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Syntactical Expressive Means and Stylistic Devices

1. Problems concerning the composition of spans of utterance larger than the sentence 2. Compositional patterns of syntactical arrangement 3. Particular ways of combining parts of the utterance 4. Particular use of colloquial constructions 5. Stylistic use of structural meaning 1. Problems concerning the composition of spans of utterance larger than the sentence Syntax is the branch of language science which studies the types of relations between the words, word-combinations, sentences and also between larger spans of utterances. Here we are going to deal with the linguistic questions of syntactical level. It is first of all syntactical synonymy, i.e. the case when similar logical information is rendered with the help of different syntactical constructions with different functional, stylistic and expressive colouring and connotation. E.g. Go off! – Off you go! – You go off! Every functional style has also got its peculiar syntactical constructions, e.g. the style of official documents. According to the theory of generative grammar there are two kinds of structures — a deep structure and a surface structure. The latter are the actual sentences produced by the former, which is not presented in language units and therefore unobservable. This theory enables the interpreter to look at a sentence from the point of view of what is 'behind' the sentence. Another development in linguistics is 'text-linguistics'. This development, which as yet has not been formed as a separate theory, aims at investigating the objective criteria concerning ways and means of constructing texts of different kinds and genres. It is first of all necessary to find the elements into which any text may fall. In other words, there must be certain constituent units of which any text is composed. Phonemes, the smallest language units, function within morphemes and are dependent on them, morphemes function within words, words — within sentences, and sentences function in larger structural frames which we call "supra-phrasal units"-they are the basic constituents of a text. The term (SPU) is used to denote a larger unit than a sentence. It generally comprises a number of sentences interdependent structurally (usually by means of pronouns, connectives, tense-forms) and semantically (one definite thought is dealt with). A sentence from the stylistic point of view does not necessarily express one idea, as it is defined in most manuals of grammar. It may express only part of one idea. So a supra-phrasal unit is a combination of sentences presenting a structural and semantic unity backed up by rhythmic and melodic unity. An SPU can be embodied in a sentence if the sentence meets the requirements of this compositional unit, coincide with the paragraph, enclose several paragraphs and in a paragraph there can be several SPU. The difference between them is that an SPU is a syntactical phenomenon, while the paragraph is a graphico-compositional unit of a written text. A paragraph is a graphical term used to name a group of sentences marked off by indentation at the beginning and a break in the line at the end. But this graphical term has come to mean a distinct portion of a written discourse showing an internal unity. It is a more or less

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Stylistic Devices (Rhetorical Devices, Figures of Speech)

On the following pages, we will explain some of the most important stylistic devices (also called rhetorical devices or figures of speech) – they are not only useful for analysing texts, but also for creating your own texts.

Stylistic devices make your speeches, essays etc. more interesting and lively and help you to get and keep your reader ’ s / listener ’ s attention.

English Studies

This website is dedicated to English Literature, Literary Criticism, Literary Theory, English Language and its teaching and learning.

Stylistic Devices in Literature

In literature, stylistic devices serve as literary tools employed by authors to impart depth and nuance to their writing.

Stylistic Devices: Etymology, Device: Literal and Conceptual Meanings

Table of Contents

Etymology/Term

Stylistic devices, also known as rhetorical devices or figures of speech, are linguistic techniques used by writers to enhance the expressiveness of their language and create a more engaging and memorable experience for readers. These devices go beyond the literal meaning of words, adding layers of meaning, emphasis, or clarity to the text. Writers often deploy stylistic devices to evoke specific emotions, highlight key points, or craft a unique and artistic style. These devices contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal and effectiveness of literary and rhetorical works.

• Linguistic or rhetorical technique
• Intentional application by writers or speakers
• Enhances expressiveness, aesthetic quality, or impact
• Deviates from ordinary, straightforward language use
• Operates at the level of style
• Contributes to overall artistry and effectiveness
• Specific linguistic choices for rhetorical or artistic goals

Stylistic Devices in Literature: Definition as a Literary Device

In literature, stylistic devices serve as literary tools employed by authors to impart depth and nuance to their writing. These devices encompass a spectrum of techniques, including figures of speech, wordplay, and syntactical structures, allowing writers to convey meaning beyond the literal interpretation of words. Through the strategic use of stylistic devices, authors craft a distinctive narrative style, evoke emotions, and enrich the overall literary experience for their readers.

Stylistic Devices: Types, Categories and Examples

Stylistic Device in Literature: Shakespearean Examples

• Metaphor: “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.”
• Simile: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.”
• Personification: “The wind, piping loud, sings through the leaves.”
• Irony: In “Julius Caesar,” Mark Antony’s speech praising Brutus as an “honorable man” is ironic, given the context.
• Alliteration: “Double, double toil and trouble.”
• Pun : In “Much Ado About Nothing,” the witty banter between Beatrice and Benedick is filled with playful puns.
• Oxymoron: “Parting is such sweet sorrow” from “Romeo and Juliet.”
• Foreshadowing: The witches’ prophecies in “Macbeth” foreshadow the tragic events that unfold.
• Soliloquy : Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech is a famous example of a soliloquy.
• Imagery : “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow” from “Macbeth” creates powerful visual imagery.

Stylistic Device in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories

Stylistic Device in Literature: Relevant Terms

Stylistic Device in Literature: Suggested Readings

• Eagleton, Terry. How to Read Literature. Yale University Press, 2013.
• Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines . Harper, 2014.
• Roberts, Edgar V., and Henry E. Jacobs. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Pearson, 2016.
• Strunk, William, and E.B. White. The Elements of Style . Pearson, 2009.
• Wyrick, Jean. Steps to Writing Well with Additional Readings . Cengage Learning, 2016.

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• Onomatopoeia: A Literary Device

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Stylistic Devices

Common stylistic devices in english.

Stylictic devices (also known as rhetorical devices or figures of speech) help to craft lively and interesting texts. We use them to grab and keep the reader or listener’s attention. Click on the tabs below to find explanations and examples of the more common rhetorical devices. They are useful for analysing texts as well as for writing your own essays, speeches etc.

Alliteration

repetition of initial consonant sound

Alliteration is the repetition of the initial sound of two neighbouring words or words that are near each other in a sentence (i.e. connected by a conjunction or preposition ). Alliteration is often used for emphasis because it draws attention to a phrase.

Repetition of initial consonant sound means that only the sound has to be the same, but not the actual consonant.

If two words start with the same letter but have a different initial sound, the words are not alliterated.

Be careful not to confuse alliteration with assonance!

See: → Assonance

indirect reference to a person, event or piece of literature

Allusion is reference to a person, place or thing (e.g. historical event, idea etc.). Note that allusion works best when it is short and refers to something the reader is already familiar with, such as:

• famous people
• historic events
• (Greek) mythology

When an audience is already familiar with a person/event then context and background will be clear to them. Thus, a few words are enough to conjure an image (often an entire scene) in the reader/listener’s mind. Allusion has the following advantages:

• Lengthy explanations can be avoided.
• The reader/listener actively engages in the analogy.
• The message sticks in the reader’s mind.

Allusion to the Vietnam war; often used in connection with the Iraq war.

Allusion to the Trojan warriors in the Trojan horse form Greek mythology.

Many allusions to historic events, mythology or the bible have become well-known idiomatic sayings.

Allusion to Achilles from Greek mythology who was invincible, except for one weak spot. His heel.

Allusion to the story of the merciful Samaritan from the New Testament.

Allusion to character of Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet who romantically declares his love for Juliet.

Allusion to Andy Warhol’s famous saying in which he remarks that everybody will be famous for 15 minutes.

successive clauses or sentences that star with the same word(s)

The same word or phrase is used to begin successive clauses or sentences . Thus, the reader's/listener's attention is drawn directly to the message of the sentence.

Anaphora is often used together with parallelism.

* Source: US President Barack Obama’s second inaugural speech on 21st January 2013 in Washington, D.C., USA.

contrasting relationship between two ideas

Antithesis emphasises the contrast between two ideas. The structure of the phrases or clauses is usually similar in order to draw the audience’s attention directly to the contrast.

having more than one possible meaning

A word, statement or phrase has more than one meaning. Unintentional ambiguity is considered a flaw in writing because it is vague or confusing. However, many writers use ambiguity intentionaly in their work. It can be used to create a deeper meaning and allows the reader/listener to interpret the meaning in their own way, involving them in the text.

Did the attacker use a book to hit the man? Or did the man have a book with him when he was attacked?

It’s not clear whether people who usually drink fresh milk are now drinking powdered milk, or whether the actual people are turning into a powder.

grave (noun) – a place in the ground where someone is burried or grave (adjective) – seriously bad

repetition of vowel sounds

Assonance is the repetition of the vowel sounds of two or more neighbouring words (or words that are near each other in a sentence) but have different initial consonant sounds. Assonance is often used to add rhythm and music to poetry and prose by creating internal rhyme. It makes writing more pleasurable to read and helps to set the mood.

Repetition of the vowel sound means that only the sound has to be the same, but not the actual vowels.

If two words have the same vowel(s) but the sound is different, there is no assonance.

Be careful not to confuse assonance with alliteration !

See: → Alliteration

* Source: The Bee Meeting by Sylvia Plath

reversal of words in two parallel clauses (AB/BA)

Chiasmus, also known as reverse parallelism, is a criss-cross structure in which the words in the second part of two parallel clauses are inverted. Chiasmus usually follows an AB/BA pattern. This figure of speech can be found in many types of writing including advertising, literature, speeches and scripture. It places emphasis on the message and creates powerful, thought-provoking phrases which are easy for the reader/listener to remember.

See: → Parallelism

leaving out parts of a sentence

Ellipsis is a sentence that is not grammatically complete. The meaning of the sentence remains unchanged despite the fact that a word or words have been left out. Ellipsis is not just common in spoken language, it is often used in advertising or newspaper headlines.

Enumeration

listing details

Enumeration is the process of listing details, words or phrases step by step. It clarifies an idea for the reader/listener and helps to avoid ambiguity. Enumeration is used by writers to eloborate on an idea and convey a strong clear message.

*Source: I Have a Dream, speech given by Martin Luther King, Jr., 28 August 1963

nicely phrasing unpleasant information

A polite or indirect way of expressing unpleasant information to avoid saying something harsh or impolite. Euphemism allows a writer to write about things which may be considered socially taboo or inappropriate.

a euphemism for die

a euphemism for overweight

a euphemism for firing people

a euphemism for short

See: → Litote

deliberate exaggeration

Used sparingly, hyperbole effectively draws the attention to a message that you want to emphasise.

Be careful! Don’t overuse hyperbole , otherwise it may not have the effect you want.

Opposite: → Understatement

question raised and answered by the author/speaker

The author/speaker raises a question and also gives an answer to the question. Hypophora is used to get the audience's attention and make them curious. Often the question is raised at the beginning of a paragraph and answered in the course of that paragraph. Hypophora can also be used to introduce a new area of discussion.

See: → Rhetorical question

* Source: “I Have a Dream” Speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. on 28th August 1963 in Washington, D.C.

changing usual word order

Inversion or anastrophe changes the usual order of words in a sentence to create a particular emphasis, rhyme or rhythmic effect. Sentences can be inverted in many different ways including:

• putting an adjective after its noun Example: the ocean blue
• putting a verb before its subject Example: “Wait”, cried the man .
• putting a noun before its preposition Example: oceans between
• swapping the position of the subject and object Example: Lucy was her name .

a form of understatement

Litotes is a form of understatement which uses the negative opposite of a word to weaken or soften a message.

See: → Understatement

figurative expression

Metaphor compares two different things in a figurative sense. Unlike in a simile (A is like B.), the word “like” is not used in metaphor (A is B.).

a metaphor for being nervous

a metaphor for time moving quickly

See: → Simile, Metonymy, Allusion

figurative expression, closely associated with the subject

Metonymy replaces the subject with a figurative expression that is closely associated with it in terms of place, time or background. However, the figurative expression does not refer to a physical part of the subject (see synecdoche ).

US governement/President

A king, queen or members of a royal family.

“Pen” stands for written words and “sword” for physical violence.

See: → Metaphor, Synecdoche

Onomatopoeia

word imitating a sound

The pronunciation of the word imitates a sound. Onomatopoeia is used because it's often difficult to describe sounds. Furthermore, a story becomes more lively and interesting with the use of onomatopoeia .

use of two contradictory terms to describe one thing

An oxymoron uses two words with opposing meaning to describe something. Oxymorons are common in everyday language and they can be amusing if you take a moment to think about the actual meaning of the individual words.

Oxymoron is also found in literature and poetry. It can add drama to writing and cause the reader/listener to consider the meaning of contrasting ideas.

See: → Paradox

Parallelism

parallel sentence structure

Successive clauses or sentences that are similarly structured. This similarity makes it easier for the reader/listener to concentrate on the content of the text rather that the structure.

Note : Parallelism is a useful device for writing instructions. The parallel structure allows the reader to concentrate on the content and the will immediately know what to do (see examples below).

Without parallelism:

• First, open the book.
• Now you have to read the text.
• Look at the pictures.
• The questions have to be answered.

With parallelism:

• Open the book.
• Read the text.
• Answer the questions.

As you can see, the second set of instructions is easier to follow (and remember) than the first set. The change of structure in the first example is confusing and distracts the reader from the content. It might be okay with simple instructions, like the ones we have used here, but following more complex instructions can be really hard if they have not been written in parallel structure.

Parenthesis

additional information

The normal progression of a sentence is interrupted by extra information or explanations enclosed in commas , brackets or dashes . The extra information can be a single word, a phrase or even a sentence .

Note: Emphasis

Depending on the importance attached to it, additional information can be enclosed in brackets, commas or dashes.

Brackets – not important: Sebastian (Mandy’s brother) organised the trip.

Commas - neutral: Sebastian, Mandy’s brother, organised the trip.

Dashes - emphasised: Sebastian – Mandy’s brother – organised the trip.

Personification

attribution of human characteristics to animals, inanimate objects or abstractions

Personification or anthropomorphism is the representation of animals, inanimate objects or abstract concepts as having human characteristics (behaviour, feelings, character etc.). Personification can make a narration more interesting and lively.

repeating words or phrases

Words or phrases are repeated throughout the text to emphasise certain facts or ideas.

* Source: Rain a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Rhetorical Question

question without a direct answer

The author/speaker poses a question , but doesn't answer it directly. The answer, usually yes or no, is seen to be obvious.

Rhetorical questions are used to provoke, emphasise or argue.

See: → Hypophora

* Source: Blowin’ in the wind by Bob Dylan.

direct comparison

Two things are compared directly by using the structure A is like B or A is as … as B .

Other possibilities include:

• A is (not) like B
• A is more/less than B
• A is comparable with B
• A is almost like B
• A is similar to B
• A is …, so is B
• A does …, so does B
• A seems like B

See: → Metaphor

using a part instead of the whole or vice versa

Synechdoche is a kind of generalization or specification that refers to something by using one of its parts. There are differents ways of using synedoche. The following possibilites are common:

A part represents a whole

A whole represents a part, something specific for something general, something general for something specific, a material for a product.

See also: → Metonymy

Understatement

weaken or soften a statement

A statement is deliberately weakened to sound ironic or softened to sound more polite.

Note that understatement is a common feature of the English language in everyday situation. It is especially common in British English.

instead of saying that Tokyo is very expensive

instead of saying that you have a big wound

more polite than saying: It tasted terrible.

Opposite: → Hyperbole

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Figure of Speech

Definition of figure of speech.

you fit into me like a hook into an eye a fish hook an open eye

Types of Figures of Speech

Common examples of figures of speech used in conversation, understatement, common examples of figure of speech in writing, personification, writing figure of speech, figure of speech as artistic use of language, figure of speech as entertainment for reader, figure of speech as memorable experience for reader, examples of figure of speech in literature, example 1:  the great gatsby  (f. scott fitzgerald).

In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.

Example 2:  One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

Both described at the same time how it was always March there and always Monday, and then they understood that José Arcadio Buendía was not as crazy as the family said, but that he was the only one who had enough lucidity to sense the truth of the fact that time also stumbled and had accidents and could therefore splinter and leave an eternalized fragment in a room.

Example 3:  Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)

A book is a loaded gun in the house next door…Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man?

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• Figurative Language

Figurative Language Definition

What is figurative language? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Figurative language is language that contains or uses figures of speech . When people use the term "figurative language," however, they often do so in a slightly narrower way. In this narrower definition, figurative language refers to language that uses words in ways that deviate from their literal interpretation to achieve a more complex or powerful effect. This view of figurative language focuses on the use of figures of speech that play with the meaning of words, such as metaphor , simile , personification , and hyperbole .

Some additional key details about figurative language:

• Figurative language is common in all sorts of writing, as well as in spoken language.
• Figurative language refers to language that contains figures of speech, while figures of speech are the particular techniques. If figurative speech is like a dance routine, figures of speech are like the various moves that make up the routine.
• It's a common misconception that imagery, or vivid descriptive language, is a kind of figurative language. In fact, writers can use figurative language as one tool to help create imagery, but imagery does not have to use figurative language.

Figurative Language Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce figurative language: fig -yer-uh-tiv lang -gwij

Figures of Speech and Figurative Language

To fully understand figurative language, it's helpful to have a basic understanding of figures of speech. More specifically, it's helpful to understand the two main types of figures of speech: tropes and schemes .

• Tropes are figures of speech that play with and shift the expected and literal meaning of words.
• Schemes are figures of speech that involve a change from the typical mechanics of a sentence, such as the order, pattern, or arrangement of words.

Put even more simply: tropes play with the meaning of words, while schemes play with the structure of words, phrases, and sentences.

The Different Things People Mean When They Say Figurative Language

When people say figurative language, they don't always mean the precise same thing. Here are the three different ways people usually talk about figurative language:

• Dictionary definition of figurative language: According to the dictionary, figurative language is simply any language that contains or uses figures of speech. This definition would mean that figurative language includes the use of both tropes and schemes.
• Much more common real world use of figurative language: However, when people (including teachers) refer to figurative language, they usually mean language that plays with the literal meaning of words. This definition sees figurative language as language that primarily involves the use of tropes.
• Another common real world use of figurative language: Some people define figurative language as including figures of speech that play with meaning as well as a few other common schemes that affect the rhythm and sound of text, such as alliteration and assonance .

What does all that boil down to for you? If you hear someone talking about figurative language, you can usually safely assume they are referring to language that uses figures of speech to play with the meaning of words and, perhaps, with the way that language sounds or feels.

Common Types of Figurative Language

There are many, many types of figures of speech that can be involved in figurative language. Some of the most common are:

• Metaphor : A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another thing, even though this isn't literally true. For example, the phrase "her lips are a blooming rose" obviously doesn't literally mean what it says—it's a metaphor that makes a comparison between the red beauty and promise of a blooming rose with that of the lips of the woman being described.
• Simile : A simile, like a metaphor, makes a comparison between two unrelated things. However, instead of stating that one thing is another thing (as in metaphor), a simile states that one thing is like another thing. An example of a simile would be to say "they fought like cats and dogs."
• Oxymoron : An oxymoron pairs contradictory words in order to express new or complex meanings. In the phrase "parting is such sweet sorrow" from Romeo and Juliet , "sweet sorrow" is an oxymoron that captures the complex and simultaneous feelings of pain and pleasure associated with passionate love.
• Hyperbole : Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration of the truth, used to emphasize the importance of something or to create a comic effect. An example of a hyperbole is to say that a backpack "weighs a ton." No backpack literally weighs a ton, but to say "my backpack weighs ten pounds" doesn't effectively communicate how burdensome a heavy backpack feels.
• Personification : In personification, non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent to their plans." Describing the rain as "indifferent" is an example of personification, because rain can't be "indifferent," nor can it feel any other human emotion.
• Idiom : An idiom is a phrase that, through general usage within a particular group or society, has gained a meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words. The phrase "it's raining cats and dogs" is known to most Americans to mean that it's raining hard, but an English-speaking foreigner in the United States might find the phrase totally confusing.
• Onomatopoeia : Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which words evoke the actual sound of the thing they refer to or describe. The “boom” of a firework exploding, the “tick tock” of a clock, and the “ding dong” of a doorbell are all examples of onomatopoeia.
• Synecdoche : In synecdoche, a part of something is used to refer to its whole . For example, "The captain commands one hundred sails" is a synecdoche that uses "sails" to refer to ships—ships being the thing of which a sail is a part.
• Metonymy : Metonymy is a figure of speech in which an object or concept is referred to not by its own name, but instead by the name of something closely associated with it. For example, in "Wall Street prefers lower taxes," the New York City street that was the original home of the New York Stock Exchange stands in for (or is a "metonym" for) the entire American financial industry.
• Alliteration : In alliteration, the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the “ b ” sound in: “ B ob b rought the b ox of b ricks to the b asement.” Alliteration uses repetition to create a musical effect that helps phrases to stand out from the language around them.
• Assonance : The repetition of vowel sounds repeat in nearby words, such as the " ee " sound: "the squ ea ky wh ee l gets the gr ea se." Like alliteration, assonance uses repeated sounds to create a musical effect in which words echo one another.

Figurative Language vs. Imagery

Many people (and websites) argue that imagery is a type of figurative language. That is actually incorrect. Imagery refers to a writers use of vivid and descriptive language to appeal to the reader's senses and more deeply evoke places, things, emotions, and more. The following sentence uses imagery to give the reader a sense of how what is being described looks, feels, smells, and sounds:

The night was dark and humid, the scent of rotting vegetation hung in the air, and only the sound of mosquitoes broke the quiet of the swamp.

This sentence uses no figurative language. Every word means exactly what it says, and the sentence is still an example of the use of imagery. That said, imagery can use figurative language, often to powerful effect:

The night was dark and humid, heavy with a scent of rotting vegetation like a great-aunt's heavy and inescapable perfume, and only the whining buzz of mosquitoes broke the silence of the swamp.

In this sentence, the description has been made more powerful through the use of a simile ("like a great-aunt's..."), onomatopoeia ("whining buzz," which not only describes but actually sounds like the noise made by mosquitoes), and even a bit of alliteration in the " s ilence of the s wamp."

To sum up: imagery is not a form of figurative language. But a writer can enhance his or her effort to write imagery through the use of figurative language.

Figurative Language Examples

Figurative language is more interesting, lively, beautiful, and memorable than language that's purely literal. Figurative language is found in all sorts of writing, from poetry to prose to speeches to song lyrics, and is also a common part of spoken speech. The examples below show a variety of different types of figures of speech. You can see many more examples of each type at their own specific LitChart entries.

Figurative Language Example: Metaphor

Metaphor in shakespeare's romeo and juliet.

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet , Romeo uses the following metaphor in Act 2 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet , after sneaking into Juliet's garden and catching a glimpse of her on her balcony:

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Romeo compares Juliet to the sun not only to describe how radiantly beautiful she is, but also to convey the full extent of her power over him. He's so taken with Juliet that her appearances and disappearances affect him like those of the sun. His life "revolves" around Juliet like the earth orbits the sun.

Figurative Language Example: Simile

In this example of a simile from Slaughterhouse-Five , Billy Pilgrim emerges from an underground slaughterhouse where he has been held prisoner by the Germans during the deadly World War II firebombing of Dresden:

It wasn't safe to come out of the shelter until noon the next day. When the Americans and their guards did come out, the sky was black with smoke. The sun was an angry little pinhead. Dresden was like the moon now , nothing but minerals. The stones were hot. Everybody else in the neighborhood was dead.

Vonnegut uses simile to compare the bombed city of Dresden to the moon in order to capture the totality of the devastation—the city is so lifeless that it is like the barren moon.

Figurative Language Example: Oxymoron

These lines from Chapter 7 of Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls describe an encounter between Robert Jordan, a young American soldier fighting in the Spanish Civil War, and his lover María.

She held herself tight to him and her lips looked for his and then found them and were against them and he felt her, fresh, new and smooth and young and lovely with the warm, scalding coolness and unbelievable to be there in the robe that was as familiar as his clothes, or his shoes, or his duty and then she said, frightenedly, “And now let us do quickly what it is we do so that the other is all gone.”

The couple's relationship becomes a bright spot for both of them in the midst of war, but ultimately also a source of pain and confusion for Jordan, as he struggles to balance his obligation to fight with his desire to live happily by Maria's side. The contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation.

Figurative Language Example: Hyperbole

Elizabeth Bennet, the most free-spirited character in Pride and Prejudice , refuses Mr. Darcy's first marriage proposal with a string of hyperbole :

From the very beginning, from the first moment I may almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form that ground-work of disapprobation, on which succeeding events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.

Elizabeth's closing statement, that Darcy is the "last man in the world" whom she would ever marry, is an obvious hyperbole. It's hard to believe that Elizabeth would rather marry, say, an axe murderer or a diseased pirate than Mr. Darcy. Even beyond the obvious exaggeration, Austen's use of hyperbole in this exchange hints at the fact that Elizabeth's feelings for Darcy are more complicated than she admits, even to herself. Austen drops various hints throughout the beginning of the novel that Elizabeth feels something beyond mere dislike for Darcy. Taken together with these hints, Elizabeth's hyperbolic statements seem designed to convince not only Darcy, but also herself, that their relationship has no future.

Figurative Language Example: Personification

In Chapter 1 of The Scarlet Letter , Nathaniel Hawthorne describes a wild rose bush that grows in front of Salem's gloomy wooden jail:

But, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him.

In the context of the novel's setting in 17th century Boston, this rose bush, which grows wild in front of an establishment dedicated to enforcing harsh puritan values, symbolizes those elements of human nature that cannot be repressed, no matter how strict a community's moral code may be: desire, fertility, and a love of beauty. By personifying the rosebush as "offering" its blossoms to reflect Nature's pity (Nature is also personified here as having a "heart"), Hawthorne turns the passive coincidence of the rosebush's location into an image of human nature actively resisting its constraints.

Figurative Language Example: Idiom

Figurative language example: onomatopoeia.

In Act 3, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's The Tempest , Caliban uses onomatopoeia to convey the noises of the island.

Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, Sounds, and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices...

The use of onomatopoeia makes the audience feel the sounds on the island, rather than just have to take Caliban's word about there being noises.

Figurative Language Example: Synecdoche

In Act 4, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Macbeth , an angry Macbeth kicks out a servant by saying:

Take thy face hence.

Here, "thy face" stands in for "you." Macbeth is simply telling the servant to leave, but his use of synecdoche makes the tone of his command more harsh and insulting because he uses synecdoche to treat the servant not as a person but as an object, a body part.

Figurative Language Example: Metonymy

In his song "Juicy," Notorious B.I.G. raps:

Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight

Here he's using "limelight" as a metonymy for fame (a "limelight" was a kind of spotlight used in old theaters, and so it came to be associated with the fame of being in the spotlight). Biggie's use of metonymy here also sets him up for a sweet rhyme.

Figurative Language Example: Alliteration

In his song "Rap God," Eminem shows his incredible lyrical dexterity by loading up the alliteration :

S o I wanna make sure, s omewhere in this chicken s cratch I S cribble and doodle enough rhymes T o maybe t ry t o help get s ome people through t ough t imes But I gotta k eep a few punchlines Just in c ase, ‘ c ause even you un s igned Rappers are hungry l ooking at me l ike it's l unchtime…

Why Do Writers Use Figurative Language?

The term figurative language refers to a whole host of different figures of speech, so it's difficult to provide a single definitive answer to why writers use figurative language. That said, writers use figurative language for a wide variety of reasons:

• Interest and beauty: Figurative language allows writes to express descriptions, ideas, and more in ways that are unique and beautiful.
• Complexity and power: Because figurative language can create meanings that go beyond the literal, it can capture complex ideas, feelings, descriptions, or truths that cause readers to see things in a new way, or more closely mirror the complex reality of the world.
• Visceral affect: Because figurative language can both impact the rhythm and sound of language, and also connect the abstract (say, love) with the concrete (say, a rose), it can help language make an almost physical impact on a reader.
• Humor: By allowing a writer to layer additional meanings over literal meanings, or even to imply intended meanings that are the opposite of the literal meaning, figurative language gives writers all sorts of options for creating humor in their writing.
• Realism: People speak and even think in terms of the sorts of comparisons that underlie so much figurative language. Rather than being flowery, figurative language allows writers to describe things in ways that match how people really think about them, and to create characters who themselves feel real.

In general, figurative language often makes writing feel at once more accessible and powerful, more colorful, surprising, and deep.

Other Helpful Figurative Language Resources

• The dictionary definition of figurative : Touches on figurative language, as well as some other meanings of the word.
• Figurative and Frost : Examples of figurative language in the context of the poetry of Robert Frost.
• Figurative YouTube : A video identifying various forms of figurative language from movies and television shows.
• Wikipedia on literal and figurative language : A bit technical, but with a good list of examples.

• Alliteration
• Figure of Speech
• Onomatopoeia
• Personification
• Climax (Plot)
• Falling Action
• Flat Character
• Rhyme Scheme
• Epanalepsis
• Polysyndeton
• Antanaclasis
• Rising Action
• Foreshadowing
• Protagonist

• Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

What is a rhetorical device and why are they used.

As with all fields of serious and complicated human endeavor (that can be considered variously as an art, a science, a profession, or a hobby), there is a technical vocabulary associated with writing. Rhetoric is the name for the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion, and though a writer doesn’t need to know the specific labels for certain writing techniques in order to use them effectively, it is sometimes helpful to have a handy taxonomy for the ways in which words and ideas are arranged. This can help to discuss and isolate ideas that might otherwise become abstract and confusing. As with the word rhetoric itself, many of these rhetorical devices come from Greek.

Ready, set, rhetoric.

The repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables

wild and woolly, threatening throngs

Syntactical inconsistency or incoherence within a sentence especially : a shift in an unfinished sentence from one syntactic construction to another

you really should have—well, what do you expect?

Repetition of a prominent and usually the last word in one phrase or clause at the beginning of the next

rely on his honor—honor such as his?

A literary technique that involves interruption of the chronological sequence of events by interjection of events or scenes of earlier occurrence : flashback

Repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground

The repetition of a word within a phrase or sentence in which the second occurrence utilizes a different and sometimes contrary meaning from the first

we must all hang together or most assuredly we shall all hang separately

The usually ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings

this giant of 3 feet 4 inches

The use of a proper name to designate a member of a class (such as a Solomon for a wise ruler) OR the use of an epithet or title in place of a proper name (such as the Bard for Shakespeare)

The raising of an issue by claiming not to mention it

we won't discuss his past crimes

An expression of real or pretended doubt or uncertainty especially for rhetorical effect

to be, or not to be: that is the question

Harshness in the sound of words or phrases

An inverted relationship between the syntactic elements of parallel phrases

working hard, or hardly working?

A disjunctive conclusion inferred from a single premise

gravitation may act without contact; therefore, either some force may act without contact or gravitation is not a force

The substitution of a disagreeable, offensive, or disparaging expression for an agreeable or inoffensive one

greasy spoon is a dysphemism for the word diner

Repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

of the people, by the people, for the people

Emphatic repetition [ this definition is taken from the 1934 edition of Webster's Unabridged dictionary ]

An interchange of two elements in a phrase or sentence from a more logical to a less logical relationship

you are lost to joy for joy is lost to you

A transposition or inversion of idiomatic word order

judge me by my size, do you?

Extravagant exaggeration

mile-high ice-cream cones

The putting or answering of an objection or argument against the speaker's contention [ this definition is taken from the 1934 edition of Webster's Unabridged dictionary ]

Understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary

not a bad singer

The presentation of a thing with underemphasis especially in order to achieve a greater effect : UNDERSTATEMENT

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them ( Metaphor vs. Simile )

drowning in money

A figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated

crown as used in lands belonging to the crown

The naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it

A combination of contradictory or incongruous words

cruel kindness

The use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense : REDUNDANCY

I saw it with my own eyes

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by "like" or "as"

cheeks like roses

The use of a word in the same grammatical relation to two adjacent words in the context with one literal and the other metaphorical in sense

she blew my nose and then she blew my mind

A figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole (such as fifty sail for fifty ships ), the whole for a part (such as society for high society ), the species for the genus (such as cutthroat for assassin ), the genus for the species (such as a creature for a man ), or the name of the material for the thing made (such as boards for stage )

The use of a word to modify or govern two or more words usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one

opened the door and her heart to the homeless boy

MORE TO EXPLORE: Rhetorical Devices Used in Pop Songs

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