ENGLISH GRAMMAR: Figures of Speech: Devices for giving Point. Part 4
"Figures of Speech" is a rhetorical or stylistic device that is used to give an auxiliary meaning, idea, or feeling. It is a device where words are used in a distinctive way to achieve a specific freshness of expression, clarity, effect or emphasis.
Phrases have a specialized meaning which is not based on the literal meaning of the words in it. Words mostly diverge from its normal meaning.
Figures of Speech can be classified under the following:
- Based on Resemblances such as Allegory, Apostrophe, Euphemism, Imagery, Metaphor, Pathetic Fallacy, Personification and Simile
- Based on contrast such as Antithesis, Epigram, Oxymoron, Paradox and Pun
- Based on association such as Metonymy, Symbol and Synecdoche
- Based on construction such as Anticlimax, Climax, Colloquialism, Exclamation, Interrogation, Pathos, Rhetorical Question and Transferred Epithet
- Based on repetition such as Alliteration, Anaphora, Assonance, Refrain and, Repetition
- Based on overstatement or vice versa such as Hyperbole and Litotes
- Based on moral and criticism such as Fable, Parable and Irony
The following devices are used mainly for giving point. Contrast is the principle at the bottom of most of them.
Antithesis
A contrast is sharply and clearly made.
Willing to wound and yet afraid to strike.
Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer.
In tasks so bold can little men engage
And in soft bosoms dwells such mighty rage.
Antithesis literally means the opposite, it is a stylistic or rhetorical device in which two contradictory viewpoints are put together in a sentence to achieve the opposite effect. Antithesis accentuates the idea of contrasted clauses or phrases. To draw the attention of the readers or listeners, the structures of the phrase and clauses are alike. It is basically a complex form of juxtaposition. This creates fairly similar effects by contrasting one thing against its opposite. A speaker or writer can highlight the key attributes of whatever they are talking about.
In the Neil Armstrong quote, the incredible implication of the first step on the moon is made more powerful by contrasting it with the smallness and usualness of the motion that brought it about.
Antithesis can also be used to express curious inconsistencies or paradoxes. The Neil Armstrong quote is a good example: Neil Armstrong invites his listeners to ponder over the reality that a tiny, ordinary step, not so different from the millions of steps we take every day - can signify such a colossal technological accomplishment as the landing on the moon.
Neil Alden Armstrong's Quote
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"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand."
"Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed."
Paradoxically, an antithesis can also be used to show how two seeming opposites might be similar.
Paradox
2. Paradox
A Paradox is a statement made which seems absurd, but perhaps really well-founded.
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The best way to teach a child of four is to teach it nothing.
To see the world in a grain of sand
And Heaven in a wildflower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour.
Oxymoron
3. Oxymoron
A seeming contradiction (this is a branch paradox).
Faultily faultless, splendidly null.
And faith unfaithful made him falsely true.
Irony
4. Irony
When you say the opposite of what you mean (or at least something different), but suggest at the same time the real meaning.
The majestic impartiality of the law forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges or beg for bread in the streets.
Sarcasm
5. Sarcasm
This is much the same as irony, but the intention of sarcasm is always to inflict pain, which is not the case with irony.
Litotes
6. Litotes
You say much less than you mean, e.g., A man is not much use without a head. He is no fool.
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Innuendo
7. Innuendo
You hint at what you mean, without saying it directly.
And sleepless lovers, just at twelve awake.
Pun
8. Pun
The same word is used in two different senses: They live chiefly by dyeing.
Anti-Climax
9. Anti-Climax or Bathos
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The opposite of climax:
After climbing up, you come crashing down; a strong statement is followed by one ludicrously weak.
Sources: English Grammar EBH Joubert: Figures of Speech
https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/telugu/.../figure+of+speech-newsid-69532084
https://literarydevices.net/antithesis/
https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/telugu/.../figure+of+speech-newsid-69532084
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