An eye rhyme is the repetition of two or more words that are spelled almost identically yet pronounced differently, such as “alone” and “gone.” It is also called visual rhyme or sight rhyme. Poets use eye rhymes to appeal to our sense of sight by creating visual patterns, generating an interesting tension between what we see and what we hear.
Eye rhyme exampleShall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
Dysphemism is a harsh, derogatory, or blunt word used instead of a neutral or more polite one. It is often employed to express strong negative emotions such as contempt or hatred, to shock the audience, or as a form of humor among peers. Dysphemisms generally add a negative, critical, or confrontational tone to communication, influencing how readers or listeners perceive the message.
Dysphemism examplesAfter working as a pencil pusher for twenty years, Bob finally quit his soul-crushing office job.
The old geezer next door keeps complaining about my music, even though I only play it during the day.
Instead of fixing up their dump on Oak Street, the owners just decided to sell it as-is.
A Homeric simile is a detailed comparison between two things that continues for several lines. It typically occurs in epic poetry, particularly in the works of the ancient Greek poet Homer, such as the Iliad and the Odyssey. Homeric similes often draw their imagery from nature or everyday life to help audiences visualize dramatic moments in the story.
Homeric simile example in the Iliad 18.318-323 (R. Lattimore Trans.)As thrilling as a trumpet’s note
when it rings clearly, when rapacious enemies
besiege a city—that’s how sharp and piercing
Achilles’ voice was then.
An epic simile is an elaborate comparison that can extend across several lines in an epic poem. Such complex comparisons were typically used in epic poetry to emphasize heroic deeds and provide the audience with a mental image of the scenes and characters.
It is also known as Homeric simile because the Greek poet Homer used them extensively in the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Epic simile example the Iliad 3.33–5 (R. Lattimore Trans.)Just as a man stumbles on a snake
in some mountainous ravine and gives way, jumping back,
his limbs trembling, his cheeks pale, so godlike Paris,
afraid of Atreus’s son, slid back into proud Trojan ranks.
Subtext is the underlying or implicit meaning of a conversation, piece of writing, or other form of communication. It is like a hidden layer of meaning that is not directly conveyed but can be inferred by the audience or readers. Subtext plays a crucial role in film, literature, and everyday discussions and allows us a deeper understanding of what we see, hear, or read.
Subtext exampleYou are debating with your friend about where to go on holiday. You really want to go on a hiking trip but your friend prefers a cultural trip to a city. After going back and forth, your friend gives in and says “That’s fine,” accepting the hiking trip with crossed arms and a tense voice. While they are literally expressing an agreement, the subtext (conveyed through body language and tone) suggests otherwise.
Anastrophe is the inversion of the usual word order in a sentence, placing the emphasis on one or more of the words that have been reversed. This technique is commonly used in prose and poetry where its surprising word order can create a memorable phrase or help to preserve the meter or rhyme scheme.
Anastrophe example“One swallow does not a summer make” ―Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle
“Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.” ―J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
“The greatest teacher, failure is.” ―Yoda in The Last Jedi
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines. Through repetition, anaphora can connect and reinforce a series of thoughts, making it easier to remember them. Because of this, we often encounter anaphora in political speeches, song lyrics, and poems.
Anaphora exampleThere is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal […]
Epistrophe is the repetition of a word or words at the end of successive lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences. Its primary purpose is to draw attention to important ideas, create emphasis, and make key points more memorable. Because of this, we often encounter epistrophe in public speaking, song lyrics, and literature.
Epistrophe example“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.
When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”
—The Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:11 (New International Version)
Periphrasis is the use of several words to form a longer sentence or phrase where a few words or even a single word could convey the same meaning. It involves a roundabout way of referring to something rather than naming it directly in a more concise form.
Periphrasis can appear in various contexts that call for indirect or elaborate language, including literature, bureaucratic texts, or situations in which we want to maintain social etiquette.
Periphrasis examples
Periphrastic example
Simplified example
Her olfactory system was suffering from a temporary inconvenience
Her nose was blocked
Please forgive my tardiness, as unforeseen circumstances caused me to arrive later than anticipated
I am sorry I am late
The sum total of all the parts that go to make up the whole
Hypophora is a technique in which a speaker or writer poses a question and immediately provides an answer. Hypophora is used to keep an audience engaged, anticipate their questions, and steer their thoughts in the direction the writer or speaker wants. We often encounter hypophora in public speaking, prose, and advertising.
Hypophora example Why should we invest in renewable energy? Because it offers a sustainable solution to our growing energy needs while reducing harmful emissions and combating climate change.
