21st CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD

LESSON: Stylistic Literary Devices (FIGURES OF SPEECH)

Figurative languages, figures of speech and literary devices are almost the same. These are forms of expression used to
convey meaning. Why do literary devices or figurative language or figures of speech are important? Writers use literary devices in
expressing ideas to enhance the writing skill use literary devices. Literary devices highlight important concepts in a text,
strengthen the narrative, and help readers connect to the characters and themes. These devices serve a wider range of purposes in
literature. Below is a list of more literary devices and their meanings, most of which you’ll often come across in both prose and
poetry.
A figure of speech is a word or phrase using figurative language—language that has other meaning than its normal
definition. In other words, figures of speeches rely on implied or suggested meaning, rather than a dictionary definition.

FIGURES OF SPEECH/LITERARY DEVICES

1. SIMILE – A simile compares one thing to another by using the words like or as.
simile in which object, idea, character, or action is compared to another thing using the words “as” or “like”.
Example: She is as vicious as a lion”
He is as brave as a lion
Her expression was as cold as ice

2. METAPHOR A metaphor compares one to another by saying one thing is another. It is used in comparing two different
objects without using as or like.
Example: Juliet is the sun of my life.
He is the star of our class.

3.PERSONIFICATION A personification involves giving a non-human, inanimate object the qualities of a person.
– is when a nonhuman figure or other abstract concept or element is described as having human-like qualities or
characteristics.
Example: The wind moaned, beckoning me to come outside.
The candle is crying.

5.HYPERBOLE A hyperbole is an exaggeration of the truth in order to create an effect. A hyperbole is a figure of speech that
consists of an exaggeration. It is the usage of exaggerated terms in order to emphasise or heighten the effect of something.
Example: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
I have told you a million times to not touch my stuff!
She has got a pea-sized brain

6.UNDERSTATEMENT- Understatement is the exact opposite of a hyperbole. The writer deliberately chooses to downplay the
significance or seriousness of a situation or an event.
Example: You get the highest grade in the class. A modest understatement would be: "I did OK on that test."

7. IRONY – is when a statement is used to express an opposite meaning that the one literally expressed by it.
Irony is when a word or phrase’s literal meaning is the opposite of its figurative meaning. Many times (but not always),
irony is expressed with sarcasm (see Related Terms).
Example: maybe you eat a really bad cookie, and then say “Wow, that was the best cookie I ever had”—of course, what
you really mean is that it’s the worst cookie you ever had, but being ironic actually emphasizes just how bad it
was!

8. ALLUSION – is when an author makes an indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea originating from outside the text.
Example: “Stop acting so smart- it’s not like you’re Einstein or something”

9. EUPHEMISM – is when a more mild or indirect word or expression is used in place of another word or phrase that is
considered harsh, blunt, vulgar, or unpleasant.
Euphemism is the usage of a mild word in substitution of something that is more explicit or harsh when
referring to something unfavourable or unpleasant. Some examples of the usage of this figure of speech include:

Example: I’m so sorry, but he didn’t make it” is a more polite and less blunt way of saying that someone has died.
This mall has good facilities for differently-abled people
He passed away in his sleep

10. OXYMORON
An oxymoron is when you use two words together that have contradictory meanings.
is a combination of two words that, together, express a contradictory meaning.
Example: Deafening silence, organized chaos, cruelly kind
 small crowd, definitely possible, old news, little giant, and so on.

11. EPIGRAPH –is when an author inserts a famous quotation, poem, song, or other short passage or text at the beginning of a
large text.

12. ALLITERATION – is a series of words or phrase that all start with the same sound. Alliteration is a type of figure of speech
in which a sentence consists of a series of words that have the same consonant sound at the beginning.
Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
She sells sea shells on the sea shore
A good cook could cook as much cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies

13. ASSONANCE- is a literary device in which vowel sounds are repeated within phrases or sentences that are close to each other
in the text.
Example: "The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain."

14. APOSTROPHE-It addresses the subject that is not present in the work. In this case, the object is absent or inanimate. Here
are some of the examples of apostrophes.
Example: Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are
Welcome, O life!
15. ONOMATOPOEIA- This a figure of speech which is used to express a sound. To be more precise, it involves the use of
words that imitate the sounds associated with the action or object referred to i.e. hiss, clap etc. Some examples of onomatopoeia
include:

Example: The buzzing bee flew over my head

ACTIVITY 1
DIRECTIONS: Identify the best figure of speech used in each item. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. “I am as hungry as a bear!”
2. “Time runs so fast!”
3. “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
4. “The sun greeted me with a warm smile.”
5. “She is so ugly that every man wants to win her heart.”
6. “The raindrops danced on the table top.”
7. “Joe is so smart. He is a walking dictionary of the class.”
8. “I have watched that movie a million times.”
9. “Becky's beagle barked and bayed, becoming bothersome for Billy.”
10. “That was a bittersweet goodbye.”
11. “Rain rain go away. Come again another day.”
12. “Sitting on the throne” instead of saying toilet.
13. "I must confess that in my quest I felt depressed and restless."
14. Everybody adores you but you said “Kalma, Ako lang ‘to”
15. Her hair is as soft as cotton.

ACTIVITY 2
DIRECTIONS: Write an example for each figure of speech.

1. SIMILE

2. METAPHOR

3. PERSONIFICATION

4. HYPERBOLE

5. IRONY
6. ALLUSION

7. EUPHEMISM

8. OXYMORON

9. ALLITERATION

10. ASSONANCE

11. APOSTROPHE

12. ONOMATOPOEIA