SIMILEand

PERIPHRASIS

SIMILE

What is simile?

• The intensification of some one feature of the concept in question is realized in a device called simile.

• Similes have formal element in their structure: connective words such as: like, such as, as if, seem.

SIMILE vs. COMPARISON

SIMILE• characterize sone object

bringing it into contact with another object belonging to an entirely different class of things

• EXAMPLE: “Maidens, like moths, are ever caught by glare.” (Byron)

COMPARISON• means weighing two objects

belonging to one class of things

• EXAMPLE: The boy seems to be as clever as his mother.

• Some similes can be considered as half metaphor if not for the connective words.

Example: It was that moment of the year when the countryside seems to faint from its own loveliness, from the intoxication of its scents and sounds.” (J. Galsworthy)

• The semantic nature of the simile-forming elements seem and as if is such that they only remotely suggest resemblance. Quite different are the connectives like and as. These are more categorical and establish quite straightforwardly the analogy between the two objects in the question.

• Sometimes the simile-forming like is placed at the end of the phrase almost emerging with it and becoming half-suffix.

Example: “Emily Barton was very pink, very Dresden-china-shepherdess like.”

• Similes may suggest analogies in the character of actions performed.

Example: “The Liberals have plunged for entry without considering its effects, while the Labour Leaders like cautious bathers have put a timorous toe into the water and promptly withdrawn it.”

• In the English language, there is a long list of hackneyed similes pointing out the analogy.

Examples: hungry as a bear, thirsty as a camel, to act like a puppy, playful as kitten, vain as a peacock, slow as tortoise, etc.

PERIPHRASIS

What is periphrasis?

• The ambiguous or roundabout figure of speech.

• Also known as: circumlocution, circumduction, circumvolution, periphrase, ambage

EXAMPLE: “my father’s father” instead of using simply, “grandfather”.

Divisions of Stylistic Periphrase

LOGICAL• Based on one inherent

properties or perhaps a passing feature of the object described

• Example: “the object of his admiration” (pertaining to “love”)

FIGURATIVE• Based either on metaphor

or on metonymy, the keyword of the collocation being the word used figuratively

• Example: “the punctual servant of all work” (pertaining to “the sun”)

Other Types of Periphrasis

• Amphilogism (also called amphilogy) is a form of circumlocutory speech used to avoid telling something that might otherwise harm you.

Example: "She made dinner for me last night", an amphilogistic statement would be "Dinner was already made for me last night".

Other Types of Periphrasis

• Cledonism is the use of circumlocution to avoid saying unlucky words.

Example: Calling the devil "Old Nick", calling Macbeth the "Scottish Play" or saying "baker's dozen" instead of thirteen.

Other Types of Periphrasis

• Equivocation is the use of circumlocution to deceive others without blatantly lying.

• Euphemism is the use of circumlocution to avoid saying offensive words.

Example: "Holy mother of Jesus!" is a circumlocution of "Mary!"

-.End.-Prepared By:

ANGELES, Maria Monica M. BSEd 4-S