5 Figure of Speech Sample; Alliteration, Onomatopoeia

Unlock the power of language with our guide on Figure of Speech Sample of alliteration and onomatopoeia, and learn how these literary devices can enhance your writing. Discover the art of crafting compelling sentences that captivate and engage your audience.

Figure of Speech Sample Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of neighboring or closely connected words within a phrase, sentence, or verse. Alliteration is the repetition of sounds, not just letters. Alliterative words don’t have to be right next to each other. Other words can appear between them.

Functions of Alliteration:

(i) Alliteration creates memorable and musical effects in writing.

(ii) Alliteration can evoke vivid imagery and set the tone or atmosphere of a piece of writing.

(iii) Alliteration can provide cohesion within a sentence.

Example,

The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,

The furrow followed free;

We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea. [“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” Coleridge]

There are several types of alliteration here. The “f” sound is used in fair, foam, flew, furrow, followed, free, and first. The “b,” sound is used in breeze and blew. The “w,” in we and were. Lastly, the “s,” in the silent sea.

Figure of Speech Sample Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a type of figurative language. Onomatopoeia means using words that imitate or name a sound. The word actually looks like the sound (noise) it makes. The word itself becomes a sort of sound effect. Onomatopoeic words are used to create vivid imagery and engage the reader’s senses by mimicking natural sounds.

Functions of Onomatopoeia:

(i) Onomatopoeia adds rhythm to the action.

(ii) Onomatopoeia creates vivid, sound imagery.

(iii) Onomatopoeia makes descriptions more powerful and gives a sense of reality when readers can hear sounds.

Figure of Speech Sample or Example,

“The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a sound!” [“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” Coleridge]

In these lines, Coleridge employs onomatopoeic words such as “cracked,” “growled,” “roared,” and “howled” to mimic the sounds of the ice as it moves and shifts in the surrounding environment. These words not only create a sense of auditory realism but also contribute to the ominous tone of the poem, heightening the reader’s sense of foreboding and suspense.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a type of figurative language. Onomatopoeia means using words that imitate or name a sound. The word actually looks like the sound (noise) it makes. The word itself becomes a sort of sound effect. Onomatopoeic words are used to create vivid imagery and engage the reader’s senses by mimicking natural sounds.

Functions of Onomatopoeia:

(i) Onomatopoeia adds rhythm to the action.

(ii) Onomatopoeia creates vivid, sound imagery.

(iii) Onomatopoeia makes descriptions more powerful and gives a sense of reality when readers can hear sounds.

Figure of Speech Sample or Example,

“The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a sound!” [“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” Coleridge]

In these lines, Coleridge employs onomatopoeic words such as “cracked,” “growled,” “roared,” and “howled” to mimic the sounds of the ice as it moves and shifts in the surrounding environment. These words not only create a sense of auditory realism but also contribute to the ominous tone of the poem, heightening the reader’s sense of foreboding and suspense.

A figure of Speech Sample Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a Greek word signifying excess. This is a figure by which things are represented as much greater or less, better or worse than they really are. There is a tendency in the human mind not to remain satisfied with things in their real condition but to describe them as having much more much less of their respective qualities than they actually possess. When we admire a thing highly, we like to paint it in too glowing colors. When, on the other hand, we condemn things strongly, we usually speak of it in too violent terms of disparagement. A hyperbole is thus only another name for an exaggerated statement.

Functions of Hyperbole:

(i) We use hyperbole to emphasize an amusing effect.

(ii) By using hyperbole, a writer or a poet makes common human feelings remarkable and intense to such an extent that they do not remain ordinary.

(iii) The usage of hyperbole develops contrasts.

(iv) Hyperbole is employed to catch the reader’s attention.

Figure of Speech Sample or Example

“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood

Clean from my hand? No. This my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red.“[Macbeth, Shakespeare]

This is an example of hyperbole. Macbeth, the tragic hero, feels the unbearable prick of his conscience after killing King Duncan. He regrets his sin and believes that even the oceans of the greatest magnitude cannot wash the blood of the king off his hands. We can notice the effective use of hyperbole to make common human feelings remarkable and intense to such an extent that they do not remain ordinary.

Figure of Speech Sample Oxymoron

An oxymoron in literature is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms or ideas. It typically consists of two words placed next to each other that seem to contradict each other, yet when used together, they create a unique like “open secret,” “bittersweet,” “living dead,” and “deafening silence.” and often a thought-provoking effect. Examples of oxymorons include phrases These combinations of words are used to add depth, irony, or humor to literary works, creating memorable and thought-provoking expressions. Oxymoron serves several functions in literature:

(i) Oxymoron emphasizes the conflicting nature of a situation, concept, or character.

(ii) It evokes powerful mental images by combining contrasting elements.

(iii) It can add layers of meaning to a text, contributing to its depth and complexity.

(iv) It makes language more memorable and impactful.

Overall, oxymorons are versatile literary devices that can enrich the meaning and impact of a literary work in various ways.

Figure of Speech Sample Paradox

Paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or absurd yet is true. It is a statement that seems absurd at first hearing. Martin says, “A paradox is an apparent contradiction. At first reading it may seem absurd or impossible, but an examination it is found to express in a memorable way a truth.” It is used to attract attention and provide emphasis.

Functions of Paradox:

(i) The chief purpose of a paradox is to give pleasure.

(ii) Paradox provokes thought and challenges conventional wisdom or beliefs. (iii) It stimulates intellectual curiosity and creativity.

(iv) It explores the nature of truth, reality, and perception,

Figure of Speech Sample or Example

“I must be cruel to be kind.“[Hamlet, Shakespeare]

This is an example of a paradox. This statement apparently seems absurd. How can a person treat others kindly when he is cruel? Hamlet wants to kill Claudius to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet thinks that this murder will be cruel to Claudius and good for his father. The function of this paradox is to sum up the totality of the work.

Figure of Speech Sample Allusion

An allusion is an unexplained reference to a well-known person, place, event, thing, or a part of another text. Allusions are based on the shared knowledge between the author and the reader. Allusion allows authors to enrich their works with deeper meanings, connections, and layers of interpretation.

Allusions can serve various purposes in literature:

(i) Allusion enriches the meaning of the text.

(ii) It establishes connections between the text and other significant events. (iii) It reinforces the theme of the text.

Example,

Huxley’s title “Brave New World” alludes to a line from William Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest.” In “The Tempest,” the character Miranda exclaims, “O brave new world, that has such people isn’t!”

Huxley’s use of this allusion suggests both the promise and peril of the future society he depicts. Thus, allusions serve as powerful tools for writers to enrich their works, establish connections with other texts or cultural phenomena, and deepen the layers of meaning within their narratives.

Figure of Speech Sample Conceit

Conceit originally means a concept or image. Conceit is an elaborate figure of speech comparing two highly dissimilar things. The comparison may be startling, far-fetched, fanciful, or highly intellectual. A conceit may be a brief metaphor, but it usually forms the framework of an entire poem. In English, there are two basic kinds of conceits:

1. The Petrarchan conceit is a type of figure used in love poems that had been novel and effective in the hands of the Italian poet, Petrarch. Herein the subject of the poem is compared to some object, a rose, a ship, a garden, etc.

2. The Metaphysical conceit of the 17th century, characteristic of Donne and other Metaphysical poets of the 17th century, is a comparison often complex, startling, highly intellectual, and dissimilar. In “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning”, for example, Donne compares the union of the two lover’s souls to a drafting compass.

Functions of Conceit:

(i) As a conceit makes unusual and unlikely comparisons between two vastly different things, it allows readers to look at things in a new way. (ii) Conceits surprise and shock the readers by making farfetched comparisons. Hence, conceit is used as a tool in literature to develop interest in readers.

Figure of Speech Sample Rhyme Scheme

A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem or song. It is typically represented using letters to denote the pattern. For example, in a poem with an AABB rhyme scheme, the first two lines rhyme with each other, and the next two lines rhyme with each other as well.

Rhyme schemes are often used to give structure to poetry and can vary widely depending on the poet’s reference or the form of the poem being used. They help create rhythm, enhance musicality, and unify the piece.

Common rhyme schemes include AABB, ABAB, ABBA, AAA, and many others, each providing a different feel and flow to the poem. For example, in a poem with an AABB rhyme scheme, the first two lines rhyme with the next two lines rhyme with each other.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, (A) How I wonder what you are! (A) Up above the world so high, (B) Like a diamond in the sky. (B)

In this nursery rhyme, “star” and “are” rhyme with each other (A), and “high” and “sky” rhyme with each other (B), forming the AABB rhyme scheme.

In conclusion, the exploration of figures of speech sample reveals their significant impact on language and communication. Figures of speech, such as metaphors, similes, personification, and hyperbole, enrich our expressions and enable us to convey complex ideas and emotions in a more vivid and imaginative manner. They enhance the aesthetic quality of language, making it more engaging and memorable. Understanding and utilizing these linguistic tools not only improves our ability to communicate effectively but also deepens our appreciation for literature and everyday language. Ultimately, the study of figures of speech underscores the power and versatility of language in shaping human thought and interaction.