Writing SchoolStylistic DevicesExercises – Stylistic Devices Exercises – Stylistic Devices display incorrect answers Exercises Choose the right stylistic device for each example. Her smile is like the sun.comapring two things; A is like B → similieallusionmetaphorsimilie The stone made a plopping sound as it entered the water. the pronunciation of the word imitates a sound (plopping) → onomatopoeiaambiguityalliterationonomatopoeia The joke was seriously funny. using two words with opposing meanings to describe something (seriously funny) → oxymoroninversionoxymoronparallelism The waves raced to shore.representing animals, inanimate objects or abstract concepts with human characteristics (racing waves) → personificationmetaphorpersonificationsimilie A silver snake slithered across the sand.repetition of the initial sound of two words in a sentence (here the letter s) → alliterationalliterationassonancepersonification At 5 o’clock the suits streamed out of their offices.the subject is replaced with a figurative expression that is closely associated with it (suits = office workers) → metonymyinversionlitotesmetonymy The rain fell hard on the tin roofs. The rain was cold and wet. The rain kept on for days.words or phrases are repeated → repetitionallusionrepetitionsynecdoche When she started crying, I handed her a Kleenex.using a specific term for something general (here: a brand name for a general product) → synecdocheallusionmetaphorsynecdoche I’m going to powder my nose.a polite or indirect way of expressing unpleasant information (powder one’s nose = go to the toilet) → euphemismallusioneuphemismparenthesis They have a million things to do today.deliberate exaggeration → hyperboleellipsishyperboleunderstatement Exercises Improve your English with Lingolia. Each grammar topic comes with one free exercise where you can review the basics, as well as many more Lingolia Plus exercises where you can practise according to your level. Check your understanding by hovering over the info bubbles for simple explanations and handy tips. Exercises – Stylistic Devices Exercises – Stylistic Devices Additional Exercises – Stylistic Devices To Helen – Edgar Allen Poe C1 Because I could not stop for Death – Emily Dickinson C1 A Poison Tree – William Blake C1 The Eagle – Alfred, Lord Tennyson C1