.
From As I Lay Dying (William Faulkner)
14. Euphemism
Euphemism is a figure of speech commonly used to replace a word or
phrase that is related to a concept that might make others uncomfortable.
Euphemism refers to figurative language designed to replace phrasing that
would otherwise be considered harsh, impolite, or unpleasant. This literary
device allows for someone to say what they mean indirectly, without using
literal language, as a way of softening the impact of what is being said.
The reason for this would be for the sake of politeness, discretion, and
other means of mitigating communication.
Common examples of euphemism used in everyday conversation and
writing
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porcelain throne (toilet)
pre-owned (something used)
senior (old)
economically challenged (poor)
put to sleep (euthanize)
between jobs (unemployed)
upchuck (vomit)
big-boned (overweight)
blowing smoke (lying)
split (divorce)
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enhanced interrogation (torture)
well-off (rich)
belch (burp)
correctional facility (prison)
go around the bend (to go insane)
thin on top (bald)
15. Litotes
Litotes is a figure of speech and a form of understatement in which the
writer uses negative statement, to enforce the positive. This is used to
emphasize the intended message. It is often used in humorous and
sarcastic conversation. For example, "It's not the best weather today"
during a hurricane implying through ironic understatement that the
weather is, in fact, horrible.
Examples of Litotes in everyday language
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Her cooking isn't terrible, exactly. ...
Ireland is no ordinary country. ...
Your commentary on their relationship was less than smart. ...
In truth, I can't argue with any of your assertions. ...
All in all, she wasn't a bad dancer. ...
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
The novel is not bad.
You’re not wrong.
I can’t disagree with your logic.
My feelings are not unhurt.
He is hardly unattractive.
That lesson is not hard.
My car was not cheap.
I won’t argue with the referee.
16.Antithesis
Antithesis shows a clear, contrasting relationship between two ideas by
joining them together or juxtaposing them in one sentence. The word
antithesis, means absolute opposite, is derived from Greek for “setting
opposite.”
Examples of Antithesis in Everyday Speech
 Go big or go home.
 Spicy food is heaven on the tongue but hell in the tummy.
 Those who can do; those who can’t do, teach.
 Get busy living or get busy dying.
 Speech is silver but silence is gold.
 No pain, no gain.
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It’s not a show, friends; it’s show business.
No guts, no glory.
DEVICES SHOWING ASSOCIATION AND SUBSTITUTION
Synecdoche
Transferred Epithet
17. Synecdoche
Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which, most often, a part of
something is used to refer to its whole. For example, "The captain
commands one hundred sails" is a synecdoche that uses "sails" to refer to
ships—ships being the thing of which a sail is a part.
(How to Pronounce Synecdoche: sih-nek-duh-kee)
Synecdoche Examples in Everyday Language
 "Nice wheels!" A synecdoche in which "wheels" stand in for the car that
they are a part of.
 "Hurry up, gray beard!" A not very polite synecdoche, in which an old
man's "gray beard" stands in for his whole being.
 "What's the head count?" The person asking this question is interested
not just in the number of heads, but rather in the number of people to
whom the heads belong.
Synecdoche Examples in Literature
 The western wave was all a-flame.
The day was well nigh done!
Almost upon the western wave
Rested the broad bright Sun.
From "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Coleridge
(Here, "wave" stands in for the whole ocean (or at least the part of the
ocean—larger than a wave—that is relevant to the text). So when the
Ancient Mariner says "the western wave," he is referring to the ocean to
the west, extending to the western horizon.)
The Eyes around—had wrung them dry—
And Breaths were gathering firm
For that last Onset—when the King
Be witnessed—in the Room—
From "I heard a Fly buzz—when I died" by Emily Dickinson
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(Here, "eyes" stand in for people. Dickinson's use of synecdoche
emphasizes that the people in the room are watching the speaker, but it
also serves a more technical purpose.)
18. Transferred Epithet
Transferred epithet is when an adjective usually used to describe one thing
is transferred to another. An epithet is a word or phrase which describes
the main quality of someone or something. For example: 'a happy person'.
Epithets are usually adjectives like 'happy' that describe a noun like
'person'.
A transferred epithet is a figure of speech in which a modifier (usually an
adjective) qualifies a noun other than the person or thing it is actually
describing. In other words, the modifier or epithet is transferred from the
noun it is meant to describe to another noun in the sentence.
Example
'The builders were working at a dizzy height.'
Heights can't literally be dizzy, they have no feelings. The transferred
epithet intensifies the height. How high up would you need to be to feel
dizzy?
More examples
'sleepless nights'
'a wonderful day'
'wide-eyed amazement'
'He pointed an angry finger at me.'
'She looked at him through concerned eyes.'
Examples of Transferred Epithet in Poetry
In Dulce et Decorum Est, Wilfred Owen explores the horrors of World War
One:
'An ecstasy of fumbling / Fitting the clumsy helmets just on time'.
The transferred epithet here is the word 'clumsy'. 'Clumsy helmets'
suggests that the helmets themselves are struggling to stay calm during a
gas attack. This gives the reader the idea that both the solider and the
environment itself are in a state of panic and chaos.
In Aunt Julia by Norman MacCaig, the speaker remembers his Aunt Julia
and describes her as 'buckets/and water flouncing into them'.
The transferred epithet used in the flouncing water gives a description of
the deliberate, vigorous way she moved.
DEVICES SHOWING REFERENCE
Symbol
19. Symbol
Allusion
Allegory
Symbolism is a literary device that refers to the use of symbols in a literary
work. A symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else; it
represents something beyond literal meaning. In literature, a symbol can
be a word, object, action, character, or concept that embodies and evokes
a range of additional meaning and significance.
Common Examples of Symbolism in Everyday Life
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rainbow–symbolizes hope and promise
red rose–symbolizes love and romance
four-leaf clover–symbolizes good luck or fortune
wedding ring–symbolizes commitment and matrimony
red, white, blue–symbolizes American patriotism
green traffic light–symbolizes “go” or proceed
tree blossoms–symbolize spring season
Pilgrim hat–symbolizes Thanksgiving holiday
dollar sign–symbolizes money, earnings, wealth
image of shopping cart–symbolizes online purchases
Examples of symbolism in well-known movies:
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white cowboy hat = hero in classic Westerns
mockingbird = innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird
balloons = hopes and dreams in Disney’s Up
feathers = beginnings and endings in Forrest Gump
Yellow Brick Road = street paved with gold in The Wizard of Oz
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coin toss = fate, chance, free will in No Country for Old Men
fog = confusion and the unknown in Apocalypse Now
cat = home and belonging in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
doors = separation and transition in The Godfather
deer = prey and vulnerability in Get Out
Example of Symbolism in Literature:
In his poem “Fire and Ice,” Robert Frost utilizes symbolism to indicate
to readers how the world may be destroyed:
 Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
In the poem, fire symbolizes destructive and consuming emotions such as
jealousy, desire for power, anger, and impulsivity. Ice, in the poem,
symbolizes destructive and withholding emotions such as hate,
indifference, loneliness, and isolation
20. Allusion
An allusion is a reference to a person, place, thing, event, or other literary
work with which the reader is presumably familiar. As a literary device,
allusion allows a writer to compress a great deal of meaning and
significance into a word or phrase. However, allusions are only effective to
the extent that they are recognized and understood by the reader, and that
they are properly inferred and interpreted by the reader. If an allusion is
misunderstood, it can lose effectiveness by confusing the reader.
Examples of allusion in everyday speech:
 That guy is young, scrappy, and hungry. (Hamilton)
 I wish I could just click my heels. (The Wizard of Oz)
 If I’m not home by midnight, my car might turn into a pumpkin.
(Cinderella)
 She smiles like a Cheshire cat. (Alice in Wonderland)
 His job is like pulling a sword out of a stone. (King Arthur Legend)
 Is there an Einstein in your physics class? (Albert Einstein)
 Example of Allusion in Literature:
"Nothing Gold Can Stay" (1923) by Robert Frost
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Here, iconic American poet Robert Frost makes an allusion to the Biblical
Garden of Eden ("so Eden sank to grief") to strengthen this idea that
nothing—not even Paradise—can last forever.
21. Allegory:
Allegory is a narration or description in which events, actions, characters,
settings or objects represent specific abstractions or ideas.Allegory is a
literary device used to express large, complex ideas in an approachable
manner. Allegory allows writers to create some distance between
themselves and the issues they are discussing, especially when those
issues are strong critiques of political or societal realities.
Common Examples of Allegory
 The Tortoise and the Hare from Aesop’s Fables: From this story, we
learn that the strong and steady win the race.
 The story of Icarus: Icarus fashions wings for himself out of wax, but
when he flies too close to the sun his wings melt. This story is a
message about the dangers of reaching beyond out powers.
 Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss: This story about a turtle who yearns
for too much power is actually an allegory about Adolf Hitler and the
evils of totalitarianism.
Allegory Examples In English Literature:
 The novel Animal Farm by George Orwell is a famous literary work
that uses allegory as a key tool. “All animals are equal, but some
animals are more equal than others.”
DEVICES BASED ON PLAY OF WORDS
21. Pun
21. PUN
22. Tautology
A pun is a literary device that is also known as a “play on words.” Puns
involve words with similar or identical sounds but with different meanings.
Their play on words also relies on a word or phrase having more than one
meaning. Puns are generally intended to be humorous, but they often have
a serious purpose as well in literary works.
Common Examples of Pun
 The cyclist was too tired to win the race.
 Her cat is near the computer to keep an eye on the mouse.
 Now that I have graph paper, I guess it’s time to plot something.
 Make like a tree and leave.
 This candy cane is in mint condition.
 My librarian is a great bookkeeper.
 I like archery, but it’s hard to see the point.
 It’s easy to like musicians because they are very upbeat.
22. TAUTOLOGY
Tautology is a statement which repeats an idea, using near-synonymous
words or phrases, effectively "saying the same thing twice." The intent of
this device is to emphasize a point or idea for an audience or reader.
The word tautology is from the Greek word tauto, meaning “same,” and
Logos, meaning “word or idea.” This literary device can refer to a phrase,
sentence, or even paragraph that reiterates the same idea using different
words or repeats the meaning, despite appearing to provide new context
or information. When used effectively, tautology can provide emphasis or
clarity, or even create ambiguity that is intentional.
Common Examples of Tautology
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free gift
return back
more and more
close proximity
it is what it is
repeat again
hot water heater
Examples of Tautology in Literature
 Now, gentlemen, in this country, our courts are the great levelers. In
our courts, all men are created equal. I’m no idealist to believe firmly
in the integrity of our courts and of our jury system – that’s no ideal
to me. That is a living, working reality! Now I am confident that you
gentlemen will review, without passion, the evidence that you have
heard, come to a decision and restore this man to his family. In the
name of GOD, do your duty. In the name of God, believe… Tom
Robinson.
From To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
 To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them. To die—to sleep,
From Hamlet (William Shakespeare)
PICTORIAL DEVICE
24. IMAGERY
Imagery is a literary device that refers to the use of figurative language to
evoke a sensory experience or create a picture with words for a reader. By
utilizing effective descriptive language and figures of speech, writers
appeal to a reader’s senses of sight, taste, smell, touch, and sound, as
well as internal emotion and feelings. Therefore, imagery is not limited to
visual representations or mental images, but also includes physical
sensations and internal emotions.
Common Examples of Imagery
 The autumn leaves are a blanket on the ground.
 His words felt like a dagger in my heart.
 My head is pounding like a drum.
 The kitten’s fur is milky.
 The siren turned into a whisper as it ended.
 His coat felt like a velvet curtain.
 The houses look like frosted cakes in winter.
 The light under the door looked buttery.
The main types of poetic imagery:
Visual: appeals to the sense of sight through the description of color, light,
size, pattern, etc.
Auditory: appeals to the sense of hearing or sound by including melodic
sounds, silence, harsh noises, and even onomatopoeia.
Gustatory: appeals to the sense of taste by describing whether something
is sweet, salty, savory, spicy, or sour.
Tactile: appeals to the sense of touch by describing how something
physically feels, such as its temperature, texture, or other sensation.
Olfactory: appeals to the sense of smell by describing something’s
fragrance or odor.
Examples of imagery in Shakespearean works:
 “My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep.” Romeo
and Juliet
 “There’s daggers in men’s smiles.” Macbeth
 “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,
Men were deceivers ever,One foot in sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never.” Much Ado About Nothing
 “If I be waspish, best beware my sting.” The Taming of the Shrew
 “Good-night, sweet prince; And flights of angels sing thee to thy
rest.” Hamlet
 “Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,
Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend
More than cool reason ever comprehends.” A Midsummer Night’s
Dream
An easy way to spot imagery in a text is to pay attention to words, phrases,
and sentences that connect with your five senses (sight, smell, taste,
touch, and sound). That's because writers know that in order to capture a
reader's attention, they need to engage with them mentally, physically,
and emotionally.
USE IMAGERY TO SPRUCE YOUR WRITING SKILLS
Here are some prompts that you may find useful:
Paint the image in small bites. Never stop your story to describe. Keep it
going, incorporating vivid images, enlarging the action, and putting the
dialogue in context.
A sponge carpet of pine needles covered the trail. It cushioned their soles
and absorbed the sounds of their footsteps.
Rhonda stopped short and whispered, “Something’s coming. There. To
the right. A bear?”
Incorporate images into action. Suppose I had written:
A million years of discarded pine needles lay on the forest floor, carpeting
the trail.
That’s description. Static. The author’s talking. Can you hear him reading
from an encyclopedia? The difference in the first version is tying their
walking to soundless footsteps. This clears the way for Rhonda to hear
and see.
 She pointed at a looming hulk, for all the good that pointing would
do in the ink of night.
Bill grasped her arm. “No. It couldn’t be.”
But the crashing of brush told them it could.
“Yes. Get up a tree.”
See through the character’s eyes. Hear through her ears. When you can,
use the character’s senses instead of the author’s. It’s called character
point of view.
 She felt her pulse both in her throat and under the grip of that hand
of his crushing her forearm. His breath. She heard it in short,
chattering bursts. She smelled it, too. Fear stunk.
Use the tiny, but telling detail.
 She tore free of his grip and leaped off the trail. A spider’s web
tugged at her face. Any other time she would have screamed. She
ran into a tree, a rough pine bough slapped her breasts, and needles
stabbed at her eyes. Any other time she would have cursed.
The spider’s web. Ever ran into one?
 Choose action-bearing verbs.
Cushioned, absorbed, stopped, whispered, pointed, grasped, tore,
leaped, tugged, screamed, ran, slapped, stabbed, cursed. These words
do so much more than say what is. They indicate first fear, then panic.
 Choose action-bearing non-verbs.
Looming is a verb form used as an adjective. Crashing is used as a
noun.
Invent fresh viewpoints.
 She climbed blindly. And so quickly. Like a ladder. That was scary. If
she could scale this pine so easily, couldn’t the bear climb it, too?
She drove her head into a branch. But the sound of crying wasn’t
hers.
“Help. It’s got me.”
Bill. Oh, God, Bill.
The bear had him. Still she climbed, seeing nothing but sparklers of
pain in her head.
He shrieked at her from the dark below.
She did not—could not—respond.
(This is the viewpoint of a woman in panic and pain. When she looks into
the darkness, she sees only sparklers. Clearly, she’s so frightened, she’s
only trying to save herself.)
WORKSHEET
Q1. Identify the literary device used in the given sentences and write
them in the blank space given below:
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This coffee shop is an icebox! (________________)
She's drowning in a sea of grief. (____________)
She's happy as a clam. (_______________)
I move fast like a cheetah on the Serengeti. (____________)
The sea lashed out in anger at the ships, unwilling to tolerate another
battle. (___________________)
The sky misses the sun at night. (______________________)
I've told you a million times to clean your room! (___________________)
Her head was spinning from all the new information.
(________________)
You could've knocked me over with a feather. (________________)
She was living her life in chains. (________________)
When she saw the dove soar high above her home, she knew the
worst was over. (________________)
You snore louder than a freight train! (________________)
I need to get a head count. (________________)
Karen clawed at Carl. (________________)
The burning wood hissed and crackled. (________________)
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Q. Create a Pictionary of Literary devices. Paste the pictures and give
examples, other than the ones given above.