Figure of Speech - Language Proficiency

• Types of Figures of Speech

  • Alliteration
  • Antithesis
  • Apostrophe
  • Circumlocution
  • Epigram
  • Euphemism
  • Hyperbole
  • Irony
  • Litotes
  • Metaphor
  • Metonymy
  • Onomatopoeia
  • Oxymoron
  • Paradox
  • Personification
  • Pleonasm
  • Pun
  • Simile
  • Synecdoche
  • Understatement
• Alliteration


  Repeating of consonant sounds right next to each other, which creates a memorable or melodic effect
• Antithesis


  A literary technique that places opposite things or ideas next to one another in order to draw out their contrast
• Apostrophe


  A figure of speech where a character addresses someone or something that isn't present or cannot respond
• Circumlocution


  The use of a purposely wordy description
• Epigram


  A clever and memorable statement
• Euphemism


  A way to say something in an understated manner, often to avoid difficult topics
• Hyperbole


  A deliberate exaggeration that adds emphasis, urgency, or excitement to a statement
• Irony


  A situation that subverts a reader's expectations
• Litotes


  Use of a double negative to create a positive
• Metaphor


  The direct comparison of dissimilar things to create more vivid imagery or understanding
• Metonymy


  A word or object stands in for a closely related word or object
• Onomatopoeia


  A word that sounds like what it means
• Oxymoron


  A phrase that uses two contradictory words to create a new meaning
• Paradox


  A statement that appears to contradict itself but contains some truth, theme, or humor
• Personification


  Assigning human attributes to nonhuman things
• Pleonasm


  The use of more words than necessary to convey meaning
• Pun


  A form of wordplay that purposely substitutes words that sound similar but have different meanings
• Simile


  Compares two dissimilar things using "like" or "as"
• Synecdoche


  A smaller unit is used to signify a larger unit or vice versa
• Understatement


  The intentional downplaying of a situation
• Figures of speech in literature

  • Metaphor in "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou
  • Antithesis in Beloved by Toni Morrison
  • Personification in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson