figures of speech for class 10th

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are merely players!”. One of the most memorable lines in the English language, this sentence is a perfect example of figures of speech. They help lend the prose a lyrical and fresh quality. Let us learn more about figures of speech.

Figures of Speech

Language can be used in two ways – literally and figuratively. Literal language is direct and uses the real definition and meanings of words and phrases. But when we talk figuratively, the meaning of any word/phrase will depend on the context in which they are used. A figure of speech relies on such figurative language and rhetoric.

When using figures of speech the words will diverge from their literal meanings, to give a more stylized and specialized meaning to these words. Let us take for example the phrase”fast like lightning”. This phrase merely implies great speed, it does not mean literally as fast as lightning. Example: “On hearing the school bell the kids ran out of the class as fast as lightning”. 

(Source: flickr)

Types of Figures of Speech

Now there are dozens of types of figures of speech. But here we will be focussing on the five main ones we use in our daily prose.

1] Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that uses comparison. In a simile, we use two specific words “like” and “as” to compare two unlikely things, that actually have nothing in common. This is done to bring out the dramatic nature of the prose and invoke vivid images and comparisons. It is one of the most common forms of a figure of speech and is used in everything from day-to-day talk to poems.

Let us see some examples of simile. “She is as brave as a lion”. Here you will notice a girl and her bravery are being compared to a lion. this is an unusual and illogical comparison, but it brings out the vivid imagery and lyrical quality in the sentence. The literal sentence would have read “She is brave”, but using the simile makes it sound much better. Other such examples can be

• quite like a mouse
• as tall as a mountain
• as strong as an ox
• precious like an angel

Browse more Topics under Vocabulary

• Words
• Types of Phrases
• Synonyms and Antonyms
• Homonyms
• Idioms and Phrases

2] Metaphor

A metaphor and a simile are quite similar actually. A metaphor also uses compares to things that are in no way similar. It does so to bring out the symbolism. A metaphor is a word or phrase used to show its similarity to another thing. It helps to explain an idea, but if you take a metaphor at its literal meaning it will sound absurd.

An example of a metaphor is “Alex is a chicken”. Literally, this sounds so very absurd. But this is a metaphor which suggests that Alex is a coward, or frightened. It compares or implies that Alex is a chicken to bring out the symbolism. Some other examples are ‘love is a battlefield”, “all the world’s a stage”, “that technology is a dinosaur” etc.

from

https://www.toppr.com/guides/english/vocabulary/figures-of-speech/

how to use as soon as or no soner than in sentence

As soon as

JANUARY 7, 2016 - 

Combine the following sentences using as soon as.

1. He received the telegram. He started at once.

2. He finished his work. He went out immediately.

3. The bus arrived. At once the passengers rushed to board it.

4. The mother saw her son. She embraced him immediately.

5. The bell rang. Presently the students ran out of the class.

6. I went to bed. I fell asleep within no time.

7. She said it. At once she realized her mistake.

8. We heard the news. At once we rushed to the hospital.

9. I saw a snake. At once I ran away.

10. My friend saw me. He stopped the car at once.

Answers

1. As soon as he received the telegram, he started.

2. As soon as he finished his work, he went out.

3. As soon as the bus arrived, the passengers rushed to board it.

4. As soon as the mother saw her son, she embraced him.

5. As soon as the bell rang, the students ran out of the class.

6. As soon as I went to bed, I fell asleep.

7. As soon as she said it, she realized her mistake.

8. As soon as we heard the news, we rushed to the hospital.

9. As soon as I saw a snake, I ran away.

10. As soon as my friend saw me, he stopped the car.

from

https://www.englishgrammar.org/as-soon-as/