ALLEGORY

Refers to an extended metaphor in which a (moral) story is told to illustrate an important attribute of the subject [See METAPHOR]

Examples:

He used a story (allegory) to teach the class about integrity and honesty.

Also review: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory

ALLITERATION

Refers to a series of words that begin with the same letter;
alliteration also include well-known tongue twisters

Examples:

All animals are agile and active after an afternoon’s siesta.

Round the rugged rock the ragged rascal ran

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

She sells sea shells by the sea shore.

Also review: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliteration

ANTICLIMAX

Refers to arranging words in their order of decreasing importance/impact

Examples:

For GOD, for Country, and for us

Also review: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anticlimax

ANTITHESIS

Refers to stating opposing or contrasting ideas one after the other

Examples:

Man proposes, God disposes

Also review: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antithesis

ASTEISMUS

Refers to Facetious or mocking statement (a type of pun) that plays on a word
(useful in Drama) [see PUN]

Examples:

If you’re not careful, I’ll crown you

Do you play by ear? I also play around too.

Also review: http://humanities.byu.edu/rhetoric/Figures/A/asteismus.htm

CIRCUMLOCUTION

Refers to talking around a topic/subject by substituting or adding superfluous words; such as in euphemism or periphrasis sentences [see euphemism, periphrasis]

Examples:

Investors are probably revisiting expectations of domestic earnings growth.

Rapidity of design and construction often yield ineffective and useless product

Also review: http://humanities.byu.edu/rhetoric/Figures/C/circumlocution.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumlocution

CLIMAX

Refers to arranging words in their order of increasing importance/impact

Examples:

Lost, jaded, broken, dead within an hour

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity

Also review:

http://encarta.msn.com/climax.htmlhttp://humanities.byu.edu/rhetoric/Figures/C/climax.htm

COMMISERATION

Refers to using a statement to evoke pity

Examples:

We are so sorry it turned out so badly for you.

Please forgive us for that’s not what we had intended to happen.

Also review: http://www.answers.com/commiseration

EUPHEMISM

Refers to using/substituting of a less offensive, troublesome, disturbing, or more agreeable term/word for another for politeness (doublespeak) sake

Examples:

downsizing (firing of Company employees)

Let’s get some shut-eye (sleep)

I’m going to hit the hay (go to bed)

Also review: http://www.answers.com/topic/euphemismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphemism

HYPERBOLE

Refers to using exaggerated terms/words for emphasis

Examples:

She has a brain the size of a pinhead.

I nearly died.I will die if no one asks me to dance.

He is as wide as a hippo!

I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.

I've heard that one a million times or more at least.

Also review:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbolehttp://www.answers.com/topic/hyperbole-2http://humanities.byu.edu/rhetoric/Figures/H/hyperbole.htm

INNUENDO

Refers to using an indirect (to nod), oblique or subtle implication/insinuating expression that is usually derogatory or defaming; such as a suggestive remark that provokes doubt or suspicion

Examples:

You, my friend cannot tell the truth even if it came right up and bit you.

Also review:

http://www.answers.com/innuendohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innuendo

IRONY

Refers to the use of word(s) that convey the opposite of their literal or true meaning(s);also refers to an action that was intended for one outcome but resulted in a surprising ending; poetic justice situation(s)

Examples:

The irony of it is that his remarks were meant to be humorous but the audience was shocked/outraged at his racial outbursts.

Adolph Coors III, the heir to the Coors Beer Empire was (ironically) allergic to beer.

Also review:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironyhttp://www.answers.com/irony

MALAPROPISM

Refers to the humorous misuse or inappropriate use of word(s)

Examples:

His was a shrewd awakening of sorts.

She shyly asked us what ingrievences were in the recipe.

The color of ones eyes are usually a result of ones parents’ receptive genes.

Also review:

http://www.answers.com/malapropismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malapropism

METAPHOR

Refers to an implicit comparison or analogy of two items

Examples:

She referred to her old age as the evening of life.

No man is an island

Life is a beach

Also review:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphorhttp://www.answers.com/metaphor

ONOMATOPOEIA

Refers to word(s) that sound like what they refer to

Examples:

Cuckoo; buzz; crack; click; ticktock

Also Review:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onomatopoeiahttp://www.answers.com/onomatopoeia

OXYMORON

Refers to using two terms/words that seemingly or usually contradict each other

Examples:

Your total silence is deafening;

You’re a half-empty optimist

Also review:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxymoron

PARABLE

Refers to short, simple story/narrative to illustrate a moral lesson, as told in the Bible

Examples:

In the Gospel of Luke: The Good Samaritan; The Rich Fool; and The Pharisee and the Publican

Also review:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable

PARADOX

Refers to the use of apparently self-contradictory ideas to point out some basic, fundamental, implicit or hidden truth

Examples:

Prepare to be shocked or surprised

They are younger than they think

Less is more

Pay less, think more

Also review:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox

PERIPHRASIS

Refers to using several or many words to express the meaning of a word or phrase in a roundabout manner of speaking

Examples:
Many a fragrant beverage brewed from several of China’s herbal plant leaves make tea.

PERSONIFICATION

Refers to humanizing or attributing a personality to some impersonal object

Examples:
The angry foaming waves rushed up the shore and flattened our sand creations.

PUN

Refers to a play on words that has a literal meaning and a playful/jovial/funny meaning

Examples:
I wanted to become a Tailor, but I just wasn't suited for it although the work seamed so easy.

All my friends needled me to take this Seamstress job.

RHETORICAL  QUESTION

Refers to asking a question to which no answer is expected usually because there is only one obvious answer

Examples:
What's the matter with you?

Don't you know any better?

Have you no shame?

Is the Pope Catholic?

Do fish swim?

Are you crazy?

Who cares?

How should I know?

Are you kidding me?

Do you expect me to do it for you?

Do pigs fly?

What’s the point of going on?

Isn’t that ironic?

Whose line is it anyway?

What more can I say?

Which way is up?

Are we having fun yet?

SIMILE

Refers to an explicit comparison between two items

Examples:
My love is like a blossom that blooms

You are like the calm before a storm.

They came in like a mighty force and left in a hurry.

The Thule fog is like being in split pea soup.

TRUISM

Refers to a self-evident or obvious statement, such as a definition, theorem, axiom, trite expression or idea (platitude)

Examples:
What is right for us is right for others.

What is wrong for others is wrong for us.

What goes up must come down.

Well, let’s face it, that’s just the way things are.

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