1. Simile: A direct comparison between two things using "like" or "as."
*Example: "The clouds are like cotton candy."
2. Metaphor: An implied comparison between two things without using "like" or "as."
*Example: "He is a lion on the battlefield."
3. Personification: Giving human qualities or characteristics to inanimate objects or animals.
*Example: "The wind whispered secrets to the trees."
4. Hyperbole: An exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.
*Example: "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."
5. Understatement: The opposite of hyperbole, where something is intentionally downplayed.
*Example: "It's a little bit chilly outside." (when it's actually freezing)
6. Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
*Example: "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."
7. Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words.
*Example: "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain."
Beyond these 7:
There are many other figures of speech, including:
* Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds. (e.g., "buzz," "crash")
* Oxymoron: Combining contradictory terms. (e.g., "deafening silence")
* Irony: A contrast between expectation and reality. (e.g., a fire station burning down)
* Symbolism: Using an object or image to represent an abstract idea. (e.g., a dove symbolizing peace)
The number 7 is arbitrary, and different texts might categorize figures of speech in various ways.