FIGURES OF SPEECH IN LITERATURE
Figurative
language
Figurative language
refers to the imaginative language which is not direct but indirect differs
from normal language. It is characterised by using figures of speech.
FIGURES
OF SPEECH
i.
Simile: - is the comparison of two unlike
entities by using conjunction/words “like, such as, as…..as, as, so that” etc.
Example; life is like a dream.
ii.
Metaphor: - comparison of unlike entities
person or situation without using words includes “such as, like, as … as,
resemble. Example; life is a dream. Or He is a snake.
iii.
Personification:- refers to an explanation in
which non-human beings or creatures are given a human characteristics or
behaviours. Example; the rain ate all trees in our village.
iv.
Apostrophe:- is an explanation in which a
person addresses an absent or dead human being or non-human creature as if they
can hear or replay.
Example; Amanda my dear wife,
The dead never came
back home
But at least once in life,
They visit us in dream.
v.
Symbolism:- is an explanation or words where
an entities in a work of art refers to other different entities or situation.
Example; in a poem “you are pain” by Armando Guebuza. Blood symbolise sacrifice
and scars symbolise oppression.
vi.
Hyperbole (overstatement) or exaggeration:- is the literary
technique which involves saying something which is more serious than its
actual.
Example; she give me five millions of kisses.
You possess my heart.
vii.
Litotes (understatement):- is a literary that
involve saying something less serious than it actual is.
Example; I have ten million for my own lunch today.
Don’t fear, only five people
were killed.
viii.
Irony:- is a literary technique in which
one thing mean the opposite of what is said or what happens is quite
differences from what is expected. Example; Juma is intelligent boy but He
score O marks of hundred.
ix.
Sarcasm: - is a statement given for a
purpose of hurting or humiliate someone to make him/her unhappy or angry.
Example; Guy, your
hair is well combed and looking good. While not at all.
x.
Rhetorical Question:
- is a statement in form of question which needs no reply asked. Example;
in a poem BULDING A NATION
xi.
Imagery: - is the use of words and phrases
to create picture or images in the readers mind.
