A euphemism softens something unpleasant: “The company is letting some staff go” instead of firing them. Writers and politicians use euphemisms to avoid upsetting people or to hide harsh truths.
An oxymoron combines opposites: “organised chaos”. Pathetic fallacy uses weather to reflect emotion: “the sky hung heavy and grey with grief”.
Symbolism uses objects to represent ideas. A broken watch kept on a desk, its hands frozen at the moment someone left, might symbolise grief that cannot move on.
Worked example
Why might a company say it is “letting some staff go”?
- The phrase avoids the harsh word fired.
- It makes the action sound gentler.
Answer:It is a euphemism that softens bad news and protects the company's image.
Key words
- euphemism
- a mild word for something harsh
- symbolism
- objects standing for ideas
- figure of speech
- language used in a non-literal way
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: L.9-10.5a