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.