1.

Simile
A comparison between two different things using "like" or "as."

 Her smile is as bright as the sun.

 He runs like a cheetah.
 His voice is as smooth as silk.
 The water was as clear as crystal.
 Her heart is as cold as ice.
 She is as busy as a bee.
 The sky was as dark as coal.

2. Metaphor

A direct comparison between two things without using "like" or "as."

 Time is a thief.
 Her voice is music to my ears.
 The world is a stage.
 The classroom was a zoo.
 He is a lion in battle.
 My brother is a walking encyclopedia.
 The city is a jungle.

3. Personification

Attributing human qualities to non-human things.

 The wind whispered through the trees.

 The moon smiled down on us.
 The sun stretched its arms across the sky.
 The flowers danced in the breeze.
 The clock ticked impatiently.
 The car roared to life.
 The stars winked at me.

4. Alliteration

Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words.

 Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

 She sells seashells by the seashore.
 The snake slithered silently through the grass.
 Fred’s fresh fries are fantastic.
 The big black bug bit the bold boy.
 A big brown bear barreled through the bushes.
 The wind whispered wistfully through the willows.

5. Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate sounds.

  The clock tick-tocked.
 The dog barked loudly.
 The leaves rustled in the wind.
 The water splashed in the river.
 The phone buzzed on the table.
 The door creaked open.
 The fire crackled in the hearth.

6. Hyperbole

Exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.

 I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

 I’ve told you a million times.
 Her suitcase weighs a ton.
 The book was so long it took forever to finish.
 I’ve been waiting for ages.
 It’s raining cats and dogs.
 He runs faster than a speeding bullet.

7. Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality. Irony is a literary device or situation in which there is a
discrepancy between appearance and reality, or between what is expected and what actually occurs. It often
involves a contrast between words and their intended meaning, or between actions and their results.

 A fire station burns down.

 The plumber’s pipes are leaking.
 A dentist with crooked teeth.
 A traffic cop gets a speeding ticket.
 The marriage counselor gets divorced.
 The lifeguard can’t swim.
 The comedian was the one who needed cheering up.

8. Oxymoron

A combination of contradictory or opposite words.

 Bittersweet
 Deafening silence
 Jumbo shrimp
 Living dead
 Act naturally
 Virtual reality
 Open secret

9. Antithesis

Contrasting ideas presented in parallel structure.

 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

 Give me liberty or give me death.
  Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing.
 Speech is silver, but silence is golden.
 To be or not to be, that is the question.
 Many are called, but few are chosen.
 It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.

10. Allusion

A reference to another text, event, or figure.

 He was a real Romeo with the ladies.

 She was as wise as Athena.
 The decision was a true David vs. Goliath battle.
 He had a Midas touch with investments.
 The speech was full of references to Shakespeare.
 Her beauty was like Helen of Troy’s.
 The story is reminiscent of the Trojan Horse.

11. Euphemism

A mild or indirect word or expression used to replace one that is too harsh or blunt.

 He passed away (instead of died).

 She’s in a better place (instead of dead).
 He’s between jobs (instead of unemployed).
 Let’s put it to rest (instead of stop talking about it).
 He’s a little challenged (instead of disabled).
 She’s a senior citizen (instead of old).
 He’s a big guy (instead of fat).

12. Pun

A play on words, often for humorous effect.

 Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

 I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough.
 The bicycle couldn’t stand up by itself because it was two-tired.
 I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.
 The duck said to the bartender, “Put it on my bill.”
 I don’t trust stairs because they’re always up to something.
 I wanted to be a historian, but I couldn’t make the past my future.

13. Synecdoche

A figure of speech where a part represents the whole, or vice versa.

 All hands on deck.

 The White House issued a statement.
 Lend me your ears (meaning your attention).
 The crown will find an heir (the king or queen).
 The workers built a new factory, brick by brick.
 He has a good head on his shoulders (referring to his intellect).
  The team needs to get their heads in the game.

14. Metonymy

A figure of speech in which one thing is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it.

 The pen is mightier than the sword (pen refers to writing, sword to military force).
 The suits on Wall Street are making a lot of money.
 The crown will find a successor.
 Hollywood is known for making blockbuster movies.
 The press has a responsibility to inform the public.
 The city was buzzing with excitement (refers to people in the city).
 We’ll need a few more hands to finish this project (refers to workers).

15. Climax

A figure of speech where ideas are arranged in increasing order of importance.

 He came, he saw, he conquered.

 From small beginnings come great things.
 I want to be the best, the greatest, the legend.
 She moved from good to better to best.
 It’s a little late, but not too late.
 First you hear it, then you see it, finally you believe it.
 The journey is long, the road is hard, but the end is worth it.

16. Anaphora

Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

 I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up.
 We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end.
 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
 Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
 I will not give up. I will not back down.
 We are the champions, my friend, and we’ll keep on fighting till the end.
 It was a time to celebrate, it was a time to remember, it was a time to reflect.

17. Chiasmus

A reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases.

 Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.

 Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
 It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
 We live to love and we love to live.
 Do what you love, and love what you do.
 Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.
 I am stuck on Band-Aid, and Band-Aid’s stuck on me.

18. Appositive
A noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it.

 My brother, the doctor, will help us.

 The author, a famous writer, gave a speech.
 The city of New York, the Big Apple, is bustling.
 The book, an epic saga, was well received.
 Sam, my best friend, is coming to the party.
 Mr. James, our teacher, is very kind.
 Mount Everest, the tallest mountain, attracts many climbers.

19. Paradox

A statement that appears contradictory but reveals a truth.

 Less is more.
 This statement is false.
 I know one thing; that I know nothing.
 The only constant is change.
 Freedom is slavery.
 The only way to overcome fear is to face it.
 I am nobody.

20. Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence.

 I came, I saw, I conquered.

 He was a great fighter, a true hero, a champion.
 She wants to go to the beach, to the park, to the mall.
 The rain came down hard, the winds blew strong, the trees fell.
 He was tired, hungry, defeated.
 I bought the bread, the milk, the cheese.
 It was a long day—work, meetings, errands.

21. Polysyndeton

The use of several conjunctions in close succession.

 I bought eggs and milk and bread and cheese.

 We laughed and cried and danced and sang.
 The sky was dark and cloudy and full of thunderstorms.
 He wanted to go to the party and to the concert and to the park.
 She studied hard and prepared well and worked tirelessly.
 We went to the store and to the library and to the movie theater.
 I need to buy a pencil and a notebook and a ruler.

22. Zeugma

A figure of speech where a word applies to two others in different senses.

 He stole my heart and my wallet.

 She opened the door and her heart to him.
  The professor lost his temper and his students.
 He lost his keys and his mind.
 The singer broke the glass and the audience’s hearts.
 She covered her face with a scarf and her sins with a smile.
 She ran out of money and patience.

23. Litotes

A form of understatement that uses double negatives or negation.

 He’s not bad at singing.

 She’s no fool.
 That wasn’t the worst movie I’ve seen.
 He’s not unattractive.
 It’s not impossible.
 That was not an easy task.
 She’s not exactly a genius.

24. Ellipsis

The omission of a word or series of words.

 I went to the store; she, to the park.

 She was happy... so happy she cried.
 I have a dream... a dream of peace.
 He looked at the sky... and wondered.
 Some people love cooking... others hate it.
 He smiled... it was enough.
 They went to the market... then to the cinema.

25. Apostrophe

A figure of speech where a speaker addresses someone who is not present or an inanimate object.

 O Death, where is thy sting?

 Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.
 O, how I wish I could turn back time.
 O ocean, sing me your lullaby.
 My car, please start!
 O fate, why do you torment me so?
 Good night, moon.

26. Anacoluthon

A sudden break in the grammatical structure of a sentence.

 I was going to tell you... but never mind.

 He was thinking about the project and then... he lost interest.
 She wanted to go for a walk, but then the rain...
 I can’t believe I lost my phone... now I have to go back.
 We will solve this issue, or... I don't know what we’ll do.
 He tried to explain it, but I just... couldn’t understand.
  We were going to the beach, and then... we got distracted.

27. Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds, often at the end of words.

 The black sack slid back.

 He struck the rock.
 She sang softly and slowly.
 The ship’s lip was the only one left.
 The lumpy bump made me jump.
 The horse’s hooves tapped on the hard ground.
 The rain fell gently on the ground.

o Definition: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds, particularly at the end or middle of
words. Unlike assonance, it deals with consonant sounds instead of vowel sounds.
o Example: "The lumpy, bumpy road." (The "m" and "p" sounds are repeated.)
o Function: Consonance is often used to create a sense of harmony, emphasis, or rhythm in writing. It
can provide a sharper or more staccato effect compared to assonance.

Key Differences:

 Sound Type:
o Assonance repeats vowel sounds (e.g., "ea," "oo").
o Consonance repeats consonant sounds (e.g., "s," "t," "r").
 Position in Words:
o Assonance is most noticeable in the internal vowels of words (e.g., "shApes," "wAves").
o Consonance tends to occur at the end or middle of words, but can also appear at the beginning (e.g.,
"baTTle," "piTTer").
 Effect:
o Assonance creates a softer, more melodic sound.
o Consonance typically produces a more rhythmic, sometimes harsher sound.

In summary, while both assonance and consonance rely on sound repetition, assonance focuses on vowel
sounds, and consonance focuses on consonant sounds. Both devices enhance the musicality and emotional
impact of language.

28. Antanaclasis

A form of pun where the same word is used, but with different meanings.

 Your argument is sound, but you’re sound asleep.

 We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.
 Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
 It’s a long road ahead, and a long road back.
 He’s a good man, but not good enough for me.
 I have a date tonight, and it’s a date I won’t forget.
 The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.

29. Prolepsis
Anticipation of an argument or objection.

 You might say I am too ambitious, but let me explain.

 You may think he’s too young for this, but he has already proven himself.
 Before you ask, no, I don’t have time for that.
 Some might say that it’s too early to celebrate, but I disagree.
 You’ll say I’m crazy, but hear me out.
 Before you judge, understand the facts.
 People say money doesn’t buy happiness, but I disagree.

30. Tautology

Redundancy in expression, using different words that mean the same thing.

 A free gift.
 It’s a fact that is known.
 She’s just a teenager, a young girl.
 The future plans ahead.
 We all know that he’s the winner, the champion.
 This is a new innovation, a breakthrough idea.
 The best of the best.

These 30 figures of speech with examples cover a wide range of literary techniques used for expression and
persuasion in language.

31 .Assonance

Assonance and consonance are both literary devices that involve the repetition of sounds, but they differ in
the types of sounds that are repeated.

o Definition: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words. It often affects
the internal sounds of words, but can also appear at the beginning or end.
o Example: "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain." (The long "a" sound is repeated.)
o Function: Assonance can create a musical quality in poetry or prose, help set the tone, or
emphasize a particular emotion or theme. It tends to evoke a smoother, more melodious sound.