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Answer Key: Figure of Speech

The document defines and provides examples of various figures of speech including synecdoche, euphemism, anaphora, irony, alliteration, hyperbole, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification, oxymoron, understatement, assonance, and simile. Synecdoche uses a part to represent the whole or vice versa. Euphemism substitutes an indirect or vague term for one that is harsh or offensive. Anaphora repeats words or phrases at the beginning of clauses.

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Suhail Alam Khan
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1K views3 pages

Answer Key: Figure of Speech

The document defines and provides examples of various figures of speech including synecdoche, euphemism, anaphora, irony, alliteration, hyperbole, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification, oxymoron, understatement, assonance, and simile. Synecdoche uses a part to represent the whole or vice versa. Euphemism substitutes an indirect or vague term for one that is harsh or offensive. Anaphora repeats words or phrases at the beginning of clauses.

Uploaded by

Suhail Alam Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ANSWER KEY

Figure of Speech
Synecdoche
Synecdoche /sɪˈnɛkdəki/ occurs when a part is represented by the whole or,
conversely, the whole is represented by the part.
 Plastic - credit cards
 Coke - any cola drink
 Hired hands - workers

Euphemism
Euphemism is a mild, indirect, or vague term that often substitutes a harsh, blunt, or
offensive term.

 'Letting you go' instead of 'firing you.'


 'Passed away' instead of 'died.'
 'Economical with the truth' instead of 'liar.'

Anaphora
Anaphora is a technique where several phrases or verses begin with the same word or
words.

 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it
was the age of foolishness. - A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
 With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right.
- Abraham Lincoln
 We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end... we shall never surrender.
- Winston Churchill

Irony
Irony occurs when there's a marked contrast between what is said and what is meant,
or between appearance and reality.

 The Titanic was said to be unsinkable but sank on its first voyage. (Situational
irony)
 Naming a tiny Chihuahua Brutus. (Verbal irony)
 When the audience knows the killer is hiding in a closet in a scary movie, but the
actors do not. (Dramatic irony)

Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of the beginning sounds of neighboring words.

 Blue baby bonnets bobbed through the bayou.


 Nick needed new notebooks.
 Fred fried frogs' legs on Friday.

Hyperbole
Hyperbole uses exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

 I could do this forever.


 She's older than dirt.
 Everybody knows that.

Metaphor
A metaphor makes a comparison between two unlike things or ideas.

 The world is a stage


 She's a night owl
 He's an ogre

Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is the term for a word that sounds like what it is describing.

 Buzz
 Click
 Oink

Personification
Personification gives human qualities to non-living things or ideas.
 The thunder grumbled.
 The fog crept in.
 The wind howled.

Oxymoron
An oxymoron is two contradictory terms used together.
 Jumbo shrimp
 Sweet sorrow
 Free market

Understatement
An understatement occurs when something is said to make something appear less
important or less serious.

 The weather is cooler today - referring to sub-zero temperatures.

 It was interesting - referring to a bad or difficult experience.

 It stings a bit - referring to a serious wound or injury.

Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds (not just letters) in words that are close
together. The sounds don't have to be at the beginning of the word.

 I - From what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire. (Frost)
 O - Oh hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn. (Wordsworth)
 U - Uncertain rustling of each purple curtain (Poe)

Simile
A simile is a comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or "as."
 As blind as a bat
 Eats like a pig
 As wise as an owl
 As fast as an arrow

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