Literary Devices and figure of Speech with examples

Hello, Dear readers,

Today, I will be discussing all the important literary devices and figure of speech which are usually asked in board examination and another competitive exam.

After reading this page, I ensure you will get a complete idea to identify the figure of speeches and literary devices used in the poem or prose of your textbook easily. You will be able to write the specification and theme of the lessons or poems too. this page will help you to find the secret to attain outstanding marks in the board examination.

The difference between ‘Figure of Speech and Literary Device’

Figures of Speech

A figure of speech is a word or phrase or expression having different meanings than its literal meanings. It conveys meaning by identifying or comparing one thing to another, which has connotation or meaning familiar to the audience or the readers. So it is helpful in creating a vivid rhetorical effect.

Hyperbole: I’ll love you, dear, I’ll love you

Till China and Africa meet

“As I Walked Out One Evening” by W.H. Auden)

Literary Devices

In general, the term Literary Devices refers to the common structures used by writers in their works to convey his or her message(s) in a simple manner to the audience or readers.  When it is employed properly, the different literary devices help readers to appreciate, interpret and analyze a literary work critically.

“Doctors all over the world recommend this type of treatment”

Ethos (literary Device)

Types of Literary Device

Literary Elements

It has an inherent existence in a literary piece and are extensively employed by writers to develop a literary piece such as plot, setting, narrative structure, characters, mood, theme, moral etc. Writers simply cannot create his desired work without including Literary Elements in a thoroughly professional manner.

Literary Techniques

Literary Techniques, on the contrary, are structures usually a word s or phrases in literary texts that writers employ to achieve not merely artistic ends but also readers’ a greater understanding and appreciation of their literary works. Such as metaphor, simile, alliteration, hyperbole, allegory etc. In contrast to Literary Elements, Literary Techniques are not unavoidable aspect of literary works.

Note: In another word, we can say that literary techniques are similar to the literary elements.

Some Important Figure of Speech

Metaphor

A Metaphor is that figure of speech which creates an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated, but which share some common characteristics.

In other words, a resemblance of two contradictory or different objects is formed supported by one or some common characteristics.

In simple English, once you describe an individual, place, thing, or an action as being something else, e.g” my brothers is black sheep”, you’re speaking metaphorically.

The subsequent phrase is an example of metaphor, “My brother is that the black sheep of the family,” because he’s neither a sheep neither is he black. However, we will use this comparison to explain an association of a black sheep thereupon person.

A black sheep is an unusual animal, which usually stays far away from the herd, and therefore the person being described shares similar characteristics.

Example of Metaphor in Common Speech

• My brother was boiling mad. (This implies he was too angry.)
• The assignment was a breeze. (This implies that the assignment was not difficult.)
• It is going to be clear skies from now on. (This implies that clear skies are not a threat and life is going to be without hardships)
• The skies of his future began to darken. (Darkness is a threat; therefore, this implies that the coming times are going to be hard for him.)
• Her voice is music to his ears. (This implies that her voice makes him feel happy)
• He saw the soul of dust when passing through the dust storm.
• Chaos is the breeding ground of order.
• War is the mother of all battles.
• Her dance is a great poem.
• A new road to freedom passes through this valley of death.
• My conscience is my barometer.
• His white face shows his concern.
• His kisses are like roses.
• He married her to have a trophy wife.
• Laughter is the best medicine.
• Words are daggers when spoken in anger.
• His words are pearls of wisdom.

Some Example from Literature

• I see a lily on you brow.

Simile

A simile is a kind of figure of speech that shows a comparison, creates similarities between two various things. Unlike a metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with the assistance of the words “like” or “as.” Therefore, it’s a direct t comparison.

Example of Simile in Common Speech

• Our soldiers are as brave as lions.
• Her cheeks are red like a rose.
• He is as funny as a monkey.
• The water well was as dry as a bone.
• He is as cunning as a fox.
• The glow of the tube-light was as bright as the sunshine.
• In winter, when it rained, he climbed into bed and felt as snug as a bug in a rug.
• At exam time, the high school student was as busy as a bee.
• The beggar on the road looked as blind as a bat.
• When the examination finished, the candidate felt as light as a feather.
• When the teacher entered the class, the 6th-grade students were fighting like cats and dogs.
• The diplomat said the friendship of the two countries was as deep as an ocean.
• The desert traveller’s hopes were dashed, as when at last he reached a well, it was as dry as a bone.

Example from Literature

• It dropeth as gentle the rain from heaven
• Or from star-like eyes doth seek

Personification

Personification is defined as a figure of speech in which a thing – an idea or an animal – is given human attributes. The non-living things are expressed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like human beings.

For example, when we say, “The flower smiles in the garden,” we are giving the flower the ability to smile, which is a human quality. Thus, we can say that the flower has been personified in the given sentence. 

Example of Personification in Common Speech

• His car suffered a severe stroke in the middle of the road, and refused to move forward.
• The ship danced over the undulating waves of the ocean.
• When he sat the test, the words and the ideas fled from his mind.
• When he came out of the house of his deceased friend, everything looked to him to be weeping.
• The flowers were blooming, and the bees kissed them every now and then.
• The flood raged over the entire village.
• The tread of time is so ruthless that it tramples even the kings under its feet.
• It was early morning – I met a cat yawning and stretching in the street.
• The skyscraper was so tall that it seemed to kiss the sky.

Some Example from Literature

• Truth sits upon the lips of dying man

Apostrophe

In literature, an apostrophe is considered as a figure of speech sometimes represented by an exclamation, like “Oh!, O! etc. !”

A writer or speaker, using an apostrophe, speaks on to someone who isn’t present or is dead or speaks to an inanimate object.

The apostrophe in literature is an appointment of words addressing a non-existent person or an abstract idea in such a way as if it were present and capable of understanding feelings.

Example of Personification in Common Speech

• Talking to stars, clouds, and winds are an apostrophe
• Talking to the portrait of a dead person
• Taking to the dead man lying in the graveyard
• Talking to the pets in such a way as you talk to the people

Example from Literature

• O world! O life ! O time! , on whose last steps, I climb

Hyperbole

Hyperbole, derived from a Greek word sense “over-casting,” may be a figure of speech that involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis.

It is a tool that we employ in our day-to-day speech. for example, once you meet a lover after an extended time, you say, “It’s been ages since I last saw you.”

you’ll not have met him for 3 or four hours, or a day, but the utilization of the word “ages” exaggerates this statement to feature emphasis to your wait. Therefore, hyperbole is an unreal exaggeration to stress an important situation.

Some Examples from Common Speech

• A ton of worry was lifted from the beggar’s back when he received the alms.
• He saw a man as tall as a power pole.
• He saw his childhood friend after ages.
• The weather was so hot that literally everything was on fire.
• The boy was dying to get a new school bag.
• He was in such a hurry that he drove his car at a bazillion miles per hour.
• The minister told the guests that the couple’s friendship was deeper than the sea and sweeter than honey.
• My grandmother is as old as the hills.
• Your suitcase weighs a ton!
• She is as heavy as an elephant!
• I am dying of shame.
• I am trying to solve a million issues these days.

Example from Literature

• River of blood flood in the battle

Oxymoron

Oxymoron may be a figure of speech during which two opposite ideas are joined to make an impact. The common oxymoron phrase might be a combination of an adjective proceeded by a noun with contrasting meanings, like “cruel kindness,” or “living death”.

However, the contrasting words/phrases aren’t always glued together. The contrasting ideas could also be spaced call at a sentence, such as, “In order to steer, you want to walk behind.”

Some Examples from Common Speech

• Open secret
• Regularly irregular
• Tragic comedy
• Seriously funny
• Blowing Ice
• Imperfectly perfect
• Awfully pretty
• Foolish wisdom
• Original copies
• Liquid gas

Example from Literature

• He has nothing but hath all

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is defined as ‘A word which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. It creates an effect that mimics the thing described, making the outline more expressive and interesting.

For instance, saying, “The gushing stream flows within the forest” may be a more meaningful description than simply saying, “The stream flows within the forest.” The reader is drawn to listen to the sound of a “gushing stream,” which makes the expression simpler.

Some Examples from Common Speech

• Meow
• Moo
• Neigh
• Tweet
• Oink
• Baa
• Tik Tik
• knock knock 
• The buzzing bee flew away.
• The sack fell into the river with a splash.
• The books fell on the table with a loud thump.
• He looked at the roaring
• The rustling leaves kept me awake