2) A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist. 1] Simile. By going through the following examples, you too can master the art … I must be cruel only to be kind. Top 20 Figures of Speech . A simile is a figure of speech that uses comparison. A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. An oxymoron is also a noun that’s defined as “a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in ‘cruel kindness’ or ‘to make haste slowly. But here we will be focussing on the five main ones we use in our daily prose. I know you have to be cruel to be kind, Sam, but telling Amy that she looks fat in her party dress was a bit harsh. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately uses two contradictory ideas. Figure of speech – it is raining cats and dogs. Some typical oxymorons are: a living death; sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind; a deafening silence; bitter-sweet Types of Figures of Speech. I must be cruel, only to be kind. Pavan asked 3 years ago Find out and explain the figures of speech and other poetic devices used in the poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost. Now there are dozens of types of figures of speech. Thus bad begins and worse remains behind. (Cambridge Idioms Dictionary) Etymology: From Hamlet Act 3; Scene 4. by William Shakespeare. To be able to use them well is an art, which can be mastered over time. The more you read, the more you will be able to understand. The kids don’t understand and rebel but in the long run, it is protecting the kids from harm. Frequently used examples include similes, metaphors, personification, allusion, hyperbole, irony, and metonymy. In these lines addressed to his mother, Hamlet speaks of two different cruelties. Oscar Wilde's famous declaration that "Life is much too important to be taken seriously" is a paradox. They can help our readers understand and stay interested in what we have to say. Examples of paradox include: "I must be cruel to be kind." Figures of speech are used to describe mundane concepts in a not-so-literal sense, with a view to beautify the language. Using original figures of speech in our writing is a way to convey meanings in fresh, unexpected ways. from Hamlet by William Shakespeare. It is much more than an antithesis, as the two opposing ideas are contradictory in nature but appear involved in the same thought. This figure of speech involves uniting two conflicting ideas. Questions › Figure of speech in Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. 1) a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly" or. Whilst we know that it is not literally raining cats and dogs, the figure of speech adds an intensity to the meaning of the sentence and puts an emphasis on how much it is raining. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. Figures of speech provoke a thought process and bring depth to the language. I must be cruel only to be kind… A figure of speech is a word or phrase which is used to describe something in a non-literal sense. In certain cases, being strict with children so they don’t go down the wrong path or get involved in bad situations with bad people. By going through the following examples, you too can master the art figure in which incongruous or contradictory are. Cambridge Idioms Dictionary ) Etymology: From Hamlet Act 3 ; Scene 4. by William Shakespeare ; Scene 4. William. Include: `` i must be cruel to be kind. and rebel but in the long run it! 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