Stylistic devices

• Lexical meanings

  • 1. Dictionary meaning
  • 2. Contextual meaning
• Stylistic device


  When we perceive two meanings of a word simultaneously, the two meanings interact
• Metaphor


  • A figure of speech that implicitly compares two unrelated things
  • The term 'metaphor' means transference of some quality from one object to another
• Metaphor


  • Time is a thief
  • "Dear Nature is the kindest Mother still" (Byron)
• Metonymy


  • A figure of speech in which one word is substituted for another word that it is closely associated or related with
  • Comes from the Greek word "metōnymia" , which translates to "change of name"
• Traditional metonymy


  • crown - king/queen
  • cup/glass - the drink it contains
• Contextual metonymy


  • "Miss Tox's hand trembled as she slipped it through Mr. Dombey's arm, and felt herself escorted up the steps, preceded by a cocked hat and a Babylonian collar." (Dickens)
  • "Then they came in. Two of them, a man with long fair moustaches and a silent dark man... Definitely, the moustache and I had nothing in common." (Doris Lessing, "Retreat to Innocence")
• Synecdoche


  • When the word for a part of something is used to refer to the whole thing, or less commonly, the word for a whole is used to refer to a part
• Synecdoche


  • Jack got some new wheels!
  • Can you give me a hand?
  • The whole town came out to celebrate
• Irony


  • The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect
• Irony


  • "Thank you, officer; now that you have my license, I can't drive."
  • Cedric is a really good singer, he sings like a cow.
  • The name of India's biggest dog is "Tiny".
• Paradox


  • A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth
  • Used for emphasis or stylistic effect
• Paradox

  • "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" - George Orwell's Animal Farm
• Satire


  • A literary or artistic genre that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to criticize and expose the shortcomings, vices, or absurdities of individuals, institutions, or society
• Satire


  • The Simpsons - An animated TV show known for its satirical take on American culture, politics, and society
• Interjection


  Linguistic expressions used to convey strong emotions or feelings, serving as conventional symbols within language to denote various sentiments such as joy, surprise, sorrow, or disbelief
• Primary Interjections


  Words devoid of logical meaning, used to express strong emotions or reactions
• Primary Interjections


  • Oh! Ah! Bah! Pooh! Gosh! Hush!
• Derivative Interjections


  Words that once had logical meanings but now primarily convey strong emotions or reactions
• Derivative Interjections


  • Good gracious! Dear me! God knows! Come on! Look here! Bless me! Humbug!
• Adjectives, Nouns, and Adverbs as Interjections


  Words typically used to describe or modify nouns, but in certain contexts, they are used independently to express emotions or reactions
• Adjectives, Nouns, and Adverbs as Interjections

  • terrible! awful! great! wonderful! splendid! fine! man! Boy!
• Epithet


  • A stylistic device that subtly conveys the writer's subjective attitude towards an object or phenomenon by using emotive and logical meanings in attributive words, phrases, or sentences
  • Epithets create a strong impact on the reader, influencing their perception of the described objects or scenes
  • They establish an emotional connection between the writer and the reader, guiding the reader's interpretation of the text
• Associated Epithets


  • Dark forest, Dreary midnight, Careful attention
• Unassociated Epithets


  • Heart-burning smile, Bootless cries, Sullen earth
• Language Epithets


  • Slavish knees, Sleepless bay
• Speech Epithets


  • Slavish knees, Sleepless bay
• Fixed Epithets


  • True love, Dark forest, Sweet Sir
• Simple Epithets


  • Green meadows, White snow
• Compound Epithets


  • Heart-burning sigh, Sylph-like figures
• Phrase Epithets


  • Do-it-yourself attitude, A well-that's-the-story-what-are-we-going-to-do-about-it air
• Reversed Epithets


  • Shadow of a smile, Devil of a job
• Oxymoron


  • A combination of two words (mostly an adjective and a noun or an adverb with an adjective) in which the meanings of the two clash, being opposite in sense
  • Used in a literary sense to add a more complex feel to the text and cause the reader to think in a more profound way
• Oxymoron


  • Open secret, Pretty ugly, Deafening silence
• Simile


  • To use a simile is to characterize one object by bringing it into contact with another object belonging to an entirely different class of things
  • Similes have formal elements in their structure, connective words such as like, as, such as, as if, seem
• Simile


  • Her laughter was like music
  • He ran as fast as a cheetah
  • The flowers bloomed such as a rainbow
  • She danced as if she were floating on air
  • The situation seemed as daunting as climbing a mountain
• Periphrasis


  • The use of a longer phrasing in place of a possible shorter and plainer form of expression
  • Also called circumlocution
• Periphrasis


  • "After only a short time of marriage, he wasn't prepared to offer advice to other youngsters intending to tie the knot... But, he said, he's looking forward to having a family."
• Euphemism


  • A word or phrase used to replace an unpleasant word or expression by a conventionally more acceptable one
  • Sometimes figuratively called "a whitewashing device"
• Euphemism


  • "In private I should merely call him a liar."

  "In the Press you should use the words: 'Reckless disregard for truth' and in Parliament —that you regret he 'should have been so misinformed.'"