1

© Joy Goodwin

‘How to be Top’
English Work Book
CHAPTER 7

FIGURES OF SPEECH & SOUND DEVICES

 Sound devices – alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia

 Figures of speech - simile, metaphor, personification, mixed
metaphor, extended metaphor, antithesis,
apostrophe, bathos, climax, epigram,
euphemism, hyperbole, innuendo, irony, litotes,
malapropism, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox,
pun, redundancy, rhetorical question, sarcasm,
synecdoche, tautology, transferred epithet.

Comprehension - Persephone

VISUAL LITERACY

ADVERTISMENTS
 2
FIGURES OF SPEECH & SOUND DEVICES
 SOUND DEVICES These are repeated sounds (consonants or vowels) designed to
emphasize a mood. These devices are usually found in poetry which is meant to be read
with the ears.

Alliteration:
Consonants are repeated. These can be in front, in the middle or at the
ends of words. Softly, silently….
The bare black cliff clanged round him.
The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,
the furrow followed free.
Assonance Vowels are repeated. …the moon treads the earth in her silver shoon.
Note the vowels do not need to be spelt the same but must sound the
same. …since first your eye I eyed.
Onomatopoeia The word itself suggests the sound it represents.
crack, boom, buzz, howl etc.

Exercise 1 Identify the sound devices in the sentences below. Also underline the repeated sounds
or words (in the case of onomatopoeia).

a. The sullen wind was soon awake. It tore the elm-tops down for spite and did its worst
to vex the lake.
_________________________________________

b. The splendour falls on castle

walls._____________________

c. Long light shakes across the

lake.________________________________________

d. The baby sucked her bottle noisily.

________________________________

e. His footsteps crunched on the gravel path. __________________________

f. …and the silent isle embowers the Lady of Shalott. __________________________ [12]

 FIGURES OF SPEECH Do not confuse with Parts of Speech (nouns/verbs etc).

The following 3 are comparisons. [Something is compared to something else to create a more vivid
image (mental picture) of the thing in the readers mind.]

SIMILE Like or as is used. [He is sleeping like a baby.]

His sleep is compared to a baby’s. This tells us that it is a deep,
untroubled sleep.
[He is as hungry as a lion.]
His hunger is compared to a lion’s. This tells us that, because lions only
 3
eat when they have killed, and are usually very hungry, eating large
quantities at a time, so he is ravenously hungry and will need a lot of
food to satisfy him.
METAPHOR [John is an absolute baby.] He is not literally a baby but is figuratively
one because he behaves like one. A baby cannot stand up for himself
and neither can John, it seems.

PERSONIFICATION Inanimate objects or abstract things are given human qualities/attributes.

[The piano bared its teeth.]
The piano is given the ability to snarl like an angry man because its
keyboard resembles teeth.

Exercise 2 Identify the type of comparison AND say what 2 things are being compared.

a. The sun rose from his bed. _________ _____________

__________________

b. The Word is a lamp to light my way. ___________

______________ ______________

c. He has a heart like a lion. _______________ __________________ ______________

d. The guest sat down to a groaning table. _____________ _____________ ____________

e. He is acting like a clown. _____________ _________________ __________________

f. All the world’s a stage… _______________ ______________ ________________

g. ..and all the men and women merely players. __________ _____________ ______________

h. They looked at the sullen sky. ____________ ______________ _______________

i. He is the star of the team. ______________ _____________ _______________

j. Do not act like a donkey. _______________ _____________ ________________

k. Do not be a donkey. _________________ ________________ ______________________

l. Laughter held both his sides. _______________ ______________ _________________

[30]

Note Mixed METAPHORS are to be avoided.

[We must take the bull by the horns and leave no stone unturned until we have dotted our i’s and
crossed our bridges in an attempt to put the matter to bed.] Stick to one idea – We must leave no stone
unturned but must search high and low until we have unearthed the culprit.

Extended METAPHORS The main comparison is repeated in different ways throughout.

 4

[No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a
clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less…any man’s death diminishes me, because I am
involved in Mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it toll for thee. John
Donne]

ANTITHESIS Contrasting opposites. [He has a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other.]

APOSTROPHE Addressing/speaking to an inanimate object or a person long dead.

[Milton, thou should’st be living at this hour.] Milton is a poet who died in 1674.
[Oh wild West Wind, thou breath of autumn’s power…]

BATHOS / ANTI-CLIMAX Deliberately spoiling the effect of a climax with something trivial.
The effect is humorous. [I intended to be a great writer, to write short stories and to
write letters to the newspaper.]

CLIMAX The arrangement of ideas in ascending order of importance.

[It is a crime to imprison a Roman citizen; an outrage to scourge (whip) him;
to put him to death almost parricide; but to crucify him------] Cicero.

EPIGRAM A short, pointed saying. It has been compared to a scorpion because it has a sting in
the tail. [Every man desires to live long; but no man would be old.]

EUPHEMISM Using a mild, indirect term instead of being blunt to describe something
unpleasant or sensitive. [He spent time in an institution for the morally challenged. =
He went to jail for corruption.
]
HYPERBOLE Exaggeration for emphasis. [I have told you a million
times to do your homework.]

INNUENDO An insinuation, implying or hinting at something.

[What do you think of my painting? Well the frame is
beautiful.]

IRONY The opposite is true. This can be intentional or unintentional.

[Last year’s 100m freestyle gold medalist has drowned in his swimming pool.]

LITOTES Deliberate understatement, usually using a negative to emphasize the opposite.

[Ernie Els is not short of a penny. = Ernie is very rich.]
[Jamie is no push-over. = Jamie is canny / street-wise.]

MALAPROPISM Mrs Malaprop in Sheridan’s play, Rivals, used words she did not understand.
They had some sounds in common with the words she intended to use.
[I am ambiguous - should be I am ambidextrous.]
[She looked cool, calm and collective – should be collected.]

Exercise 3 Identify the figure of speech in each of the following:

a. The Stormers may not have any props this week – dozens of them have been___________
 5
injured.
b. O Mozart, if only you could hear the music of these modern bands.___________________

c. The rich man is in his castle, the poor man at his gate. ____________________________

d. We face the triple threat of crime, AIDS and a shortage of Coke Lite. ___________________

e. That pen looks remarkably like the one I lost last week ___________________________

f. Even Joe failed the Science test – and he’s no fool. _____________________________

g. The audience grinned at the comedian’s humour, they smiled at his jokes,______________
they chuckled at his wisecracks and guffawed at his antics.

h. Grade 8 must be repeated.______________________________

i. Congratulations on passing our Memory course sir. By the way, you forgot ____________
to pay us.

j. The escalators are not running. We shall have to use the alligators

instead.______________

k. Language is the art of concealing

thought.___________________________ [11]

METONYMY Referring to something closely associated with the actual subject.

[I hoover my carpets every day. Hoover is a name closely associated with vacuum
cleaners.]
[Do you like Shakespeare? = A reference to Shakespeare’s writings not the man.]

OXYMORON Contradictory words placed side by side. [bitter sweet; loving hate]

PARADOX An apparent contradiction. [The longest route is the quickest way home.]

PUN One word that has more than one meaning. Puns intend to be humorous. The words
may also be homophones or have slight differences. [The name of a pet parlour =
Sincerely Paws – a play on ‘yours’.]
[Two ghosts entered a bar and asked if spirits were served there.]

REDUNDANCY The use of unnecessary words. They can be left out without affecting meaning.

RHETORICAL QUESTION No answer is expected.

[Do you think I’m an idiot?]

SARCASM Bitter or wounding remark or taunt phrased in ironic terms.

[He is a fine one to talk. = He has no business opening his mouth on the
subject.]

SYNECDOCHE Part for the whole or whole for the part.

 6
[All hands on deck.] [South Africa plays England tomorrow.]

TAUTOLOGY Two words, side by side, that mean the same thing. One should be
Left out.

TRANSFERRED EPITHET An adjective is called an epithet in literature.

Describing something closely associated with the actual noun for effect.
[He tossed all night on a sleepless pillow.] ‘Sleepless’ describes ‘pillow’ instead
of him.

Exercise 4 Identify the figure of speech in each of the following:

a. Do you want me to report you to your House Head? _______________________

b. The kettle is boiling. __________________________

c. He saw a small crowd in the square.

___________________________

d. I’ll give you a hand. _____________________________

e. Did you know that the cannibal toasted his mother-in-law at his wedding reception?_______

f. I have great confidence in my fellow colleagues. ___________________

g. Right, Einstein, tell us all the solution to this maths problem. [Teacher to class dunce.] _____

h. In my opinion, I think that is nonsense. _____________________

i. Our enemies are our truest friends. _______________________

j. The friends drank a cheerful glass. ____________________________ [10]

Comprehension Persephone.

Deep under Mt Aetna, the gods had buried a number of dreadful,

fire-breathing giants who struggled to get free. Hades, the
god of the underworld (whom the Romans called Pluto), was
afraid they would tear open the earth and let daylight into the
realms of the dead. Mounting his golden chariot, he went up to
see what damage had been done. Aphrodite, goddess of love
and beauty, playing with her son Eros, saw Hades as he drove
around with his coal-black horses.
She said, ’There goes one who defies our power. Quick, take up
 7
your darts and send an arrow into the breast of that dark monarch. Let him, too, feel the
pangs of love.’ At his mother’s words, Eros chose from his quiver, the sharpest, truest
arrow and shot it straight into Hades’ heart.

The grim king had never felt love before, but now, an unaccustomed warmth stole
through his veins. Before him he saw a beautiful maiden, gathering flowers in a meadow
full of blossoms. She was Persephone, daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest. She
was filling her apron with lilies and violets. Hades looked at her and loved her at once.
With one sweep of his arm he caught her up and drove swiftly away. Persephone
struggled but the god held her tightly. He struck the bank with his trident and the earth
opened and darkness swallowed them all – horses, chariot, Hades and the weeping
Persephone.

Demeter searched for her daughter from end to end of the earth, but none could tell her
Persephone’s whereabouts. She laid the blame on the innocent land. ‘Ungrateful soil!’ I
made you fertile. I clothed you in grass and nourishing grain and this is how you reward
me. No more shall you enjoy my favours!’ That year was the most cruel mankind had
ever known. Nothing prospered, nothing grew. The cattle died, the seed would not
germinate and men and oxen toiled in vain.

‘This cannot continue,’ said mighty Zeus. ‘I must intervene.’ One by one, he sent his
gods and goddesses to plead with Demeter. But she had the same answer for them all.
‘Not till I see my daughter shall the earth bear fruit again.’
Zeus called his son Hermes (whom the Romans called Mercury). ‘Go down to the
underworld and bid Hades release his bride. Provided she has not tasted food in the
realm of the dead, she may return to her mother forever.’ Down sped Hermes on winged
feet and there, in the dim palace of the king, he found Persephone by Hades’ side. She
was pale and unhappy. Not all the glittering treasures of the underworld could bring a
smile to her lips. ‘You have no flowers here,’ she would tell her husband when he
pressed gems on her. ‘Jewels have no fragrance. I do not want them.’

When she saw Hermes and heard his message, her hear leaped within her and her cheeks
grew rosy and her eyes sparkled. She knew that Hades would not dare disobey his
brother. She sprang up but one thing troubled her. She had accepted a pomegranate from
Hades and sucked the sweet pulp from four of the seeds. She would not be able to return
to her mother forever. With a heavy heart Hades helped Persephone into his golden
chariot while Hermes took up the reins. ‘Dear wife,’ he said, his voice trembling, ‘I love
you truly. It will be lonely these eight months that you are away. Think kindly of me.’

Hermes drove the black horses straight to the temple of Demeter at Eleusis. The goddess
heard the chariot wheels, and as a deer bounds over the hills, she ran out swiftly to meet
her daughter. Persephone flew into her mother’s arms. So it is, that to this day, one third
of the year Persephone spends in the gloomy abode of Hades – one month for each seed
that she tasted. Then Nature dies, the leaves fall, the earth stops bringing forth. In spring
 8
Persephone returns and with her come the flowers, followed by the summer’s
fruitfulness and the rich harvest of autumn.

a. What type of mountain do you think Mt Aetna is? Support your answer by
referring to the text. /3/
b. The gods and goddesses mentioned in this story have Greek names. What did the
Romans call Eros? (General knowledge question) /1/
c. Gods and goddesses live for ever. Because of this they are also known as _________ /1/
d. This story was made up to explain something to the ancients. What? /2/
e. Why, do you think, did Hades drive coal black horses? /2/
f. What part of speech is tightly? /1/
g. How many prongs does a trident have? How do you know? /2/
h. Demeter blamed the earth for the loss of her daughter. Whose fault was it really?
Explain your answer. /2/
i. Identify the figure of speech in ‘Ungrateful soil!’ /1/
j. What evidence is there in this story, that Zeus is the most powerful of the gods? /2/
k. Identify the figure of speech in darkness swallowed them all. /1/
l. Which people inhabited the underworld according to the text? /1/
m. Why could Persephone not return to her mother for ever? /2/
n. Find an example of onomatopoeia in the text. /1/
o. What did Persephone miss dreadfully in the underworld. /1/
p. In the last paragraph find an example of simile. /1/
q. Persephone flew into her mother’s arms. Is this literal or figurative in meaning? /1/
[25]
Revision tests Identify the figures of speech or sound devices.

TEST 1

a. The pen is mightier than the sword. _____________________________________

b. That is an open secret. ______________________________________

c. One must be cruel only to be kind. ________________________________

d. They speak like saints but act like devils. __________________________

e. Bells tinkle and crickets chirrup all around the picnic-site. __________________

f. The wind screamed in agony. _________________________

g. The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain. ____________________

h. I consulted an optimist about my eyes. ____________________

i. Finally, I have passed my driver’s licence at last. ____________________

j. He was caught doing some alternative shopping. ___________________

k. By dinnertime we were all starving. _____________________

 9
l. Our new maths teacher is not bad at all. __________________

m. I came, I saw, I conquered. __________________

n. There have been some new innovations. __________________________

o My hairdo was very inexpensive. - Yes, I can see that. __________________

p. Have you had your Kelloggs today? __________________

q. She scratches like a cat. ______________________

r. Those car exhausts are polluting the air we breathe. Can you spare me a cigarette?
__________

s. The dog growled, snarled menacingly, bared its fangs and licked him on the nose. ___________

t. Aching muscles are a source of pleasurable pain. ______________________

[20]
TEST 2

a. A. My pet octopus drowned. B. I’m sorry to hear it.

A. That’s okay, I wasn’t attached to it. ________________________

b. Talk about idle. I’ve been watching that workman for hours and he hasn’t done a thing._______

c. Dear teacher, my son is sick. Please execute him. ___________________

d. This situation is very unique. _________________________

e. He has no little knowledge of his subject. ____________________

f. The fuse began to splutter. ________________

g. He strolled past the whinnying stable. _____________________

h. Come here boy, you little devil. _______________________

i. Cowards die many times before their deaths. ________________________

j. This land belongs to the crown. ______________________ [10]

 10

Test 3

a. Explain what an acronym is and give an example of one. ______________________

_________________________ ________________ /2/

b. Explain what each of the following are and give an example:

oxymoron ______________________________ ____________________

c. simile _______________________________ _____________________

d. metaphor _______________________________ _____________________ /6/

e. Identify and name the figure of speech in this cartoon. ___________________ /2/

f. Identify, name and explain the figure of speech in this cartoon.

___________________________ ______________________________________

______________________________________________________________________ /5/
[15]

VISUAL LITERACY & ADVERTISEMENTS

Exercise 1
 11

Each of the men above is embarking on a long journey. Look at what each is wearing and carrying.

a. Which man lived in 1400 AD ___; in 1850 ___; in 1930 ___; in 2000 ___; after 9/11____?

b. A large bag made of thick material is called a carpet-bag. Which man is carrying one? _____

c. Which man will be completing his journey on foot? ____

d. Complete this expression: To walk is to go by Shanks’ ____________

e. Which man will probably travel by ship or train? _____

f. Which man is carrying the least luggage? _____

g. What is man A wearing? ____________

h. Explain why man A is wearing what he is wearing. ____________________________

1. What is man B wearing on his face? ______________

m. Which 3 men are looking forward to their journey? ___ ___ ___

n. Give one adjective to describe the facial expression of man E _______________

and another to describe the facial expression of man A. ____________________

o. Which man probably faces the most dangerous journey? Refer to the picture to give a reason
for your answer. ___ _________________________________________________________

[20]

Exercise 2
 12

a. What title does the short man have? How do you know?____ _________________ /2/

b. Where are the two men standing? _________________________________________ /1/

c. How do you know where they are? _________________________________________ /1/

d. Correct the grammatical error in the cartoon. __________________________ /1/

[5]
Exercise 3

a. Look at the father. Give one adjective to describe his mood._____________________ /1/

b. Why is he in this mood? ________________________________________________ /2/

c. We know he is the father because the boy calls him ‘dad’. Write down two features
of the father’s appearance that make it clear that he is significantly older than the boy.
REMEMBER it is NOT ENOUGH to say simply his hair or his clothes or his face. Refer to
specifics about them. How does his hair differ from a boy’s hair etc.

___________________________________ ________________________________ /2/

d. Give two aspects of the son’s appearance that make it plain that he is a modern teenager.

___________________________________ _________________________________ /2/

e. How else does the cartoonist suggest (graphically/using a drawing) that the boy is a teenager?

(2 things) ________________________ _________________________________ /2/

f. Look at the son’s eyes and hands. What do they suggest about his state of mind? Why?

__________________________________________________________________ /3/
 13
g. Why are the words rationally and actually in heavy print? ____________________ /1/

h. He is suggesting that his father is not rational but e____________________. /1/

i. By adding a prefix give the opposite of rational. ____________________ /1/

j. Do you think the son is telling the truth? Explain your answer by referring to the
boy’s reaction to his father’s appearance. /3/

____ _________________________________________________________________

k. What do we call the … at the start of the boy’s words? ________________________

l. Why are they there? _____________________________________________ /2/

[20]

Exercise 4

a. Look at the first cartoon. Identify the figure of speech contained in it. _______________ /1/

b. Explain why you gave this answer. ____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________ /3/

c. Which of the 2 figures is the boss? Explain your answer. __________________

___________________________________________________________________ /3/

d. How does the employee feel? (Look at the eyes) _______________________________ /2/

e. Look at the second cartoon. What emotion do these two feel for each other? _________ /1/

f. Give 5 points about their body language that support your answer.

______________________________ ___________________________________

_______________________________ ___________________________________

______________________________ /5/
[15]
 14

Exercise 5 ADVERTISEMENT

a. Which word in C2 refers to the romance and appeal of the original scooter? /1/

_________________________

b. Vespa means ‘wasp’ in Italian. What is the figure of speech in the name Vespizzatevi
that makes it such an effective brand name for the original scooter in C1. /1/

____________________________

c. Explain why the name is so effective. ________________________________________

________________________________________________________________ /3/

d. Which word in C2 captures the wasp-like quality of the Vespa? ____________________ /1/

e. What reason would a person today have to buy a Vespa that a person in the 1950’s
would not have had? C1’s picture/graphics give you the clue. ____________________ /3/

f. Both advertisements make use of repetition. Identify an example of repetition in each

advertisement.
C1 _______________________________________________________

C2 _______________________________________________________ /2/

g. Name and identify a sound device in C2. ___________________________________ /2/

h. Name the figure of speech in: It’s cheeky._________________________ /1/

 15
i. What is the reason for the apostrophe in h? _____________________________ /1/

j. At what type of person was the 1950 Vespa advertisement aimed? Give a reason
for your answer. /3/

_______________________ _________________________________________

k. Is C2 a recent advert or quite a few years old? Explain your answer. /3/

________________ ___________________________________________________

l. Look at C2. Give 2 facts that are mentioned._________________________________

____________________________________________________________________ /2/

m. Give 2 opinions mentioned in C2. ________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ /2/
[25]

Revision test Identify the figures of speech / sound devices.

a. All the children were weeping tearfully. ______________________

b. My armchair is waiting patiently. _____________________

c. Boy, can she talk! I’ve lost count of the number of times she interrupted me. _______________

d. It is an exact estimate. ____________________

e. You must pull up your socks! ____________________

f. You will fail and he will succeed. ____________________

g. The ball missed the stumps by a mile. ____________________

h. He is assisting us with our investigation. _________________

i. FIERY FANI STUMPS KIWIS ______________________

j. How can you tell where an elephant has been? … By the stickers on his
trunk. ____________

[10]