SOME SPECIAL FIGURES OF SPEECH


A FIGURE OF SPEECH or RHETORICAL FIGURE is figurative language in the form of a single word or phrase. It can be a special repetition, arrangement or omission of words with literal meaning, or a phrase with a specialized meaning not based on the literal meaning of the words.

Here are some special FIGURES OF SPEECH explained by me in easy language.
◆ ANTACLASM
Definition :- It is a special form of Pun in which a word or a phrase is used two times in a sentence having different meanings.
Example :-
• I put out light, I put out the light.
(Here first 'put out light' means 'extinguished the light' and second 'put out the light' means 'killed someone')

◆ EPISTROPHE/EPIPHORA
Definition:- Repetition of a phrase or a part at the end of the lines at the regular interval is called 'Epistrophe' or  'Epiphora'.
Example:-
• Democracy is the rule of people, rule by people, rule for the people.

◆ ZEUGMA/SYLLEPSIS
Definition:- One grammatical construction do the function for two is called 'Zeugma' or 'Syllepsis'.
Example :-
• Thou take sometimes counsel, and sometimes tea.
• He does his own work and I mine.
(I do my own work)

◆ MERISM
Definition:- Traditional/ conventional idioms/ phrases having the words/ parts and represent 'everything' or 'whole'.
Examples:-
• Youth and age = every person
• Lock, stock and barrel = everything

◆ SYNDETONE :- Coordinators are mentioned.
ASYNDETONE :- Coordinators are omitted by ,(comma).
Examples:-
• Mohan and Sohan and Rohan are friends. (SYNDETONE)
• Mohan, Sohan, Rohan are friends. (ASYNDETONE)
• I came, I saw, I conquered. (ASYNDETONE , also CLIMAX)

◆ PERIPHRASIS
Definition :- Use of round about words for a simple idea is called 'Periphrasis'. It was a common device used by Neo- Classical poets.
Examples:-
• Feathered creature = bird
• Saline water = sea / tear
• Foamy waves = sea

◆ ANAPHORA :- Backward  reference
◆ CATAPHORA :- Forward reference