FIGURES OF SPEECH
Rhetorical / Literary devices
Schemes and Tropes
Schemes and tropes both have to do with using language
in an unusual or "figured" way:
Trope: An artful deviation from the ordinary
or principal signification of a word.
Scheme: An artful deviation from the ordinary
arrangement of words.
Examples
"I work like a slave" [trope: simile]
"I don't know if I'm working my job or my job, me" [schemes: ellipsis, antimetabole, personification]
Categories of tropes and schemes.
Kinds of Tropes
- Reference to One Thing as Another
- Wordplay and puns
- Substitutions
- Overstatement/Understatement
- Semantic Inversions
Kinds of Schemes
- Structures of Balance
- Change in Word Order
- Omission
- Repetition
Figures of Speech: Tropes
Trope: An artful deviation from the ordinary or principal signification
of a word.
-
- Metaphor Reference to one thing
as another, implying a comparison.
- Simile Explicit comparison of one
thing to another.
- Analogy: An analogy
explains one thing in terms of another to highlight the ways in which
they are alike. Analogies are extended metaphors; they are a comparison between one thing and another, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.
- Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or
idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.
-
- Antanaclasis Repetition of a
word in two different senses.
- Paronomasia (punning). Using words that
sound alike but that differ in meaning.
-
- Anthimeria Substitution of one
part of speech for another.
- Allusion: Substitution of a
descriptive word or phrase for a proper name, a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or
idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.
- Euphemismus: The term euphemism refers to polite, indirect expressions that
replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite, or which
suggest something unpleasant.
-
- Hyperbole Use of exaggerated terms
for emphasis or effect.
- Litotes Understatement used deliberately.
-
- Rhetorical Question
Asking a question for a purpose other than obtaining the information
requested.
(See Hypophora)
- Irony Using language in such a way
as to convey a meaning opposite of what the terms used denote (often
by exaggeration).
- Oxymoron Placing two ordinarily
opposing terms adjacent to one another. A compressed paradox.
- Paradox An apparently contradictory
statement that contains a measure of truth.
Figures of Speech: Schemes
Scheme: An artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words.
-
- Parallelism Similarity of structure
in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.
- Antithesis Juxtaposition of contrasting
ideas (often in parallel structure).
- Antanagoge: It occurs where a negative point is balanced with a positive point. It may also refer to placing a positive outlook on a situation that has a negative connotation, such as in the following example: So, you live alone? It must be nice to be able to do what you want.
- Apposition; When two nouns or noun phrases are used to refer to the same person or thing; the addition of one word or group of words to another as an explanation.
-
- Anastrophe Inversion of natural
word order.
- Parenthesis Insertion of a verbal
unit that interrupts normal syntactical flow.
- Apposition Addition of an adjacent,
coordinate, explanatory element.
-
- Ellipsis Omission of a word or
words readily implied by context.
- Asyndeton (Polysyn.) Omission of conjunctions
between a series of clauses.
-
- Rhyme: is a popular literary device in
which the repetition of the same or similar sounds occurs in two or
more words.
- Antanaclasis Repetition of
a word in two different senses.
- Anaphora Repetition of the same
word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses.(see epiphora)
- Epanalepsis Repetition at the
end of a clause of the word that occurred at the beginning of the
clause.
- Antimetabole Repetition of
words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order. (Sometimes
mistaken as chiasmus)
- Chiasmus Repetition of grammatical
structures in reverse order in successive phrases or clauses (not
to be mistaken with antimetabole).
- Polysyndeton Opposite of asyndeton,
a superabundance of conjunctions
- Epiphora: aka epistrophe, is a stylistic device in which a word or a phrase
is repeated at the ends of successive clauses.
Figures of Speech: Tropes
Trope: An artful deviation from the ordinary or principal significa-tion
of a word.
-
Metaphor: Reference to one thing
as another, implying a comparison.
Ex: I was going through / It's literally a roller coaster of emotions (going through different moods); I have been racking my brains to figure out how to handle this situation / how to improve my writing.
Simile: Explicit comparison of one
thing to another, often (but not necessarily) employing "like" or
"as." Ex: Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere’; Living without philosophizing / To live without philosophy is exactly like having one's eyes closed without ever trying to open them; (Doing) Math(s) is like going to the gym for your brain. It's a workout for your brain. Basically, It sharpens your mind and makes you smarter. Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or
idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.
Math is like going to the gym for your brain. It sharpens your mind.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/danica_mckellar_424721
Analogy: An analogy
explains one thing in terms of another to highlight the ways in which
they are alike. It compares two completely different things and look for
similarities between two things or concepts and it only focuses on that
angle. "He's as flaky as a snowstorm" would be one example of
an analogy. Analogies that are very well known are sometimes called
idioms or figures of speech. Ex: Life is like a race; Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get!; Finding a Good Man is Like Finding a Needle in a Haystack; Pregnancy is a roller coaster ride of emotions for the mother.
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Antanaclasis: Repetition of a
word in two different senses. Ex: We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately; If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.
Paronomasia (punning): Using words that
sound alike but that differ in meaning . Homophonic puns: The use of words that sound the same, but have different meanings such as: Immanuel doesn't pun; he Kant; The pun is mightier than the sword; The ballot is stronger than the bullet; Atheism is a non-prophet organization and Homographic puns: The use of words that are spelled the same, but have different meanings, such as: It isn't fair that every girl is not fair; My Dad is digging a new well.
-
Anthimeria: Substitution of one
part of speech for another.
Anthimeria is often used in everyday conversation as a form of slang. Ex: I could use a good sleep; (The) big sleep (death); She headed the ball; When I was a child I liked milk and I used to down a glass of milk / shots of espresso without feeling a thing. Allusion: Substitution of a
descriptive word or phrase for a proper name, a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or
idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. Ex: He was no Romeo; but then again, she was no Juliet; I am no superman. Euphemismus: Euphemism is frequently used in everyday life. Let us look at some common euphemism examples. Ex: You are becoming a little thin on top (bald); Our teacher is in the family way (pregnant); He is a special child (disabled or learning/mentally challenged); Go potty (to use the toilet; used by children or when talking to children).
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Hyperbole: Use of exaggerated terms
for emphasis and not to be taken literally. Ex: Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times; I've told you a million times not to call me a liar!"
Litotes: Understatement used deliberately, especially when expressing a thought by denying its opposite.
Ex:
Safety at work is no laughing matter; Turning 50 / Writing a book of nearly 100 pages is no / (not a) small accomplishment; Young lovers are kissing and an observer says: "I think they like each other."
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Rhetorical Question:
Asking a question for a purpose other than obtaining the information
requested. See (hypophora). Ex: There's no point, is there?; Is this supposed to be some kind of a joke?; You didn't think I would say yes to that, did you?; What's the point of working, if you don't like what you do? / if you can't have a little fun! / if you don't enjoy it? Hypophora is a figure of speech
in which a writer raises a question, and then immediately provides an
answer to that question. Commonly, a question is asked in the first
paragraph, and then the paragraph is used to answer the question. Ex: What made me take this trip to Africa? There is no quick explanation. Things got worse and worse and worse and pretty soon they were too complicated.
Irony: (see sarcasm). Using language in such a way
as to convey a meaning opposite of what the terms used denote (often
by exaggeration).
Ex: Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts; Worrying works 90 percent of the things I worry about never (get to) happen.
Oxymoron: Placing two ordinarily
opposing terms adjacent to one another. A compressed paradox.
Ex: Deep down, I'm pretty superficial; I've a grand memory for forgetting; The surest way to be alone is to get married. Paradox: An apparently contradictory
statement that contains a measure of truth. Ex: You'll find yourself asking, “How am I supposed to gain experience if I'm constantly turned down for not having any?; You can't get experience without a job, and you can't get a job without experience.
Figures of Speech: Schemes
Scheme: An artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words.
-
Parallelism: Similarity of structure
in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses. Ex: To err is human; to forgive divine; The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Antithesis: Juxtaposition of contrasting
ideas (often in parallel structure).
Ex: It can't be wrong if it feels so right; There are so many things that we wish we had done yesterday, so few that we feel like doing today; I think less is more when it comes to explaining why it's wrong to use
animals for food. Animals taste good, but that's too trivial a reason
for imposing serious harm on them--suffering and death
Antanagoge: It occurs where a negative point is balanced with a positive point. It places a criticism and a compliment together to lessen the impact. It may also refer to placing a positive outlook on a situation that has a negative connotation, such as in the following examples: So, you live alone? It must be nice to be able to do what you want. Apposition: When two nouns or noun phrases are used to refer to the same person or thing; the addition of one word or group of words to another as an explanation.
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Anastrophe: See Hyperbaton. Inversion of natural
word order for (the sake of) emphasis. Anastrophe is a type of hyperbaton: the changing of the position of only a single word. Ex: Troubles, everybody's got. (Normally: Everybody's got troubles); Sure I am of this, that you have only to endure to conquer; And this will be different how?' Normally, we would place the interrogative adverb 'how' at the beginning of the sentence (as in 'How would this be different?'); To the movies, I just don't want to go, I guess; Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall (Shakespeare); Not only is there no God, but try finding a plumber on Sunday; May you ennoble your present by recapturing the joys of the past.
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Ellipsis: Omission of a word, words or short phrase implied by context, (easily understood in context). Ex: The average person thinks he isn't (average); It's the people who try to be clever who never are: the people who are clever never think of trying to be."
Asyndeton: Omission of conjunctions
between a series of clauses, often resulting in a hurried
rhythm or vehement effect.
Ex: Veni, vidi,
vici (Caesar: "I came; I saw; I conquered"). See Polysyndeton
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Antanaclasis: Repetition of
a word in two different senses.
Ex: If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm; Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light. (Othello) In this example of antanaclasis, the first "light" refers to the candle, while the second refers to Desdemona's life.
Anaphora: Repetition of the same
word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines. Ex: At the end of the day, life is about being happy being who you are; The truth is “Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself; Marriage is not about age; Marriage is about finding the right person.Do what you love. (And) do it often; I want my money right now right here, all right?; Unfortunately I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time on the wrong day.
Epanalepsis: Repetition at the end of a line, phrase, or clause of the word that occurred at the beginning of the same line, phrase, or clause.Ex:
A lie begets a lie; The king is dead, long live the king!; Common sense is not so common; In times like these, it is helpful to remember that there have always
been times like these.
Antimetabole: Repetition of
words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order. (Sometimes
mistaken as chiasmus) . Ex: When the going
gets tough, the tough get going; Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you
can do for your country; We shall never negotiate out of fear,
we shall never fear to negotiate. Chiasmus: Repetition of grammatical
structures in reverse order in successive phrases or clauses (not
to be mistaken with antimetabole). Ex: All for one,
and one for all; Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind; I meant what I said, and I said what I meant.
Rhyme: is a popular literary device in
which the repetition of the same or similar sounds occurs in two or
more words, usually at the end of lines in poems or songs. In a rhyme in English, the vowel sounds in the stressed syllables are matching, while the preceding consonant sound does not match. Ex: No pain no gain; Everybody wants happiness, nobody wants pain, but you can't have a rainbow without a little rain.
Pleonasm: is derived from a Greek word that means “excess.” It is a rhetorical device that can be defined as the use of two or more words (a phrase)
to express an idea. These words are redundant, such as in these
examples of pleonasm” “burning fire,” and “black darkness.” Sometimes,
pleonasm is called “tautology,” which is the repetition of words. Ex: All this I saw with my (own) eyes; I heard it with my own ears; I (do) care about you (to emphasize that one (does) truly care); It's lonely at the top; but you (do) eat better; He sees (that) you have arrived. See pleonastic "It". Epiphora: aka epistrophe: is a stylistic device in which a word or a phrase
is repeated at the ends of successive clauses. Ex: You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people
some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
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