Figures of speech : Simile, Metaphor, Personification, and Exaggeration (Hyperbole) explained in Telugu for English

Figures of speech 

Simile, Metaphor, Personification and Exaggeration (Hyperbole)

What is a figure of speech in language?

        A figure of speech is a word or phrase that possesses a separate meaning from its literal definition. (ఏదేని ఒక word or phrase ను ఒక వాక్యంలో ప్రత్యేకమైన అర్థాన్ని స్ఫురించేలా ఉపయోగించడమే figure of speech)

        Figures of speech lend themselves particularly well to literature and poetry. They also pack a punch in speeches and movie lines. Indeed, these tools abound in nearly every corner of life. (Figures of speech మనకు literature and poetry లో కనిపిస్తుంది. మనం చూసే సినిమా పంచ్ డైలాగ్స్ లో, పాటల్లో అలాగే నిజజీవితంలో ఎన్నో సందర్భాల్లో మనకు తెలియకుండానే ఉపయోగిస్తాము.)

         There are many figures of speech in English to amuse the readers. But here we will discuss a few of them:

1. Simile

2. Metaphor

3. Personification

4. Exaggeration 

5. Alliteration

1. Simile :

A simile compares two things. However, similes use the words "like" or "as." (ఏవైనా రెండు విషయాలను compare / పోల్చడానినే simile అంటారు. ఇందులో comparison కోసం "like" or "as" అనే పదాలలో ఒకదానికి వాడతారు.)

Eg:

A)   He is as busy as a bee. 

(అతడిని ఒక bee తో as ఉపయోగించి compare చేయడం జరిగినది.)

B) They fought like cats and dogs. 

(వారి పోట్లాటను cats and dogs తో like ఉపయోగించి compare చేయడం జరిగినది.)

More examples:

• You were as brave as a lion.
• They fought like cats and dogs.
• He is as funny as a barrel of monkeys.
• This house is as clean as a whistle.
• He is as strong as an ox.
• Your explanation is as clear as mud.
• Watching the show was like watching grass grow.
• That is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.
• This contract is as solid as quicksand.
• That guy is as nutty as a fruitcake.
• This cot is as comfortable as a bed of nails.
• Well, that went over like a lead balloon.
• They are as different as night and day.
• She is as thin as a rake.
• Last night, I slept like a baby.
• This dress is perfect because it fits like a glove.
• He could hear like an owl.
• My love for you is as deep as the ocean.
• I am so thirsty that my throat is as dry as the Sahara desert.
• The dancer moved like a gazelle.

2. Metaphor:

    Metaphors are used in communication to help illustrate or explain something by comparing it to something else. 

    Metaphors only make sense when the similarities between the two things being compared are apparent or readers understand the connection between the two words.

(ఏవైనా రెండు విషయాలను compare / పోల్చడానినే metaphor అంటారు. ఇందులో comparison కోసం "like" or "as" లాంటి పదాలను ఉపయోగించరు. చదువరి తనకు తానే ఆ పోలికను గుర్తించాల్సి ఉంటుంది)

Eg: 

A) He is a lion. 

(అతడిని lion తో పోల్చడం)

B) She is an angel. 

(ఆమెను angelతో పోల్చడం)

    (పై రెండు సందర్భాలలో కూడా like or as అనే పదాలు comparison కోసం ఉపయోగించలేదు)

More examples:

• The world is my oyster.
• You're a couch potato.
• Time is money.
• He has a heart of stone.
• America is a melting pot.
• You are my sunshine.

3. Personification:

        Personification gives human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or ideas. This can really affect the way the reader imagines things. Personification is often used in poetry, fiction, and children's rhymes. (దీనిలో human characteristics ని inanimate objects, animals, or ideas కు ఆపాదిస్తారు. అంటే మనుషులకు గల లక్షణాలను ప్రాణం లేని వానికి ఆ లక్షణాలు ఉన్నట్లగా చెప్పడం జరుగుతుంది.)

Eg:

A) The phone awakened with a mighty ring.

(మేల్కోవడం అనే మానవ లక్షణాన్ని phone కు ఉన్నట్టుగా చెప్పారు.)

B) The ocean danced in the moonlight.

(డాన్స చేయడం అనే మానవ లక్షణాన్ని ocean కు ఉన్నట్టుగా చెప్పారు.)

More examples:

1. The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.

2. The run-down house appeared depressed.

3. The first rays of morning tiptoed through the meadow.

4. She did not realize that opportunity was knocking at her door.

5. He did not realize that his last chance was walking out the door.

6. The bees played hide and seek with the flowers as they buzzed from one to another.

7. The wind howled its mighty objection.

8. The snow swaddled the earth like a mother would her infant child.

9. The river swallowed the earth as the water continued to rise higher and higher.

10. Time flew and before we knew it, it was time for me to go home.

4. Exaggeration:

        Exaggeration is the representation of something as more extreme or dramatic than it really is. Exaggeration may occur intentionally or unintentionally. (భావాత్మకంగా ఉన్నదానికంటే ఎక్కువ చేసి చెప్పడమే Exaggeration )

Eg: 

• This bicycle is a thousand years old. (అది నిజంగా a thousand years old కాదు. కానీ కాస్త ఎక్కువ చేసి చెప్పడం అన్నమాట. అంటే చాలా పాతది అని అర్థం)
• He snores louder than a cargo train. (అది నిజంగా a cargo train కంటే ఎక్కువగా గురక పెట్టడం కాదు. కానీ కాస్త ఎక్కువ చేసి చెప్పడం అన్నమాట. అంటే చాలా పెద్దగా గురక చేస్తున్నాడని అర్థం)

More examples:

• He is drowning in his tears.
• His brain is the size of a pea.
• The dog was as big as an elephant.
• I caught a fish as big as my house.

Hyperbole    vs   Exaggeration

        A hyperbole is an exaggeration, but it is not exactly the same as an exaggeration.

Explanation:

        When someone uses an exaggeration, the person expects the reader to believe what he is saying. For example, if you said you had 10 pieces of homework to do when, in reality, you only had 5, you would be exaggerating.

        When someone uses a hyperbole, the person expects the reader to understand that exaggeration is being used to make a point. For example, if you said you had a million pieces of homework to do, the reader understands that you are purposefully exaggerating to show that you have a lot homework.

If you are interested watch the video lesson in Telugu explanation for Simile, Metaphor and Personification. 

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