Personification

Personification

is when we give human traits, feelings, or actions to non-human things like objects, animals, or nature. It helps us relate emotionally to non-living things.

Examples: ● The stars danced playfully in the night sky.

● The leaves whispered secrets to the wind.

● Time marches on without stopping

Symbolism

uses an object, character, or event to stand for a deeper meaning or idea beyond its literal sense. It adds depth to the message.

Examples: ● A red rose symbolizes love or passion.

● A broken mirror can symbolize bad luck or broken relationships.

● The Philippine flag symbolizes the country’s identity and struggle for freedom.

Alliteration

is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words. It’s used to create rhythm or mood.

Examples:

● She sells seashells by the seashore.

● Whispering winds washed over the wild woods.

● Big brown bears baked blueberry bread.

Oxymoron

combines two contradictory words side by side to create a new meaning or add dramatic effect.

Examples: ● Jumbo shrimp (small + big) ● Living dead ● Seriously funny ● Bittersweet goodbye

Allusion

a brief reference to a famous person, event, place, or piece of literature. It relies on the reader’s background knowledge.

He’s a real Hercules when it comes to lifting weights. ● She’s the Einstein of our class. ● This place is like Eden – a paradise.

Euphemism

soften the impact of something harsh or unpleasant by using more polite or indirect language. Examples: ● He’s between jobs (instead of “unemployed”) ● She passed away (instead of “died”) ● Let go from the company (instead of “fired”

Asyndeton

is the omission of conjunctions like “and” or “or” in a list or series to make the sentence feel fast-paced or dramatic. Examples: ● I came, I saw, I conquered. ● He ran, jumped, shouted, won. ● She was strong, fearless, bold

Metonymy

uses a related term to represent something. Unlike metaphor, it replaces the name of something with something closely connected to it. Examples: ● The crown will decide the future of the kingdom. (Crown = king/queen) ● Hollywood is obsessed with sequels. (Hollywood = the film industry) ● The White House issued a statement. (White House = U.S. government)

Metaphor

directly compares two unlike things by saying one is the other, without using “like” or “as.” It makes writing more vivid. Examples: ● Her heart is a cold stone. ● The classroom was a zoo. ● He’s a shining star in our team.

Imagery

uses descriptive language to appeal to the senses—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell—to create vivid mental pictures. Examples: ● The crisp scent of pine filled the frosty air. ● Golden sunlight spilled across the fields. ● The steak sizzled on the hot grill, juicy and tender.

Cliché

is an overused phrase that has lost its originality. Though familiar, it can feel dull or predictable. Examples: ● Time heals all wounds. ● Don’t judge a book by its cover. ● What goes around, comes around.

Onomatopoeia

is a word that imitates a natural sound. It makes writing more exciting and realistic. Examples: ● Boom, bang, pop, crash ● The bees buzzed around the flowers. ● The door creaked open slowly

Zeugma

is when one word (usually a verb or adjective) applies to more than one noun, often in different ways. It can be funny, dramatic, or clever. Examples: ● She opened her heart and her wallet to the orphans. ● He lost his coat and his temper.

Idiom

is a common expression that means something different from the literal meanings of the words. Examples: ● Break a leg! (means “good luck”) ● Spill the beans (means “reveal a secret”) ● Under the weather (means “feeling sick”)

Satire

uses humor, sarcasm, irony, or exaggeration to expose flaws or criticize people or society, usually to inspire change. Examples: ● A TV show mocking corrupt politicians ● A cartoon making fun of inflation by showing a tiny burger costing ₱500 ● “The Daily Show” uses satire to discuss current events.

Synecdoche

a figure of speech where a part of something is used to refer to the whole (or vice versa). Examples: ● All hands on deck! (“hands” = people) ● Nice wheels! (“wheels” = car) ● The Philippines won gold today. (means “Filipino athlete”)

Irony

is when there’s a difference between what is expected and what actually happens, or what is said versus what is meant.

● Verbal Irony

Saying the opposite of what you mean. “Oh great, another homework!” (when you’re annoyed)

Situational Irony:

When the opposite of what’s expected happens. A fire station burns down.

Dramatic Irony:

The audience knows something the characters don’t. In a horror movie, the audience sees the killer, but the character walks right into danger.

Pun

is a humorous play on words, often exploiting words that sound similar or have multiple meanings. Examples: ● I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough dough. ● I’m reading a book on anti-gravity—it’s impossible to put down. ● A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

Analogy

shows a relationship between two pairs of things. It helps explain something unfamiliar by comparing it to something familiar. Examples: ● Just as a sword is the weapon of a warrior, a pen is the weapon of a writer. ● Finding a good friend is like finding a needle in a haystack. ● Life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get.

Antithesis

presents two contrasting ideas in a balanced sentence to emphasize their difference. Examples: ● It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. ● Speech is silver, but silence is golden. ● Many are called, but few are chosen.

Apostrophe

is when the speaker addresses someone absent, dead, or a non-human thing as if it could hear or respond. Examples: ● O death, where is thy sting? ● Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. ● Come on, brain, work faster!

Hyperbole

is an extreme exaggeration used to make a point or show strong emotion. Examples: ● I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. ● It took forever to finish the project. ● She cried a river of tears.

Litotes

use double negatives or understatement to emphasize a point by denying the opposite. Examples: ● Not bad at all (means it’s good) ● She’s no fool (means she’s smart) ● It wasn’t the worst day (means it was okay or even good)

Simile

compares two unlike things using “like” or “as” to make the description more vivid. Examples: ● Her smile is like sunshine. ● He’s as fast as lightning. ● The baby is as cute as a button.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines. It adds rhythm and emphasis. Examples: ● Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better. ● We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields...

Epistrophe

The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences (opposite of anaphora). Examples: ● See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. ● I want the best, and we need the best, and we deserve the best.

Anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word of one clause or sentence at the beginning of the next. Examples: ● Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. ● The mountains echo the voice. The voice stirs the soul.

Polysyndeton

The use of many conjunctions (like and, or, but) in close succession, often more than necessary, to create a dramatic effect. Examples: ● We laughed and talked and sang and danced all night. ● He was brave and strong and wise and kind.

Paradox

: A self-contradictory statement that may still reveal a truth or make you think deeply. Examples: ● Less is more. ● I know one thing: that I know nothing. ● This is the beginning of the end.

Chiasmus

Definition: A rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by reversing their structures. Examples: ● Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. ● Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you.

Allegory

A narrative where characters, events, and details symbolically represent abstract ideas or moral qualities. Examples: ● George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” is an allegory about the Russian Revolution. ● A story where a journey represents someone’s life, with obstacles symbolizing hardships.

Parody

An imitation of a style, writer, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect. Examples: ● Spoof movies like “Scary Movie” parody horror films. ● A fake news anchor mimicking a real one for humor.

Understatement

: Saying something in a restrained way to make it seem less important than it actually is, often for irony. Examples: ● “It’s just a scratch,” he said, while his car was completely wrecked. ● “It rained a bit today,” during a flood.

Tautology

The repetition of the same idea using different words; often unintentional, but sometimes used for emphasis. Examples: ● Free gift (gifts are already free) ● I’ll do it personally. ● In my opinion, I think...

Anthropomorphism

A type of personification where non-human beings (like animals or objects) actually act like humans in behavior (not just being described as if they were). Examples: ● In “Zootopia,” animals talk, walk, and live like humans. ● The characters in “Beauty and the Beast” like Lumière and Mrs. Potts act like people.

Malapropism

The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often creating a funny effect. Examples: ● He is the pineapple of politeness (instead of pinnacle) ● Texas has a lot of electrical votes (instead of electoral votes)

Paralipsis

Pretending to omit something while actually emphasizing it. Examples: ● I’m not even going to mention the fact that he was late. ● Not to speak of his dishonesty, but

Hypophora

: Asking a question and immediately answering it yourself. Examples: ● Why should we care? Because it affects us all. ● What makes a good student? Discipline, curiosity, and hard work.

Aposiopesis

A sudden break in speech or sentence, usually leaving it unfinished for dramatic effect. Examples: ● If you do that one more time, I swear I’ll—! ● Get out, or else—

Epanalepsis

Repeating the beginning word of a sentence or clause at the end. Examples: ● The king is dead, long live the king! ● Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind