25 Figures of speech in poetry | class 12 and 11 | Explanation with examples

 class 12 and 11 | Figures of speech 

Hello scholars. Welcome to HSC Exam Guide. The use of the figure of speech is very common in poetry, but it is also used in other kinds of speech and writing too. We can say that the figure of speech is an ornament that adds beauty to poetry. Below is the list of 25 figures of speech explained with examples. The figure of speech is a word or phrase which is used to denote different meanings than from its literal meaning or surface. 

Simile: 

Simile is the most commonly used figure of speech. In a line or phase comparison is made between two different objects by some common threads, it is known as Simile. The comparison is marked with the use of words like 'as' and 'like'.

For example:

 ‘Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green,’

----- ‘Indian weavers’

Explanation-

The bright garment is directly compared with the plumes of a peacock.

Metaphor: 

Metaphor is another figure of speech. Like Simile, it compares two different objects but without using the words 'like' and 'as'. Thus Metaphor is implicated or suggested comparison of different objects, by sharing a common quality. 

For example:

 'Time is money' 

Explanation- 

The value of time is indirectly compared with the value of money. 

Allegory: 

Allegory is like symbolism. In allegory one kind of thing stands for something else. It is a narrative strategy, used to denote second or hidden meaning 

For example: 

The poem - ‘Indian Weavers’

Explanation - 

In Indian Weavers poem the time of weavers weaving stands for the stage of human life. So, Indian weavers is an allegorical poem. 

Symbol:

Symbol is a word or phrase which signifies an object and has a range of reference beyond itself. Symbols are used to express the theme of the content. 

For example- 

•  ‘Like the plumes of a peacock, purple and green,’

----- ‘Indian weavers’

• Explanation - 

In this line ‘peacock’  is used to express the pride of 'youth'.

• ‘White as feather and white as cloud,’

----- ‘Indian weavers’

• Explanation - 

In these both the examples, colours are used as symbols. 'White' denotes Peace. 'Green' represents growth and so on.  

(Note: From these examples you notice that it is possible to have more than one figure of speech in a single line.)

Other topics:

Grammar: types of tense; past, present, future

Class 12; History of Novel; Types of Novel

Imagery: 

Imagery is a notable poetic device or figure of speech that creates a picture or image before readers' eyes by using words.

For example: 

‘I lay on the grass, at ease,

 Looking up through leaves at the blue sky.’

------’Cherry Tree’

Explanation - 

The above lines create an image in the mind of readers. 

Antithesis:

(Anti = opposite, thesis = ideas) Antithesis means opposite ideas used in two different clauses of sentences to express the thought. 

For example: 

• 'United we stand, divided we fall.'

• Explanation - 

Here, ‘united’ and ‘divided’ both are opposite words used in a single line. 

• "If you have the will to live and courage to die" 

   ------ 'The person I am looking for' 

• Explanation - 

In this line ‘live’ and ‘die’ these opposite words are used in a single line. 

Oxymoron- 

The figure of speech Oxymoron also consists of two opposite ideas in a phrase or poetic line but the words are placed side by side. 

For example: 

• Young and old,

• Small and big, 

• up and down. 

Epigram - 

In this figure of speech, ideas are expressed cleverly or amusingly. It is a shocking statement or phrase that draws our attention and underlines deeper meaning.

For example:

• ‘Our enemy is our helper.’

• Explanation - 

The enemy can't be our helper directly. But in a deeper sense, they help us for the betterment.

• "I can resist everything except temptation"

• Explanation - 

If one can't resist the temptation, he or she can't resist anything.

Other topics: 

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Paradox-

In the figure of speech paradox, contradictory expressions are used to express meaning. As it contains the opposite idea, the line or phrase seems absurd. It may or may not be true. Thus the paradox is a self-contradictory statement.

For example:

• Child is father of the man.

(Song of the Beach Boys)

• Explanation - 

The sentence seems absurd as how can a child  be a father of a man.

• ‘I carry my delicious old burdens’

• Explanation -  

The burden can not be delicious for any one. It seems absurd. 

Climax-

In the figure of speech climax, words, ideas or sentiments are arranged in an ascending order of importance. In simple words, the meaning rises from less important to more important one. It builds excitement and anticipation among the readers.

For example: 

‘He smiled, laughed and roared.’

Explanation-

Laughing is the next level of smile while roar is the next level of laughing. 

Anticlimax- 

Anticlimax, this figure of speech includes falling action. Unlike the climax, in anticlimax ideas, words and sentiments are stated in descending order, from most important to least one. It is used to achieve a comic or satirical effect.

For example:

‘In the second world war he lost his wife, his father and his pen.’

Explanation-

Losing his wife and father this serious note ends at a comic tone of losing his pen.

 

Alliteration- 

Alliteration, this figure of speech includes the repetition of an initial letter or the initial sound of the words, which gives a rhythmic effect.

For example-

• ‘Weavers weaving at fall of night.’

----- ‘Indian weavers’

• Explanation - 

 In the above line the sound of ‘W’ is repeated. 

• My father told the tenants to leave

 --------- ‘The falling of the banyan tree’

• Explanation - 

In this line the sound ‘t’ is repeated.

Repetition-

Likewise alliteration, the figure of speech ‘repetition’ too consists of repetition. But instead of letters, the whole world is repeated in repetition.

For example:

• ‘Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good- fortune.’

----- ‘Song of the open Road’’

• Explanation - 

In this line the word ‘good-fortune’ is repeated. 

• ‘And rest in nature not the god of nature’

-------- ‘The Pulley’

• Explanation - 

The word ‘nature’ is repeated. 

Refrain- 

Refrain the figure of speech in which the complete sentence is repeated, mostly at the end of every stanzas.

For example:

In the poem 'the person I am looking for' the line - 

"You are the person I am looking for"

Explanation- 

This line is repeated at the end of every stanzas.

Onomatopoeia-

This figure of speech includes the words that reflect the sound. 

For example:

The rustling of leaves, threaten me.

 

Other words - Sizzle, tick-tock, thud, such words are used.

Inversion-

Inversion means jumbling the order of words in a sentence. It is a figure of speech in which the grammatical sequence of the sentence is changed or not followed correctly.

For example:

‘While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use.’

Explanation- 

The order of the second line is jumbled up. Grammatically The correct sentence should be- 

 'While dealing with a stranger, you use common courtesy.'

Other Topics :

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Pun-

Pun, this figure of speech simply means playing with words. In it, the same word has two different senses in the same context. It is generally used to create humorous effects cleverly.

For example:

‘The road to success is always under construction.’

Irony-

In the figure of speech irony, the real meaning is just the opposite of what is said literally.

For example:

If someone is bragging in front of us, we simply say,

‘You are very clever.’

But our intention of saying 'clever' is different.

Personification-

Personification, in this figure of speech human qualities, is applied to the non-human or non-living things. Thus here, non-human things are considered human beings.

For example:

• The leaves are dancing.

• Explanation - 

The human quality of dancing is applied to the leaves (non-human).

• ‘I found a tree had come to stay’

------’Cherry Tree’

• Explanation - 

Here, the tree is treated as a human being who comes to stay. 

Hyperbole-

This figure of speech is the exaggeration of the content or statement. Things are stated as much more than it really is.

For example:

‘Thousands of  candles light in her eyes.’

Interrogation-

It is the figure of speech in which the form of the question is used to gather the information.

For example:

‘Why are you weaving so gay?’

Explanation- 

The poetess asked the question to the weavers to collect information.

Rhetorical Question

Rhetorical question, this figure of speech also contains the question but the answer is not expected in it. It is merely used to create the effect.

For example:

Is it the sword? Ask the red dust of empires passed away;'

Explanation-

The answer is not required here. In fact, the answer is mentioned ahead. 

Tautology

In the figure of speech ‘tautology’, more than one word or phrase is used which are similar or near to the meaning in a sense.

For example:

‘Weavers weaving solemn and still.’

Explanation-

‘Solemn’ and ‘still’ both the words have nearly the same meaning; 'calm'.

Transferred Epithet- 

An epithet means the world (mostly adjective) or phrase that describes the most important quality of a person, place, or object. When this epithet that belongs to one particular thing is transferred to another one is called a transferred epithet. 

For example:

'in their dreamless sleep' -- old women

Explanation-

The epithet 'dreamless' is transferred from the old ladies to their sleep.

Other Topics :

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Metonymy-

The figure of speech metonymy is a replacement of a word with another one that is closely linked to the replaced word. It simply means the 'change in a name'.

For example: 

•       'Gray hairs' should be respected. 

• Explanation-

 Here 'gray hair' this word is replaced to aged person 

• ‘Silver screen’

• Explanation-

silver is used to represent black and white screens. 

Synecdoche- 

In this figure of speech, a term for a part of something refers to the whole of something. The connection between these two terms is inseparable. 

For example: 

• ‘More hands should be employed.

• Explanation-

Here, hands refer to men. 

• you have to earn your own bread and butter

• Explanation-

Here, 'bread and butter' refers to one's subsistence.  

Some other examples of figures of speech 

‘Pied Piper of Hamelin’

Figure of speech - Alliteration

Explanation - The sound of ‘p’ is repeated. 

‘street cries’

Figure of speech - Personification 

Explanation - the human quality of crying is applied to the street.

‘The beat into my ears like Gong’

Figure of speech - simile

Explanation - The song is directly compared with the sound of the gong (noisy sound).

the golden lightning

Figure of speech - metaphor

Explanation - the lighting is compared with gold. 

a black bug bit a big black hair

Figure of speech - Alliteration

Explanation - The sound of ‘b’ is repeated.

the calm lake was a mirror to the tall trees 

Figure of speech - metaphor

Explanation - The calm lake is implicitly compared with the mirror. 

cats cooking carrots

Figure of speech - Alliteration

Explanation - The sound of ‘c’ is repeated.

Other Topics: 

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Class 12 Indian weavers brainstorming