CMAT-Verbal 11 Committed and Reliable EDucation Page 1

FIGURES OF SPEECH

SIMILE:

In Simile, a comparison is made between two object of different kinds which have at least one point in common.

The Simile is introduced by the word ‘as’ , ‘like’ and ‘such’

Examples:

• As active as quicksilver

• As afraid as a grasshopper

• As ageless as the sun

METAPHOR:

A Metaphor is an implied Simile. It does not, like a Simile, state that one thing is like another or acts as another, but takes that for granted and proceeds as if two things were one.

Thus when we say, ‘He fought as fiercely as a lion’, it is Simile.

But when we say, ‘He was a lion in the fight’, it is Metaphor.

Examples:

• The camel is the ship of the desert.

• Life is a dream.

• The news was a dragger to his heart. • Revenge is a kind of wild justice.

PERSONIFICATION:

In Personification, inanimate objects and abstract notions are spoken of as having life and intelligence.

Examples:

• Death lays its icy hands on King.

• Pride goes forth on horseback, grand and gay.

• Laughter is holding her both sides.

APOSTROPHE:

An Apostrophe is a direct address to the dead, to the absent, or to a personified object or idea. This figure is a special

form of Personification.

Examples:

• Milton! You should not be living at this hour.

• Roll on! Thou deep and dark blue Ocean, roll.

• Death! Where is thy sting? O Grave! Where is thy victory?

HYPERBOLE:

In Hyperbole, a statement is made emphatic by overstatement.

Examples:

• Why, man, if the river is dry, I am able to fill it with tears.

• Hmalet! You have not cleft my heart in twain.

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EUPHEMISM:

Euphemism consists in the description of a disagreeable thing by an agreeable name.

Examples:

• You are telling me a fairy tale. (You are telling me lies) • He is gone to heaven. (He is dead)

ANTITHESIS:

In Antithesis, a striking opposition or contrast of words or sentiments is made in the same sentence.It is employed to

secure emphasis.

Examples:

• Man proposes, but God disposes.

• Not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more.

• Speech is silver, but Silence is Gold. • To err is human, but to forgive on divine.

OXYMORON:

Oxymoron is special type of Antithesis, whereby two contradictory qualities are predicted at once of the same thing.

Examples:

• She accepted it as the kind cruelty of surgeon’s knife.

• His honor rooted in dishonor stood.

• Faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.

EPIGRAM:

An Epigram is a brief pointed saying frequently introducing antithetical ideas which excite surprise and arrest attention.

Examples:

• The child is the father of the man. • Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

• He makes no friend who never made a foe.

PUN:

A Pun consists in the use of a word in such a way that it is capable of more than one application, the object being to

introduce a ludicrous effect.

Examples:

• Is life worth living? It depends upon the liver.

In this sentence, the word ‘liver’ has been used in double meaning- the physical organ LIVER and the person who

lives.

• An ambassador is an honest man who lies aboard for the good of his country.

In this sentence, the word ‘lies’ has been used in double meaning- being and making false statement.

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METONYMY:

In Metonymy, (literally change of name) an object is designed by the name of something which is associated with it.

Examples:

• The Bench, for the Judges...

• The House, for the members of Parliament…

• The Crown, for the King…

SYNECDOCHE:

In Synecdoche, a part is used to designate the whole or the whole to designate a part.

i. A part used to designate whole:

Examples:

• Give us this day our daily bread. (I.e. food)

• Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

• He has many mouths to feed.

• All the best brains could not solve the problem.

ii. The whole used to designate a part:

• England (i.e. the cricket team of England) won the first test match against Australia.

TRANSFERRED EPITHET:

In this figure, an epithet is transformed from its proper word to another that is closely associated with that in the

sentence.

Examples:

• He passed sleepless night.

• A lackey presented an obsequious cup of coffee.

LITOTES:

In Litotes an affirmative is conveyed by negation of the opposite, the effect being to suggest a strong expression by

means of a weaker. It is the opposite of Hyperbole.

Examples:

• I am a citizen of no mean. (I am a celebrated citizen)

• The man is no fool. (Very clever) • I am not a little surprised. (Greatly)

INTERROGATION:

Interrogation is asking of a question not for the sake of getting an answer, but to put a point more effectively.

Examples:

• Am I my brother’s keeper?

• Who is here so vile that will not love his country?

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EXCLAMATION:

In this figure, the exclamatory form is used to draw greater attention to a point that mere bald statement of it could do.

Examples:

• What is piece of work is man! • How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!

CLIMAX:

Climax (KILMAX means a ladder) is the arrangement of a series of ideas in the order of increasing importance.

Examples:

• He is simple, erect, severe, austere and sublime.

• What a piece of work man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties! In action, how like an angel!

• In apprehension, how like a God!

ANTICLIMAX:

Anticlimax is the opposite of Climax-a sudden descent from higher to lower. It is chiefly used for the purpose of satire

or ridicule.

Examples:

• O The great Dalhousie! The great god of war, you sometimes take counsel, and sometimes take tea.