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Summary of Figures of Speech

Lara from Teachy


Spanish

Teachy Original

Figures of Speech

TOPICS - Figures of Speech

Keywords

  • Metaphor
  • Comparison
  • Metonymy
  • Synecdoche
  • Antithesis
  • Paradox
  • Euphemism
  • Hyperbole
  • Irony
  • Personification (or prosopopoeia)
  • Alliteration
  • Assonance
  • Onomatopoeia

Key Questions

  • What are figures of speech?
  • What are the functions of figures of speech?
  • How to identify a metaphor?
  • In what context is euphemism employed?
  • How does irony convey an idea opposite to the literal one?
  • What is the difference between metonymy and synecdoche?
  • How does personification attribute human characteristics to non-human elements?
  • What distinguishes comparison from metaphor?

Crucial Topics

  • Identification and use of figures of speech in different contexts
  • Analysis of literary and non-literary texts to recognize figures of speech
  • Understanding the author's intention in employing each figure of speech
  • Recognizing the impact of figures of speech on meaning construction

Specificities by Areas of Knowledge

Meanings:

  • Metaphor: Use of an expression in a non-literal sense, where a term replaces another with which it shares some similarity.
  • Comparison: Explicit establishment of similarity between two elements, usually introduced by 'like' or 'as'.
  • Euphemism: Substitution of an expression for another less harsh or unpleasant.
  • Irony: Expression that means the opposite of what the words indicate, often used sarcastically or critically.

Vocabulary:

  • Figure of speech: Stylistic resources used in communication to confer expressiveness to the text.
  • Connotation: Use of a term in a figurative, subjective, or emotional sense.
  • Denotation: Use of a term in its literal, objective, or neutral sense.

NOTES - Figures of Speech

Key Terms

  • Metaphor: Meaning transposition based on a relationship of similarity between elements. Ex.: 'Time is a river that carries away our dreams.'
  • Comparison: Similar to metaphor, but uses comparative connectors like 'like' or 'as'. Ex.: 'Her eyes shine like stars.'
  • Metonymy: Substitution of a term for another due to a relationship of proximity or continuity. Ex.: 'He loves to read Camões' (work for the author).
  • Synecdoche: Special case of metonymy where the whole is replaced by the part or vice versa. Ex.: 'Brasília decided' (referring to the government).
  • Antithesis: Opposition of ideas or words within the same sentence or stanza. Ex.: 'It was love and hate, cold and heat.'
  • Paradox: Union of contradictory ideas in the same context. Ex.: 'Silence is deafening.'
  • Euphemism: Softening of an expression that could be considered rude or unpleasant. Ex.: 'He passed away' (instead of 'He died').
  • Hyperbole: Intentional exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect. Ex.: 'I cried rivers of tears.'
  • Irony: Use of words to express the opposite of what they would normally mean, often with sarcasm. Ex.: 'What a great job you did!' (when the job is poorly done).
  • Personification (or prosopopoeia): Attribution of human characteristics to inanimate or irrational beings. Ex.: 'The night dressed in its starry mantle.'
  • Alliteration: Intentional repetition of consonantal phonemes. Ex.: 'The rat gnawed the king of Rome's clothes.'
  • Assonance: Repetition of vowel phonemes. Ex.: 'The night is a deep and black well.'
  • Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate natural sounds. Ex.: 'The clock went tick-tock.'

Main Ideas and Information

  • Expressiveness: Figures of speech enrich the text, giving it liveliness and aesthetic beauty.
  • Author's Intention: Understanding figures of speech helps decipher the intention behind the author's words.
  • Critical Analysis: Identifying figures of speech is essential for a critical and comprehensive reading.

Topic Contents

  • Metaphor: Approximation between concepts that operates at the level of imagination, essential for poetry and creative prose.
  • Comparison vs. Metaphor: While comparison is explicit, metaphor is implicit and more subtle.
  • Metonymy and Synecdoche: Reflect language economy, replacing extensive concepts with shorter ones.
  • Antithesis and Paradox: Employed to highlight internal or external conflicts in a narrative.
  • Euphemism: Common in social contexts where direct expression of certain ideas is avoided.

Examples and Cases

  • Metaphor: Analysis of the phrase 'Time is a thief that steals our moments.' Here, 'time' and 'thief' are connected by the similarity in the action of 'stealing'.
  • Irony: In a conversation, someone may say 'Wonderful to have to work on the weekend!', expressing exactly the opposite of wonderful.
  • Hyperbole: By saying 'I'm starving', one is not literally on the brink of death, but emphasizes the hunger felt.
  • Personification: In the phrase 'The wind whispers secrets', human action of whispering is attributed to the wind.

SUMMARY - Figures of Speech

Summary of the most relevant points

  • Figures of Speech: Stylistic resources that provide expressiveness and depth to texts.
  • Metaphor: Representation of a concept through similarity with another, without the use of comparative connectors, promoting a richer and more imaginative understanding.
  • Euphemism: Linguistic tactic that softens the impact of expressions that could sound offensive or aggressive, smoothing communication in sensitive contexts.
  • Irony: Use of words to communicate an idea contrary to the literal one, often with a touch of sarcasm or social criticism.
  • Metonymy and Synecdoche: Use of a word or expression in place of another, due to a relationship of contiguity or part for the whole, respectively.
  • Personification: Attribution of human characteristics and qualities to inanimate or animal beings, enriching the narrative with more life and emotion.

Conclusions

  • Figures of speech are key tools to understand and interpret language in a more critical and reflective way.
  • Metaphors and euphemisms are frequently used in various contexts, from literature to everyday life, to convey complex or delicate ideas in a creative and subtle manner.
  • The ability to recognize and understand figures of speech is essential to appreciate literary art and for effective communication.
  • Exercising the identification of figures of speech in various texts sharpens linguistic perception and enhances understanding and appreciation of language.

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