discussions on figures of speech - SS1 Literature Lesson Note
Paradox: is a statement that seems contradictory or absurd on the surface, but that actually contains a deeper truth. For example, the statement "the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence" is a paradox. It seems to say that if there is no evidence of something, then that thing must not exist. However, the deeper truth is that the absence of evidence does not necessarily mean that something does not exist. It could simply mean that we have not found the evidence yet.
Irony is a figure of speech in which the intended meaning of a statement is the opposite of its literal meaning. For example, if someone says "it's so quiet you could hear a pin drop," they are not literally saying that you could hear a pin drop. They are using irony to express the fact that the room is very quiet.
Euphemism: is a mild or indirect way of saying something that might be considered offensive or unpleasant. For example, instead of saying "he died," you might say "he passed away." Euphemisms are often used to avoid causing offense or to make something seem less serious than it actually is.
Hyperbole: is an exaggeration for effect. For example, if someone says "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," they are not literally saying that they could eat an entire horse. They are using hyperbole to express the fact that they are very hungry.
Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole. For example, the word "sails" can be used to refer to a ship. This is because the sails are a prominent part of a ship, and they are often used to identify it.
Metonymy: is a figure of speech in which one thing is used to stand for another thing that is closely associated with it. For example, the word "crown" can be used to refer to a king or queen. This is because the crown is a symbol of royal power.
Litotes is a figure of speech in which something is stated by denying its opposite. For example, instead of saying "she is beautiful," you might say "she is not ugly." Litotes is often used to express something in a more humble or understated way.
Malapropism: is a humorous misuse of a word. For example, if someone says "I could care less" when they mean "I couldn't care less," they are making a malapropism. Malapropisms are often unintentional, but they can also be used for comic effect.
Pun is a play on words. For example, the pun "I saw a man wearing a plaid shirt. I thought he was a pane in the glass" is funny because it plays on the two meanings of the word "pane." The first meaning is "a piece of glass." The second meaning is "to cause pain."a