1. Figurative Language A brief introduction…

2. Based on “Figures of Speech” Fancy definition: A form of speech artfully varied from common usage Fancy definition: A form of speech artfully varied from common usage Put this in your own words Put this in your own words What does a figure of speech or figurative language do? What does a figure of speech or figurative language do? What is the purpose? What is the purpose? What are some examples? What are some examples?

3. Schemes and Tropes Two types of figurative language: Two types of figurative language: Schemes: playing around with word order in your writing Schemes: playing around with word order in your writing Tropes: playing around with meaning in your writing Tropes: playing around with meaning in your writing

4. Schemes of Balance Antithesis: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” Antithesis: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” Parallelism: “The government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Parallelism: “The government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

5. Schemes of Omission Asyndeton: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Asyndeton: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Polysyndeton: “This semester I am taking History and English and Math and Sociology and Theater.” Polysyndeton: “This semester I am taking History and English and Math and Sociology and Theater.” Assonance: “Toasty eats the most corn and grows the thickest coat.” Assonance: “Toasty eats the most corn and grows the thickest coat.” Anaphora: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing-grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets…” Anaphora: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing-grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets…”

6. Schemes of Omission (Cont’d) Epistrophe: “The man sent you to Korea, you bled. He sent you to Germany, you bled. He sent you to the South Pacific, you bled.” Epistrophe: “The man sent you to Korea, you bled. He sent you to Germany, you bled. He sent you to the South Pacific, you bled.” Anadiplosis: “Having power makes totalitarian leadership isolated; isolation breeds insecurity; insecurity breeds suspicion and fear; suspicion and fear breed violence.” Anadiplosis: “Having power makes totalitarian leadership isolated; isolation breeds insecurity; insecurity breeds suspicion and fear; suspicion and fear breed violence.”

7. Schemes of Omission (Cont’d) Climax: “The goats provide me with work to do, leisure to enjoy, a reason to get up in the morning, and meaning to my life.” Climax: “The goats provide me with work to do, leisure to enjoy, a reason to get up in the morning, and meaning to my life.” Antimetabole: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Antimetabole: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

8. Tropes Metaphor and Simile (you know this) Metaphor and Simile (you know this) Synecdoche: “Lend me a hand.” Synecdoche: “Lend me a hand.” Personification (you know this) Personification (you know this) Hyperbole (you know this) Hyperbole (you know this) Litote: opposite of hyperbole. Litote: opposite of hyperbole. Oxymoron (you know this) Oxymoron (you know this) Paradox: a big oxymoron Paradox: a big oxymoron