Simile A figure of speech in which two fundamentally unlike things are explicitly compared, usually in a phrase introduced by like

or as. Examples

as busy as a bee comparing someones level of energy to a fast-flying bee "as snug as a bug in a rug" comparing someone who is very cozy to how comfortable a bug can be in a rug Metaphor a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another (Ex.: the curtain of night, all the world's a stage)." Examples The light of my life - The person described by this metaphor isn't really providing physical light. He or she is just someone who brings happiness or joy. It's raining men - Men do not literally pour from the sky; there are simply an abundance of male suitors around at the time. Personification A trope or figure of speech (generally considered a type ofmetaphor) in which an inanimate object or abstraction is given human qualities or abilities. The term in classical rhetoric for personification is prosopopoeia. Examples
The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky. The run down house appeared depressed.

Hyperbole A hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used to make a point. It is like the opposite of understatement. It is from a Greek word meaning excess. Hyperboles can be found in literature and oral communication. They would not be used in nonfiction works, like medical journals or research papers; but, they are perfect for fictional works, especially to add color to a character or humor to the story. Hyperboles are comparisons, like similes and metaphors, but are extravagant and even ridiculous. Examples I am so hungry I could eat a horse. I have a million things to do. Irony Irony pervades contemporary language. From its use in sarcasm, comedy and just everyday conversation, irony has long transcended from only being a literary device. Examples Example: Gambling. If you are playing blackjack chances are you will be up (making money) for awhile, and then just when you thought things were going good, you lose it all.

Example: The Titanic was promoted as being 100% unsinkable; but, in 1912 the ship sank on its maiden voyage. Oxymoron As with many other literary and rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes. Sometimes they are used to create some sort of drama for the reader or listener, and sometimes they are used to make the person stop and think, whether it's to laugh or to ponder. Examples "I can resist anything, except temptation." - Oscar Wilde "I like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief." - Charles Lamb Paradox A figure of speech in which a statement appears to contradict itself. Examples You can save money by spending it. "What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young." - George Bernard Shaw Litotes A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. Examples "Now we have a refuge to go to. A refuge that the Cylons know nothing about! It won't be an easy journey." (Battlestar Galactica, 2003) "I am not unaware how the productions of the Grub Street brotherhood have of late years fallen under many prejudices." (Jonathan Swift, A Tale of a Tub, 1704) Allusion An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to a place, person, or something that happened. This can be real or imaginary and may refer to anything, including paintings, opera, folk lore, mythical figures, or religious manuscripts. The reference can be direct or may be inferred, and can broaden the readers understanding. Examples I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchios. This refers to the story of Pinocchio, where his nose grew whenever he told a lie. It is from The Adventures of Pinocchio, written by Carlo Collodi. When she lost her job, she acted like a Scrooge, and refused to buy anything that wasnt necessary. Scrooge was an extremely stingy character from Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. Alliteration Alliteration is a term that describes a literary stylistic device. Alliteration occurs when a series of words in a row (or close to a row) have the same first consonant sound. For example, She sells sea shells down by the sea-shore or Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers are both alliterative

phrases. In the former, all the words start with the s sound, while in the later, the letter p takes precedence. Aside from tongue twisters, alliteration is also used in poems, song lyrics, and even store or brand names. Examples Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered weak and weary ...rare and radiant maiden And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Onomatopoeia The use of words (such as hiss or murmur) that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. Adjective:onomatopoeic or onomatopoetic. Examples The wind WHISTLED through the nooks of the CREAKING household. The thunder BOOMED in the background, as the lightning CLASHED violently with the murky sky. Apostrophe A figure of speech in which some absent or nonexistent person or thing is addressed as if present and capable of understanding. Examples

"O western wind, when wilt thou blow That the small rain down can rain?" (anonymous, 16th c.) "O wind, rend open the heat, cut apart the heat, rend it to tatters." (H.D. [Hilda Doolittle], "Heat," 1915)

Synecdoche A synecdoche is a type of trope, which is a figure of speech. When used in literature, a synecdoche will add to the visual imagery of the passage and enhance the readers experience. A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole (for example, ABCs for alphabet) or the whole for a part ("England won the World Cup in 1966"). Examples

Ed's buddy was in the market for a new set of wheels and wanted Ed's opinion about a particular model of Lexus." (Douglas T. Kenrick, Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life. Basic Books, 2011) "Land ho! All hands on deck!" (Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island)