20 Important Figures of Speech

By Pervaiz Salik

This guide is essential for anyone studying literature, especially poetry. 20 Important Figures of Speech are explained clearly and in detail. The following are the unique features of this guide:

• Clear explanations using both everyday examples and literary examples
• Systematic and logical arrangement
• Exercises to test understanding
• Detailed Answers to Exercises
• Most other Figures of Speech can be linked to these 20
• Helpful Hints on how to memorize these Figures of Speech.

• Language: English
• Publisher: pervaiz salik
• Release date: Jul 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386587316

Pervaiz Salik

I have an honours degree in Mathematics from the Open University and taught in Scotland before gaining an M.A. in English Literature. I taught English to O Level International GCSE Cambridge students for 14 years in Pakistan and was Head of Department there. My Haiku on Cultural Diversity is published in UNESCO’S Cultural Report 2000. My story of Big Samson The Big Lion (in a much shorter form) was accepted for publication by Oxford University Press, but never published for technical reasons. Currently, I have published about 12 e-books on the teaching of English, novels, short stories and poetry. My Spelling book was ranked number 1 in its category on Amazon. My interests include chess, badminton, bridge and astronomy. (Pervaiz Salik)

Book preview

Chapter 1

Figures of Speech

The first nine common figures of speech are presented and explained below.

1. A Simile is a comparison of one thing with another which it resembles in one respect using as or like to make the comparison.

Examples:

(1) Your hands are as cold as ice.

Comment:

Hands are not like ice, but here they are similar to ice because they are both cold.

(2) He fought like a lion.

Comment:

He is not a lion, nor does he look like one, but when fighting, he can be compared to a lion.

2. A Metaphor is also a comparison of two things so it is similar to a simile. However, in a metaphor, the comparison is stated directly without using like or as.

Examples:

(1) Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing

Comment:

Here people are being compared to wolves (dangerous, greedy animals) and to sheep (gentle, harmless animals)

(2) All the world's a stage. (As You Like It: Shakespeare)

Comment:

Here the world is being compared to a stage since both provide the place for actions to take place.

3. A Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which exaggeration