A kenning is a compound word or phrase that is used to represent a single word, such as “wave traveler” for “boat.” Kennings were commonly used in Old Norse and Old English poetry, but we also use them today. For example, when we call someone a “pencil pusher” or a “tree hugger.”
Kenning examples
Bane of wood: fire
Battle dew: blood
Sea-horse: ship
Wolf of wounds: warrior
Skull-splitter: axe
Guardian of the people: king
Path of the sea: river
Heaven’s joy: morning
Arrow’s storm: attack
Water’s chain: frost
Feeder of ravens: warrior
Hoard-keeper: a dragon or guardian of treasure
Frosty-breath: winter
Kennings enrich the poetic language and reflect the cultural values and natural surroundings of the societies that created them.
A truism is a self-evident statement that is too obvious and hardly worth mentioning.
While truisms can sometimes be seen as lacking originality or depth, they can also be valuable for conveying universal truths in a relatable way. Because of this, we encounter them in different contexts, including literature, public speaking, and casual conversations.
Truism example I found his speech tedious, full of truisms such as “Everything happens for a reason” and “Some things never change.”
A spoonerism is the transposition of the initial sounds of two or more words, like “belly jeans” instead of “jelly beans.” Spoonerisms occur mostly due to slip of the tongue but can also be intentional as a form of humor.
A mondegreen is a word or phrase that results from mishearing another word or phrase, especially in a song lyric or poem. This can lead to amusing or bizarre misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Mondegreens occur mainly due to similar-sounding words.
Mondegreen examples
Song
Correct phrase
Misinterpretation
“Silent Night” (Christmas carol)
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peas.
“Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan
The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind.
The ants are my friends, they’re blowin’ in the wind.
“Chasing Pavements” by Adele
Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements?
Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing penguins?
An aphorism is a brief statement that expresses a general truth or principle about life. Aphorisms can be humorous and often require interpretation. Due to their clever and memorable nature, aphorisms are commonly found in literature, philosophy, and everyday conversations.
Aphorism examples“Education is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” – Aristotle
Invective is insulting, abusive, or highly critical language. It involves using disparaging words to attack a person, a topic, or an institution. While invective is common in everyday communication, it is also a literary device used in speeches, prose, and poetry.
Invective example in Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift“I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.”
Published on
July 1, 2024
by
Jack Caulfield, MA
Revised on
December 10, 2024
Grawlix is a term for the use of an unpronounceable string of punctuation in place of a curse word or other taboo term. It can also be called “obscenicon” (a portmanteau of “obscenity” and “emoticon”) or “symbol swearing.”
Comic strips often use grawlix to show that a character is saying or thinking something “unprintable”—often to express frustration or surprise. It can also be used on social media to hide profanity. An instance of grawlix can appear alone or as part of a sentence.
Grawlix example“I had a $%#! day, and I’m $%@!%&$ tired!”
Synecdoche is a figure of speech that uses a part of something to refer to the whole (e.g., using the word “wheels” to refer to a car). Sometimes, synecdoche involves using the whole to refer to a part (e.g., referring to the Brazilian football team as “Brazil”).
Synecdoche is an effective literary device for creating memorable images and avoiding repetition. Because of this, it is commonly used in poetry, literature, and everyday speech.
Do you want to explore creative writing? Try QuillBot’s Paraphraser to find your voice.
Synecdoche exampleMy nephew is learning his ABCs. [the alphabet]
Would you like paper or plastic? [types of grocery bag]
Can I buy you a glass? [a drink]
They have boots on the ground for a serious mission. [soldiers]
Irony is a rhetorical device in which the apparent meaning of a situation or statement is not the same as the underlying meaning. Irony involves a contrast between appearance or expectation and reality.
Irony exampleSuppose you and your friend are watching a political candidate give a long and incoherent speech. At the end of the speech, you turn to your friend and say “What a masterclass in public speaking!”
Irony is often used in literature, but you may also encounter it in everyday conversations, movies, or song lyrics. It’s best to avoid irony in academic writing or professional communication to prevent miscommunications.
Do you want to explore creative writing? QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you find your voice.
Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a word is replaced with another word closely associated with the original concept, such as “love” with “heart.”
Metonymy is used to create vivid imagery, add layers of meaning to a text, and convey ideas in a concise way. It’s commonly used in literature, newspaper headlines, and everyday speech.
Metonymy examplesSwedish is my mother tongue.
The White House declined to comment.
Tom’s favorite dish is mac and cheese.
They had a Monet hanging on their wall, and they didn’t know.
The use of metonymy is common in literature and in everyday conversations, but it should be avoided in academic writing or professional communication.
