Figures de style en anglais

Figures of speech

Alliteration is the repeating of consonant sounds right next to each other, creating a memorable or melodic effect. Example: She sells seashells by the seashore.

Antithesis: literary technique that places opposite ideas next to one another in order to draw out their contrast. Ex: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” C. Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Apostrophe is when a character addresses someone or something that isn’t present or cannot respond.

Example: “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” —William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Circumlocution is the use of a purposely wordy description. Example: In Harry Potter, they don’t say Lord Voldemort’s name; instead, they use “He Who Must Not Be Named.”

A euphemism is a way to say something in an understated manner, often to avoid difficult topics. Ex: Someone died = someone “kicked the bucket,” “passed away,” or is “no longer with us.”

Hyperbole is a deliberate exaggeration that adds emphasis, urgency, or excitement to a statement. Example: “If I don’t eat soon, I’m going to die of hunger.”

Litotes use a double negative to create a positive. Example: You’re not wrong.

A metaphor is the direct comparison of dissimilar things to create more vivid imagery or understanding. Ex: He was an onion; to understand him, she had to peel back the layers.

Metonymy:  a word or object stands in for a closely related word. Ex: I thought his movies were better when they weren’t so Hollywood.

An oxymoron is a phrase that uses two contradictory words to create a new meaning.

Ex: That strawberry cake was awfully good.

Paradox: statement that appears to contradict itself but contains some truth or humor. Ex: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” G. Orwell, Animal Farm

Personification is assigning human attributes to nonhuman things. Ex: The floorboards groaned under the weight of each step.

Pleonasm is the use of more words than necessary to convey meaning. A writer might use pleonasm for humor or emphasis, or they might not realize they’re using extra words at all.

Example: The burning fire warmed the whole house.