Figure of Speech

Definition of Figure of Speech

A figure of speech is a phrase or word having different meanings than its literal meanings. It
conveys meaning by identifying or comparing one thing to another, which has connotation or
meaning familiar to the audience. That is why it is helpful in creating vivid rhetorical effect.

Types of figures of Speech

There are many types of figures of speech. Here are a few of them with detailed descriptions:

Personification

It occurs when a writer gives human traits to non-human or inanimate objects. It is similar to
metaphors and similes that also use comparison between two objects. For instance,

“Hadn’t she felt it in every touch of the sunshine, as its golden finger-tips pressed her lids
open and wound their way through her hair?”

(“The Mother’s Recompense” by Edith Wharton)

In the above lines, the speaker is personifying sunshine as it has finger tips that wound their
way into her hair. This is trait of using finger-tips in hair is a human one.

Understatement and Hyperbole

These two figures of speech are opposite to each other. Hyperbole uses
extreme exaggeration. It exaggerates to lay emphasis on a certain quality or feature. It stirs
up emotions among the readers, these emotions could be about happiness, romance,
inspiration, laughter or sadness.

I’ll love you, dear, I’ll love you

Till China and Africa meet,
And the river jumps over the mountain
And the salmon sing in the street.”
(“As I Walked Out One Evening” by W.H. Auden)

In this poem, Auden has used hyperbole to stress on how long his love his beloved would
last. Just imagine when China and Africa would meet and can river jump up over the
mountains? How salmon can be intelligent enough so that it could sing and evolve enough
and walk the streets?

Whereas understatement uses less than whatever is intended, such as,

“You killed my family. And I don’t like that kind of thing.”

(“The Chosen One” by Boon Collins and Rob Schneider)

In this line, the speaker is using an understatement because someone has killed his family
and he is just taking it very normal like nothing serious has happened.

Simile
It is a type of comparison between things or objects by using “as” or “like.” See the following
example:

My heart is like a singing bird

Whose nest is in a water’d shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
My heart is like a rainbow shell…

(“A Birthday” by Christina Rossetti)

Rossetti has used simile thrice in this part of the poem, comparing her heart to a “singing
bird”, “an apple-tree”, and a rainbow shell.” The poet makes comparison of heart to a happy
bird in a nest, an apple tree full with fruits and a beautiful shell in the sea, full of peace and
joy.

Metaphor

Metaphor is comparing two unlike objects or things, which may have some common
qualities.

Presentiment – is that long shadow – on the lawn –

Indicative that Suns go down –
The notice to the startled Grass
That Darkness – is about to pass –

(“Presentiment is that long shadow on the lawn” by Emily Dickinson)

In this example, Dickinson presents presentiment as a shadow. Presentiment actually means

anxiety or foreboding, which she calls a shadow. In fact, she makes compares it with shadow
to provide a better description of anxiety that could creep up in a person’s life and cause fear.

Pun

Pun is the manipulation of words that have more than one meanings. It brings humor in an
expression.

Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy Will,

And Will to boot, and Will in overplus;

(“Sonnet 135” by William Shakespeare)

See the use of odd grammar rule, which is the capitalization of word “Will.” Usually in the
middle of a line or sentence, writers capitalize a name. Here it is the first name of
Shakespeare. It means he has created pun of his own name.

Alliteration Definition

Alliteration is derived from Latin’s “Latira”. It means “letters of alphabet”. It is a stylistic device in
which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.

Consider the following examples:

 But a better butter makes a batter better.

  A big bully beats a baby boy.

Both sentences are alliterative because the same first letter of words (B) occurs close together and
produces alliteration in the sentence. An important point to remember here is that alliteration does not
depend on letters but on sounds. So the phrase not knotty is alliterative, but cigarette chase is not.

Common Examples of Alliteration

In our daily life, we notice alliteration in the names of different companies. It makes the name of a
company catchy and easy to memorize. Here are several common alliteration examples.

 Dunkin’ Donuts
 PayPal
 Best Buy
 Coca-Cola
 Life Lock
 Park Place
 American Apparel
 American Airlines
 Chuckee Cheese’s
 Bed Bath & Beyond
 Krispy Kreme
 The Scotch and Sirloin

We also find alliterations in names of people, making such names prominent and easy to be
remembered. For instance, both fictional characters and real people may stand out prominently in your
mind due to the alliterative effects of their names. Examples are:

 Ronald Reagan
 Sammy Sosa
 Jesse Jackson
 Michael Moore
 William Wordsworth
 Mickey Mouse
 Porky Pig
 Lois Lane
 Marilyn Monroe
 Fred Flintstone
 Donald Duck
 Spongebob Squarepants
 Seattle Seahawks

Alliteration Examples in Literature

Example #1

From Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

“The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,

The furrow followed free;
We were the first that ever burst
Into that silent sea.”
In the above lines we see alliteration (“b”, “f” and “s”) in the phrases “breeze blew”, “foam flew”,
“furrow followed”, and “silent sea”.

Example #2

From James Joyce’s “The Dead”

“His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling,
like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.”

We notice several instances of alliteration in the above mentioned prose work of James Joyce.
Alliterations are with “s” and “f” in the phrases “swooned slowly” and “falling faintly”.

Example #3

From Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”

“Up the aisle, the moans and screams merged with the sickening smell of woolen black clothes worn
in summer weather and green leaves wilting over yellow flowers.”

Maya gives us a striking example of alliteration in the above extract with the letters “s” and “w”. We
notice that alliterative words are interrupted by other non-alliterative words among them but the effect
of alliteration remains the same. We immediately notice alliteration in the words “screams”,
“sickening smell”, “summer”, “weather” and “wilting”.

Example #4

From William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” (prologue to Act 1)

“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes;

A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.”

This is an example of alliteration with the “f” and “l.” in words “forth, fatal, foes” and “loins, lovers,
and life”.

Example #5

Percy Bysshe Shelley’s (English Romantic poet) “The Witch of Atlas” is a famous poem that is full of
examples of alliterations. Just a few of them are “wings of winds” (line 175), “sick soul to happy
sleep” (line 178), “cells of crystal silence” (line 156), “Wisdom’s wizard. . . wind. . . will” (lines 195-
197), “drained and dried” ( line 227), “lines of light” (line 245), “green and glowing” (line 356), and
crudded. . . cape of cloud” (lines 482-3).

Function of Alliteration

Alliteration has a very vital role in poetry and prose. It creates a musical effect in the text that
enhances the pleasure of reading a literary piece. It makes reading and recitation of the poems
attractive and appealing; thus, making them easier to learn by heart. Furthermore, it renders flow
and beauty to a piece of writing.
In the marketing industry, as what we have already discussed, alliteration makes the brand names
interesting and easier to remember. This literary device is helpful in attracting customers and
enhancing sales.

Metonymy Definition

Metonymy is a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something
else with which it is closely associated. We can come across examples of metonymy both
from literature and in everyday life.

Metonymy, Synecdoche, and Metaphor

Metonymy is often confused with another figure of speech called “synecdoche.” These
devices resemble one another, but are not the same. Synecdoche refers to a thing by the
name of one of its parts. For example, calling a car “a wheel” is a synecdoche, as a part of a
car – the “wheel” – stands for the whole car.

In a metonymy, on the other hand, the word we use to describe another thing is closely
linked to that particular thing, but is not a part of it. For example, the word “crown” is used to
refer to power or authority is a metonymy. It is not a part of the thing it represents.

Metonymy is also different from a metaphor, which draws resemblance between two different
things. For instance, in the sentence, “You are sunlight and I moon,” (Sun and Moon by Miss
Saigon), sunlight and the moon, and humans are quite different things without any
association. However, metaphor attempts to describe one thing in terms of another based on
a supposed similarity.

Metonymy, however, develops a relation on the grounds of close association, as in “The

White House is concerned about terrorism.” The White House here represents the people
who work in it.

Examples of Metonymy in Everyday Life

For a better understanding, let us observe a few metonymy examples:

 “England decides to keep check on immigration.” (England refers to the government.)

 “The pen is mightier than the sword.” (Pen refers to written words, and sword to
military force.)
 “The Oval Office was busy in work.” (The Oval Office is a metonymy, as it stands for
people who work in the office.)
 “Let me give you a hand.” (Hand means help.)

Examples of Metonymy in Literature

Example #1: Julius Caesar (By William Shakespeare)

The given lines are from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Act I:

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.”

Mark Anthony uses “ears” to say that he wants the people present to listen to him attentively.
It is a metonymy because the word “ears” replaces the concept of paying attention.

Example #2: Gone with the Wind (By Margaret Mitchell)

This line is from Margaret Mitchell’s novel Gone with the Wind:

“I’m mighty glad Georgia waited till after Christmas before it secedes or it would have ruined
the Christmas parties.”

Scarlett uses the word “Georgia” to point out everything that makes up the state: its citizens,
politicians, and the government. It is a metonymy extremely common in the modern world,
where the name of a country or state refers to a whole nation and its government. Thus, it
renders brevity to the ideas.

Example #3: Out, Out (By Robert Frost)

These lines are taken from Out, Out, by Robert Frost:

“As he swung toward them holding up the hand

Half in appeal, but half as if to keep
The life from spilling“

In these lines, the expression “The life from spilling” refers to the spilling of blood. It develops
a link between life and blood. The loss of too much blood means loss of life.

Example #4: Yet Do I Marvel (By Countee Cullen)

These lines are from Countee Cullen’s poem Yet Do I Marvel:

“The little buried mole continues blind,

Why flesh that mirror Him must someday die…”

Here, Cullen uses “flesh” to represent humans, and questions God about why we have to die
when we are created in His likeness.

Example #5: Lycidas (By John Milton)

These lines are from Lycidas, written by John Milton:

“But now my oat proceeds,

And listens to the herald of the sea
That came in Neptune’s plea,
He asked the waves, and asked the felon winds,
What hard mishap hath doomed this gentle swain?”

In the above-mentioned lines, John Milton uses “oat” for a musical instrument made out of an
oat stalk. Thus, “oat” represents the song that the poet is composing next to the ocean.

Function of Metonymy

Generally, metonymy is used in developing literary symbolism, meaning it gives more

profound meanings to otherwise common ideas and objects. Texts exhibit deeper or hidden
meanings, thus drawing readers’ attention. In addition, the use of metonymy helps achieve
conciseness. For instance, “Rifles were guarding the gate” is more concise than “The guards
with rifles in their hands were guarding the gate.”
Furthermore, like other literary devices, metonymy is employed to add a poetic color to words
to make them come to life. The simple ordinary things are described in a creative way to
insert this “life” factor to literary works.

Synecdoche Definition

Synecdoche is a literary device in which a part of something represents the whole, or it may
use a whole to represent a part. Synecdoche may also use larger groups to refer to smaller
groups, or vice versa. It may also call a thing by the name of the material it is made of, or it
may refer to a thing in a container or packaging by the name of that container or packing.

Difference Between Synecdoche and Metonymy

Synecdoche examples are often misidentified as metonymy (another literary device). While
they resemble one another to some extent, they are not the same. Synecdoche refers to the
whole of a thing by the name of any one of its parts. For example, calling a car “wheels” is a
synecdoche because a part of the car, its “wheels,” stands for the whole car. However, in
metonymy, the word used to describe a thing is closely linked to that particular thing, but is
not necessarily a part of it. For example, using the word “crown” to refer to power or authority
is a metonymy, used to replace the word “king” or “queen.”

Definition of Symbolism

Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic
meanings that are different from their literal sense.

Symbolism can take different forms. Generally, it is an object representing another, to give
an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant. Sometimes, however,
an action, an event or a word spoken by someone may have a symbolic value. For instance,
“smile” is a symbol of friendship. Similarly, the action of someone smiling at you may stand
as a symbol of the feeling of affection which that person has for you.

Symbols do shift their meanings depending on the context they are used in. “A chain,” for
example, may stand for “union” as well as “imprisonment”. Thus, symbolic meaning of an
object or an action is understood by when, where, and how it is used. It also depends on who
reads the work.

Common Examples of Symbolism in Everyday Life

In our daily life, we can easily identify objects that can be taken as examples of symbolism,
such as the following:

 The dove is a symbol of peace.

 A red rose, or the color red, stands for love or romance.
 Black is a symbol that represents evil or death.
 A ladder may stand as a symbol for a connection between heaven and earth.
 A broken mirror may symbolize separation.

Short Examples of Symbolism in Sentences

1. Ching Chua gave his wife a red rose. (In Chinese culture, the color red symbolizes
property and happiness.)
 2. David stopped his car at the red signal. (In other cultures, the color red is symbol of
blood, passion, and danger.)

SYNESTHESIA
Definition of Synesthesia

When used as a literary term, synesthesia is a figure of speech in which one sense is
described using terms from another. Examples of synesthesia often are in the form of
a simile, as this is an easy way to link two previously unconnected images.
The definition of synesthesia as a rhetorical device comes from the neuropsychological
phenomenon in which a person perceives a sensory stimulus through another sense, such
as seeing colors when hearing music or sensing the personalities of numbers, days, months,
etc.
Common Examples of Synesthesia
Some common idioms are examples of synesthesia. For example:
 I smell trouble.
 You could cut the tension in the air with a knife.
 Actions speak louder than words.
 She spoke in honeyed tones.

Onomatopoeia
What is Onomatopoeia?
Boom! Pow! Whoosh! Wham!
All of these words are onomatopoeias, or words that sound like what they describe.

Onomatopoeia (pronounced ˌ’AH-nuh-mah-tuh-PEE-uh’) refers to words whose

pronunciations imitate the sounds they describe. A dog’s bark sounds like “woof,” so “woof”
is an example of onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia can be used to describe the gears of
machines working, the horn of a car honking, animals croaking or barking, or any number of
other sounds.

However, thereare some words like munch, sigh, or chew that are commonly mistaken for
onomatopoeias, but they are not. Does the word ‘munch’ really sound like munching, at all?
Or do we just think so because that’s what we call it? Does a sigh really sound like
“sigh”? People disagree about these things. Of course, if it works, poetically, it doesn’t really
matter. But, when you study literature, you should remember that words for sounds are not
always onomatopoeia.

Function of Figure of Speech

Figure of speech is not only used to embellish the language, but also cause a moment of
excitement when reading. It is used equally in writing as well as in speech. It, in fact,
provides emphasis, clarity or freshness to expression. Clarity, however, may sometimes
suffer because a figure of speech introduces double meanings such as connotative and
denotative meanings. It also strengthens the creative expression and description along with
making the language more graphic, pointed and vivid.

Plot
Definition of Plot
Plot is a literary term used to describe the events that make up a story, or the main part of a
story. These events relate to each other in a pattern or a sequence. The structure of
a novel depends on the organization of events in the plot of the story.

Plot is known as the foundation of a novel or story, around which the characters and settings
are built. It is meant to organize information and events in a logical manner. When writing the
plot of a piece of literature, the author has to be careful that it does not dominate the other
parts of the story.

Primary Elements of a Plot

There are five main elements in a plot.

1. Exposition or Introduction

This is the beginning of the story, where characters and setting are established.
The conflict or main problem is introduced as well.

2. Rising Action

Rising action which occurs when a series of events build up to the conflict. The main
characters are established by the time the rising action of a plot occurs, and at the same
time, events begin to get complicated. It is during this part of a story that excitement, tension,
or crisis is encountered.

3. Climax

In the climax, or the main point of the plot, there is a turning point of the story. This is meant
to be the moment of highest interest and emotion, leaving the reader wondering what is
going to happen next.

4. Falling Action

Falling action, or the winding up of the story, occurs when events and complications begin to
resolve. The result of the actions of the main characters are put forward.

5. Resolution

Resolution, or the conclusion, is the end of a story, which may occur with either a happy or a
tragic ending.

Example of Plot in Literature

Example: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (By J. K. Rowling)

Among the examples of plot in modern literature, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is
probably the most familiar to both readers and moviegoers. The plot of the story begins when
Harry learns that Professor Snape is after the Sorcerer’s Stone. The Professor lets loose a
troll, who nearly kills Harry and his friends. In addition, Harry finds out that Hagrid let out the
secret of the giant dog to a stranger in return for a dragon, which means that Snape can now
reach the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Style
Definition of Style
The style in writing can be defined as the way a writer writes. It is the technique that an
individual author uses in his writing. It varies from author to author, and depends upon
one’s syntax, word choice, and tone. It can also be described as a “voice” that readers listen
to when they read the work of a writer.

Types of Style

There are four basic literary styles used in writing. These styles distinguish the works of
different authors, one from another. Here are four styles of writing:

Expository or Argumentative Style

Expository writing style is a subject-oriented style. The focus of the writer in this type of
writing style is to tell the readers about a specific subject or topic, and in the end the author
leaves out his own opinion about that topic.

Descriptive Style

In descriptive writing style, the author focuses on describing an event, a character or a place
in detail. Sometimes, descriptive writing style is poetic in nature in, where the author
specifies an event, an object, or a thing rather than merely giving information about an event
that has happened. Usually the description incorporates sensory details.

Persuasive Style

Persuasive style of writing is a category of writing in which the writer tries to give reasons
and justification to make the readers believe his point of view. The persuasive style aims to
persuade and convince the readers.

Narrative Style

Narrative writing style is a type of writing wherein the writer narrates a story. It includes short
stories, novels, novellas, biographies, and poetry.

Examples of Style in Literature

Here are some examples of different writing styles from literature:

Example #1: The Pleasures of Imagination (By Joseph Addison)

“The pleasures of the imagination, taken in their full extent, are not so gross as those of
sense. … A man of polite imagination is let into a great many pleasures … A man should
endeavour, therefore, to make the sphere of his innocent pleasures as wide as possible, that
he may retire into them with safety … Delightful scenes, whether in nature, painting, or
poetry, have a kindly influence on the body, as well as the mind, and not only serve to clear
and brighten the imagination, but are able to disperse grief and melancholy …”

This is an example of expository writing style, in which the author describes advantages of
imagination with facts and logical sequence, and tells his delight of imagination. Then, he
discusses its benefits and finally gives opinions in its favor.

Example #2: Summer Shower (By Emily Dickinson)

“A drop fell on the apple tree,
Another on the roof,
And made the gables laugh,
The breezes brought dejected lutes,
And bathed them in the glee;
And signed the fete away.”

This poem gives an example of descriptive style. Ms. Dickinson describes a summer
rainstorm in detail, with beautiful images, so that the readers can visualize this storm in their
own minds as if it is actually happening.

Example #3: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (By Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

“It is an ancient Mariner,

And he stoppeth one of three.’
By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp’st thou me?
The bridegroom’s doors are opened wide,
…
The guests are met, the feast is set:
Mayst hear the merry din.”

In this poem, Coleridge uses narrative style, as he tells a story about the ancient mariner. He
uses dialogues, disputes, actions, and events in a sequence, thus providing a perfect
example of the narrative style of writing.

Example #4: Dorian Gray (By Oscar Wilde)

“The studio was filled with the rich odor of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred
amidst the trees of the garden… The sullen murmur of the bees shouldering their way
through… or circling with monotonous insistence…”

This is a good example of descriptive writing style since the author gives visualizations,
feelings, description of a location and details about bees that could be seen and heard.

Example #5: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (By Mark Twain)

“Pretty soon it darkened up and begun to thunder and lighten; so the birds was right about it
… and here would come a blast of wind that would bend the trees down and turn up the pale
underside of the leaves …”

Here, Twain has demonstrated a narrative style, as well as used colloquial words in
presenting this passage, as expressed through the voice of a young Southern-American boy.

Example #6: The Raven (By Edgar Allen Poe)

“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary…

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted – nevermore!”
Here, the poet crafts a story of longing and desolation. The poem reads like a tale, containing
a proper beginning, middle, and end. It has narrative elements like characterization,
symbols, plot elements, and resolution that make it dramatic.

Example #7: Smoke (By Henry David Thoreau)

“Light-winged Smoke! Icarian bird,

Melting thy pinions in thy upward flight;
Lark without song, and messenger of dawn,
Circling above the hamlets as thy nest;
Or else, departing dream, and shadowy form
Of midnight vision, gathering up thy skirts;
By night star-veiling, and by day
Darkening the light and blotting out the sun;
Go thou, my incense, upward from this hearth,
And ask the gods to pardon this clear flame.”

Thoreau describes the intensity of the smoke that helps form a colorful image in the minds of
the readers. He uses metaphor to compare smoke to “incense,” or an “Icarian bird.” He also
describes “star-veiling” and “shadowy” and let the readers imagine smoke.

Function of Style

A unique literary style can have great impact on the piece in which it is used, and on the
readers. When authors write and put their ideas into words, they have many choices to
make, which include: words, sounds, logic, sentence structures. However, different authors
use different literary styles that depend on their distinct expression, and their utilization of
these choices. And their choices create their niche.

Theme
Definition of Theme

Theme is defined as a main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work, which may be
stated directly or indirectly.

Major and Minor Themes

Major and minor themes are two types of themes that appear in literary works. A major
theme is an idea that a writer repeats in his literary work, making it the most significant idea
in the work. A minor theme, on the other hand, refers to an idea that appears in a work
briefly, giving way to another minor theme. Examples of theme in Jane Austen’s “Pride and
Prejudice” are matrimony, love, friendship, and affection. The whole narrative revolves
around the major theme of matrimony. Its minor themes are love, friendship, affectation etc.

Difference Between a Theme and a Subject

It is important not to confuse a theme of a literary work with its subject. Subject is a topic that
acts as a foundation for a literary work, while a theme is an opinion expressed on the subject.
For example, a writer may choose a subject of war for his story, and the theme may be his
personal opinion that war is a curse for humanity. Usually, it is up to the readers to explore
the theme of a literary work by analyzing characters, plot, and other literary devices.

Presentation of Themes
A writer presents themes in a literary work through several means. A writer may express a
theme through the feelings of his main character about the subject he has chosen to write
about. Similarly, themes are presented through thoughts and conversations of different
characters. Moreover, the experiences of the main character in the course of a literary work
give us an idea about its theme. Finally, the actions and events taking place in a narrative
are consequential in determining its theme.

Short Examples of Theme

1. When the astronaut landed on the moon, he felt loneliness. Thinking there was no
one else, he became a little forlorned, though the view of Earth was stunningly
beautiful.
(Theme of lonesomeness)
2. The space travelers were travelling to the moon, when their spaceship suddenly ran
out of fuel. They were all frightened to learn that they wouldn’t be able to return to
Earth, and could only land on the moon.
(Theme of fear)

Examples of Theme in Literature

Example : Love and Friendship Theme

Love and friendship are frequently occurring themes in literature. They generate emotional
twists and turns in a narrative, and can lead to a variety of endings: happy, sad, or
bittersweet. The following are famous literary works with love and friendship themes:

 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

 Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
 Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
 Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Function of Theme

Theme is an element of a story that binds together various essential elements of a narrative.
It is often a truth that exhibits universality, and stands true for people of all cultures. Theme
gives readers better understanding of the main character’s conflicts, experiences,
discoveries, and emotions as they are derived from them. Through themes, a writer tries to
give his readers an insight into how the world works, or how he or she views human life.

Tone
Definition of Tone

Tone, in written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone

is generally conveyed through the choice of words, or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular
subject

Every written piece comprises a central theme or subject matter. The manner in which a
writer approaches this theme and subject is the tone. The tone can be formal, informal,
serious, comic, sarcastic, sad, or cheerful, or it may be any other existing attitude. Consider
the following examples of tone:

 “I want to ask the authorities what is the big deal? Why do they not control the
epidemic? It is eating up lives like a monster.”
  “I want to draw the attention of the appropriate authorities toward damage caused by
the epidemic. If steps are not taken to curb it, it will further injure our community.”

The theme of both tone examples is the same. The only way we can differentiate between
them is their separate tone. The tone in the first example is casual or informal while, it is
more formal in the second.

Tone Examples in Common Speech

We adopt a variety of tones in our day-to-day speech. This intonation of our speech
determines what message we desire to convey. Read a few examples below:

Example #1

Father: “We are going on a vacation.”

Son: “That’s great!!!”

– The tone of son’s response is very cheerful.

Example #2

Father: “We can’t go on vacation this summer.”

Son: “Yeah, great! That’s what I expected.”

– The son’s tone is sarcastic.

Example of Tone in Literature

Tone has a significant place in literature as it manifests writers’ attitudes toward different
subjects.

Example: Catcher in the Rye (By J. D. Salinger)

Holden Caulfield, in J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, unfolds his personality through the
tone he adopts throughout the novel. Let us have a look at some of his remarks:

 “All morons hate it when you call them a moron.”

 “If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she’s late? Nobody.”
 “Goddamn money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.”
 “Catholics are always trying to find out if you’re Catholic.”

Holden’s tone is bitterly sarcastic as he criticizes the nature of things in real life.
His character may reveal the attitude of the writer towards life, as it is common for writers to
use their characters as their mouthpieces.

Function of Tone

Tone, in a piece of literature, decides how the readers read a literary piece, and how they
should feel while they are reading it. It stimulates the readers to read a piece of literature as
a serious, comical, spectacular, or distressing manner. In addition, tone lends shape and life
to a piece of literature because it creates a mood. Moreover, tone bestows voice to
characters, and throws light on the personalities and dispositions of characters that readers
understand better.
Character

What is Character?

A character is a person, animal, being, creature, or thing in a story. Writers use characters to
perform the actions and speak dialogue, moving the story along a plot line. A story can have
only one character (protagonist) and still be a complete story. This character’s conflict may
be an inner one (within him/herself), or a conflict with something natural, such as climbing a
mountain. Most stories have multiple characters interacting, with one of them as the
antagonist, causing a conflict for the protagonist.

Examples of Character

A popular television series that just ended is the show “Glee.” Each season had popular
characters who had to learn to work together to create a good musical production. Various
characters underwent a change, making them a dynamic character, such as Noah
Puckerman. He appears to carry out the stereotype of a jock (strong but not so smart), but
his character changes as it’s revealed that he can be hard working and intelligent.
A movie that features one character throughout most of it is “Castaway” with Tom Hanks. His
character is on board a shipping plane when it crashes. He’s the only survivor, trapped on an
island for four years. This movie focuses on his psychological (mental) and physical condition
as he slowly adapts to a life of isolation, living alone on an island that is off all regular sea
and airplane routes. It’s a great example of how a story can work with only one character,
although many minor characters appear in the beginning and end.

III. Types of Character

a. Major characters

These are the most important characters in the story. There are two types, of which there
may be a couple for each.

 Protagonist – This is the main character, around which the whole story revolves. The
decisions made by this character will be affected by a conflict from within, or externally
through another character, nature, technology, society, or the fates/God.
 Antagonist – This character, or group of characters, causes the conflict for the
protagonist. However, the antagonist could be the protagonist, who is torn by a problem
within. Most times, something external is causing the problem. A group of people
causing the conflict would be considered society, perhaps the members of a team,
community, or institution. Additionally, the antagonist could be a part of nature, such as
an animal, the weather, a mountain or lake. A different kind of antagonist would be an
item such as a pen, car, phone, carpet, etc. These are all considered technology, since
 they are instruments or tools to complete a job. Finally, if the conflict comes from
something out of the character’s control, the antagonist is fate or God.

b. Minor characters

These are the other characters in a story. They are not as important as the major characters,
but still play a large part in the story. Their actions help drive the story forward. They may
impact the decisions the protagonist or antagonist make, either helping or interfering with the
conflict.
Characters can have different traits. Major characters will usually be more dynamic, changing
and growing through the story while minor characters may be more static.

 Foil – A foil is a character that has opposite character traits from another, meant to help
highlight or bring out another’s positive or negative side. Many times, the antagonist is
the foil for the protagonist.
 Static – Characters who are static do not change throughout the story. Their use may
simply be to create or relieve tension, or they were not meant to change. A major
character can remain static through the whole story.
 Dynamic – Dynamic characters change throughout the story. They may learn a lesson,
become bad, or change in complex ways.
 Flat – A flat character has one or two main traits, usually only all positive or negative.
They are the opposite of a round character. The flaw or strength has its use in the story.
 Round – These are the opposite of the flat character. These characters have many
different traits, good and bad, making them more interesting.
 Stock – These are the stereotypical characters, such as the boy genius, ambitious
career person, faithful sidekick, mad scientist, etc.

The Importance of Character

Characters are what make stories. Without a character, there is no story to tell, only a lot of
scenery. Many characters in literature, television series, and movies have a huge impact on
people. Some people like to live their lives through these characters, who appear to have
more exciting lives. Also, these characters may seem so real and inspirational, that people
forget they are fictional.

Characters become so important to the audience, that cities across the country hold
conventions in which people pay a lot of money to dress and act as their favorite characters
from multiple types of shows, particularly of the comic magazine genre (type of literature).

Examples of Character in Literature

A book whose character was inspired by a real teenage girl is “The Fault in Our Stars” by
John Green. The protagonist is 16-year-old Hazel, who meets Gus, a fellow 16-year-old
cancer patient, at a camp. Their young romance is doomed as they are fighting a losing
battle with cancer. Their strong spirits overcome their parents’ fears as the determined Hazel
gets her wish to go overseas to meet an author she has long admired. The book has both
characters undergoing change, very dynamic, as they struggle to adapt to their fate. The
minor characters are impacted by the decisions Hazel and Gus make, giving depth to the
story line. This book is an example of how authors take real life situations to create
believable and interesting characters. Green’s inspiration for the story, Esther Earl, was a
young fan with cancer who had wanted to meet him. He became friends with her and her
family. She was diagnosed with cancer at 12 and died at 16.

Related Terms

Archetype: A standard or stock type of character that appears in fiction, such as the villain,
the hero, the damsel-in-distress, or the sidekick. Each archetype has more categories within,
as well. For example, the villain could be a tyrant, devil, schemer, etc. The hero could be the
warrior, proto-female, scapegoat, etc. These are especially common in fairy and folk tales.

VIII. Conclusion

Characters are the whole reason for any story. They can be used to help teach a lesson, to
entertain, to educate, and even to persuade, depending on the author’s goal for the story
line. Characters can be based on real people and events, or be totally unrealistic, such as
space aliens. People become attached to characters as if they are real, may develop
favorites, and relate to those that have faced similar situations.

Imagery

I. What is Imagery?

Imagery is language used by poets, novelists and other writers to create images in the mind
of the reader. Imagery includes figurative and metaphorical language to improve the reader’s
experience through their senses.

II. Examples of Imagery

Example 1
Imagery using visuals:

The night was black as ever, but bright stars lit up the sky in beautiful and varied
constellations which were sprinkled across the astronomical landscape.
In this example, the experience of the night sky is described in depth with color (black as
ever, bright), shape (varied constellations), and pattern (sprinkled).

Example 2
Imagery using sounds:

Silence was broken by the peal of piano keys as Shannon began practicing her concerto.
Here, auditory imagery breaks silence with the beautiful sound of piano keys.

Example 3
Imagery using scent:

She smelled the scent of sweet hibiscus wafting through the air, its tropical smell a reminder
that she was on vacation in a beautiful place.
The scent of hibiscus helps describe a scene which is relaxing, warm, and welcoming.

Example 4
Imagery using taste:

The candy melted in her mouth and swirls of bittersweet chocolate and slightly sweet but
salty caramel blended together on her tongue.
Thanks to an in-depth description of the candy’s various flavors, the reader can almost
experience the deliciousness directly.

Example 5
Imagery using touch:

After the long run, he collapsed in the grass with tired and burning muscles. The grass tickled
his skin and sweat cooled on his brow.
In this example, imagery is used to describe the feeling of strained muscles, grass’s tickle,
and sweat cooling on skin.

The Importance of Using Imagery

Because we experience life through our senses, a strong composition should appeal to them
through the use of imagery. Descriptive imagery launches the reader into the experience of a
warm spring day, scorching hot summer, crisp fall, or harsh winter. It allows readers to
directly sympathize with characters and narrators as they imagine having the same sense
experiences. Imagery commonly helps build compelling poetry, convincing narratives, vivid
plays, well-designed film sets, and descriptive songs.

Sources:

 “Characters” retrieved March 28, 2020 from https://literaryterms.net/character/

 “Figure of Speech” retrieved March 28, 2020 from https://literarydevices.net/figure-of-
speech/
 “Synesthesia” retrieved March 28, 2020 from
http://www.literarydevices.com/synesthesia/