Lyceum of Cebu,

Inc.
SANTANDER CAMPUS
Brgy.Looc, Santander Cebu
Tel# 492- 0345, email: [email protected]

CREATIVE WRITING (MODULE 1)

Topic: Figures of Speech

I. OVERVIEW

Good day, everyone! In this module you will learn about figures of speech and how
it can be used in writing. Figures of speech enhance the author's creation. This is
true of any genre and any form of writing. The effective use of figures of speech
brings to life what would have been mere words, phrases and sentences. They
express the author's intent and take the reader on a journey through what he or she
experienced or imagined or witnessed at a specific period or periods in time. It
brings beauty, emphasis and clarity to what could have been just a mundane and
impoverished rendition.

A. Learning Competency

Use imagery, diction, figures of speech, and specific experiences to evoke meaningful
responses from readers

B. Specific Learning Objectives Learners

will be able to:

1. define the different figures of speech given in this module;

2. differentiate the figures of speech given in this module;
3. compose a vignette using the figures of speech provided in this module

II. LET’S BEGIN

Have you heard of the song “A thousand years”? Did

you know that there are some figures of speech in this
song?
Try listening to this song.

CREATIVE WRITING Page 1

 Lyceum of Cebu,
Inc.
SANTANDER CAMPUS
Brgy.Looc, Santander Cebu
Tel# 492- 0345, email: [email protected]

LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtOvBOTyX00

The line “I love you for a thousand years, I love you for a thousand more”, is an example of
Hyperbole. How about you? What is your favorite song? Do you think that there are figures
of speech in that song? Before we can answer that, let us first learn some figures of speech.

III. LET’S DIG DEEPER

Let us learn some figures of speech and explore how they work, but before that let us first
define what figures of speech is.
or phrase that is used in a non-literal
way to create an effect. This effect may
be rhetorical as in the deliberate
arrangement of words to achieve
something poetic, or imagery as in the
use of language to suggest a visual
picture or make an idea more vivid.
Overall, figures of speech function as
literary devices because of their
expressive use of language. Words are used in other ways than their literal meanings or
typical manner of application.

1. Alliteration: The repetition of an initial consonant sound.

Example:
- Betty Botter bought some butter.
- Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers

2. Anaphora: The repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive
clauses or verses. Example:
- Unexpectedly, we were in the wrong event at the wrong time on the wrong day.
- It rained on his lousy tombstone, and it rained on the grass on his stomach. It rained all
over the place.

CREATIVE WRITING Page 2

 Lyceum of Cebu,
Inc.
SANTANDER CAMPUS
Brgy.Looc, Santander Cebu
Tel# 492- 0345, email: [email protected]

3. Antithesis: Antithesis, which literally means “opposite,” is a rhetorical device in which two
opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. Example:
- As Abraham Lincoln said, "Folks who have no vices have very few virtues." -
"Man proposes, God disposes."

4. Apostrophe: Directly stating or calling a non-existent person or an inanimate object as

though it were a living being. It commonly uses an apostrophe as a punctuation.
Example:
- "Oh, rain! Rain! Where are you? Rain, we really need you right now. Our town needs you
badly.”
- Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.

5. Assonance: It is the repetition of the vowel sounds in the structure of sentences or lines.
Example:
- We shall meet on the beach to reach the “Meach” Concert.
- Try to light the fire

6. Euphemism: The use of subtle and nonoffensive words to conceal or to replace the
offensive words in a statement. Example:
- "We're teaching our toddler how to go potty," ob said. The use of the word potty is
euphemism.
- Passed away instead of died

7. Hyperbole: An overstatement; the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis
or heightened effect.
Example:
- I have a ton of homework to do when I get home. I need to go home now.
- I've told you to clean your room a million times!

8. Irony: It is a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance

or showing the concept. The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning
is the highlight of irony. Example:
- Thalia received a very high grade in her quiz resulting that her mother got mad.
- The police station gets robbed.

CREATIVE WRITING Page 3

 Lyceum of Cebu,
Inc.
SANTANDER CAMPUS
Brgy.Looc, Santander Cebu
Tel# 492- 0345, email: [email protected]

9. Simile: A simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially dissimilar objects or

concepts are expressly compared with one another through the use of “like” or “as.”
Simile is used as a literary device to assert similarity with the help of like or as, which are
language constructs that establish equivalency.
Example:
- Sparkle like diamonds; Flat as a
pancake - Heart like a lion.

10. Metaphor: A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two
unlike things. As a literary device, metaphor creates implicit comparisons without the
express use of “like” or “as.” Example:
- His heart of stone surprised me.
- Her eyes are fire.

11. Metonymy: is a figure of speech in which one object or idea takes the place of another
with which it has a close association. In fact, metonymy means “change of name.” As a
literary device, it is a way of replacing an object or idea with something related to it
instead of stating what is actually meant.
Example:
- The use of the word vow instead of wedding, the pen stands for "the written word.
- A "head count" is when somebody determines the number of people in a particular
place—"head" stands in for people

12. Onomatopoeia: The use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or
actions they refer to.
Example:
- The clap of thunder went bang and scared my poor dog. -
Machine noises—honk, beep, vroom, clang, zap, boing.

13. Oxymoron: It is the combination of contradictory or opposing words such as cruel

kindness; Example:
- “bitter
sweet” -
Alone together.

CREATIVE WRITING Page 4

 Lyceum of Cebu,
Inc.
SANTANDER CAMPUS
Brgy.Looc, Santander Cebu
Tel# 492- 0345, email: [email protected]

14. Paradox: is a statement that appears at first to be contradictory, but upon reflection
then makes sense. This literary device is commonly used to engage a reader to discover
an underlying logic in a seemingly self-contradictory statement or phrase. As a result,
paradox allows readers to understand concepts in a different and even non-traditional
way.
Example:
- less is more; the beginning of the end; the more you give, the more you get;
etc. - If I know one thing, it's that I know nothing.

15. Personification: The utilization of inanimate objects or abstraction to associate with

human qualities or abilities. Example:
- The leaves of the Fire tree are dancing with the wind during dry season in our country.
- Lightning danced across the sky.
16. Pun: is a literary device that is also known as a “play on words.” Puns involve words with
similar or identical sounds but with different meanings. Their play on words also relies
on a word or phrase having more than one meaning. Puns are generally intended to be
humorous, but they often have a serious purpose as well in literary works. Example:
- I renamed my playlist of The Titanic, so when I plug it in, it says “The Titanic is syncing.” -
Santa Claus' helpers are known as subordinate Clauses.

16. Synecdoche: A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole.
Example:
- Mark is asking for the hand of our daughter.
- A boy has been admitted to the hospital. The nurse says, “He’s in good hands.”

16. Chiasmus: is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each
other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect. Example:
- The noble teacher said teachers should live to teach, not teach to live.
- I may be as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best.

19. Understatement: A figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally

make a situation seem less important than it really is. Example:
- You win 10 million pesos in a lottery.
- You get the highest grade in class. An understatement would be: "I did OK on that test."

CREATIVE WRITING Page 5

 Lyceum of Cebu,
Inc.
SANTANDER CAMPUS
Brgy.Looc, Santander Cebu
Tel# 492- 0345, email: [email protected]

These are just some examples of figures of speech which you can use to improve your
Creative writing skills.

IV. WE’RE ON OUR WAY (Quiz no. 2.1)

Let us try to practice what you have learned by answering this exercise.

TRUE OR FALSE
Direction: Choose TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if the statement is wrong.

1. A figure of speech is a word or phrase that is used in a non-literal.

2. Simile are expressed comparison.
3. Metaphor uses “like” and “as”.
4. Onomatopoeia is the combination of contradictory or opposing words.
5. Synecdoche is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against
each other.
6. Puns involve words with similar or identical sounds but with different meanings.
7. Metonymy a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole.
8. Personification is when you give human characteristics into an inanimate objects or
abstraction.
9. Alliteration is the repetition of an initial consonant sound.
10. Hyperbole is a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a
situation seem less important than it really is.

V. HOW FAR HAVE WE GONE? (Quiz no. 2.2)

You have already practiced what you have learned and now it is time for us to evaluate your
learning by answering this short quiz.

A – IDENTIFICATION
Direction: Give what is asked. YOUR ANSWER SHOULD BE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.

1. A literary device that is also known as a “play on words.”

CREATIVE WRITING Page 6

 Lyceum of Cebu,
Inc.
SANTANDER CAMPUS
Brgy.Looc, Santander Cebu
Tel# 492- 0345, email: [email protected]

2. A figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory.
3. A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole.
4. A rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the
reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.
5. Directly stating or calling a non-existent person or an inanimate object as though it were
a living being.

B – MULTIPLE CHOICE
Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. They fight like cats and dogs. What figure of speech is used in this sentence?
a. Metaphor
b. Simile
c. Oxymoron
2. There is a garden in her face. What figure of speech is used in this sentence?
a. Metaphor
b. Simile
c. Oxymoron
3. The White House (signifies the U.S. president or executive branch). What figure of
speech is used?
a. Metonymy
b. Chiasmus
c. Synecdoche
4. Some bunny loves you. What figure of speech is used?
a. Pun
b. Personification
c. Hyperbole
5. My grandmother is as old as the hills. What figure of speech is used?
a. Pun
b. Personification
c. Hyperbole

CREATIVE WRITING Page 7

 Lyceum of Cebu,
Inc.
SANTANDER CAMPUS
Brgy.Looc, Santander Cebu
Tel# 492- 0345, email: [email protected]

REFERENCES

1. (2020, September 23). Figure of Speech - Examples and Definition of Figure of Speech. Literary
Devices. https://literarydevices.net/figure-of-speech/
2. A. (2018, January 15). Antithesis - Examples and Definition of Antithesis. Literary Devices.
https://literarydevices.net/antithesis/
3. A. (2020a, September 16). Simile - Examples and Definition of Simile. Literary Devices.
https://literarydevices.net/simile/
4. A. (2020b, September 29). Metaphor - Examples and Definition of Metaphor. Literary Devices.
https://literarydevices.net/metaphor/
5. A. (2020c, September 27). Paradox - Examples and Definition of Paradox in Literature. Literary
Devices. https://literarydevices.net/paradox/
6. [Photo]. (n.d.). Google.
https://www.google.com/search?q=figures+of+speech&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwihwqH88PvsA
hVI15QKHcVkDoQQ2cCegQIABAA&oq=figures+of+speech&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQsQMyB
QgAELEDMgIIADICCA
AyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAA6BAgjECc6BAgAEEM6BwgAELEDEENQ0YEGWOKkBmD9
sgZoAHAAeACAAYwCiAGsE5IBBjIuMTIuM5gBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img
&ei=n5OsX-H2Dciu0wTFybmgCA&bih=657&biw=1366#imgrc=RdU5em3kJ8o3gM

CREATIVE WRITING Page 8

 Lyceum of Cebu,
Inc.
SANTANDER CAMPUS
Brgy.Looc, Santander Cebu
Tel# 492- 0345, email: [email protected]

CREATIVE WRITING 9