Figures of Comparison
Simile
Explicit comparison using like/as.
“He ran like the wind.”
Metaphor
Implied comparison without like/as.
“Time is a thief.”
Analogy
Extended comparison to explain something unfamiliar.
“Life is like a box of chocolates — you never know what you’re gonna get.”
Allegory
Whole story/image as extended metaphor.
Animal Farm = Soviet politics.
Pithy Sayings
Aphorism
Short, memorable truth or principle.
“Knowledge is power.”
Proverb
Traditional, widely used aphorism.
“A stitch in time saves nine.”
Maxim
General rule for conduct.
“Honesty is the best policy.”
Epigram
Witty, sharp remark.
“I can resist everything except temptation.” — Wilde
Sound & Style
Alliteration
Repetition of initial sounds.
“Peter Piper picked…”
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds.
“Hear the mellow wedding bells.”
Onomatopoeia
Word that imitates sound.
“Buzz,” “clang.”
Euphony / Cacophony
Pleasant vs. harsh sound.
“Cellar door” vs. “brash, clatter, clash.”
Emphasis & Effect
Hyperbole
Deliberate exaggeration.
“I’ve told you a million times.”
Litotes
Understatement via negation.
“Not bad at all.”
Irony
Saying opposite of what’s meant.
Raining: “Lovely weather.”
Sarcasm
Sharp, cutting irony.
“Nice job, genius.”
Narrative/Expression
Idiom
Fixed, culture-specific phrase.
“Kick the bucket.”
Colloquialism
Informal everyday speech.
“Gonna,” “ain’t.”
Euphemism
Mild term for harsh reality.
“Passed away” for “died.”
Dysphemism
Harsh term instead of mild.
“Croaked” for “died.”