TABLE OF CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION 3

2. SARCASM 4

3. SATIRE 6

4. HYPERBOLE 8

5. CARICATURE 9

6. PARODY 10

7. CONCLUSION 11

8. REFERENCES 12

1. INTORODUCTION

Figurative language: one meaning of ‘figure’ is “drawing’ or ‘image’ or ‘picture’. Figurative language creates figures(pictures) in the mind of the reader or listener. These picture help convey meaning faster and more vividly than words alone.

We use figures of speech in “figurative language” to add color and interest and to awaken the imagination. We will look at some example of figure of speech as they are used in texts and outline some examples. The figures of speech we will be looking at include Sarcasm, Satire, Caricature, Hyperbole and parody.

1. SARCASM

Sarcasm can be used in all kinds of ways, it can express everything from anger to humor. Sarcasm is an example of what some researcher call unplain speaking, ways of speaking in which what is said differs from what is meant. This category of language also include forced politeness, ritual language, affection and speaking in aphorism. Some people consider sarcasm to be a cruder, “lower” form of irony or simply a verbal form of irony. But sarcasm always hinges on the speaker; a person is sarcastic ( a sarcastic), but a situation is ironic sarcasm is not deceptive, although not everyone grasp the speakers true intention.

IN THE BOOK “ ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE”

HERE ARE THE EXAMPLES OF SARCASM USED IN THE BOOK:

• DR STOCKMANN: (CALLING THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR INTO THE SITTING ROOM):KATHERINE, I FOUND ANOTHER ONE

MRS STOCKMANN: (FROM THE SITTING-ROOM) OH YOU WILL FIND A LOT MORE YET, I EXPECT.

This express the anger DR STOCKMANN and her wife MRS STOCKMANN have. They try to take the matter lightly so address it in a ridicule way.

• PETRA: YES I HAVE BEEN GIVEN NOTICE OF DISMISSAL…………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………….

PETRA: MRS BUSKS ISN’T A BIT LIKE THAT, MOTHER, I SAW QUITE WELL HOW IT HURT HER TO DO IT. BUT SHE DIDN’T DARE DO OTHERWISE SHE SAID: AND SO I GOT MY NOTICE

DR STOCKMANN: (LAUGHING AND RUBBING HIS HANDS): SHE DIDN’T DARE DO OTHERWISE, EITHER: THAT’S DELICIOUS! (PG 91)

Petra is given a dismissal notice but Dr stockmann respond by saying “That’s delicious’. It’s ironical instead of being sad he laughs.

SHREDS OF TENDERNESS BY

EXAMPLES OF SARCASM USED IN THIS BOOK

At the start of this play Odie uses sarcasm in his statement. What he is saying is different from what he is meaning, he speaks ironically. Used to put emphasis in what Odie is talking and also to create a mental picture to the mind of the reader of what is happening.

• ODIE: (addressing the jar in whisper) your highness Your Highness. Having royal nap, your Highness are you? A royal nap in spite of the shouting and the shelling and killing outside?( A bit Impatient) Your Highness! Are you deaf, Your might Highness? …………………………………………………….

Also we have sarcasm the time when Stella Tells Odie if he continue harassing the animal she will call the SPCA( society of the prevention of cruelty to animals) but Odie respond” if the society cannot protect themselves why should they be bothered?” It is used to shows the anger and hatred that Odie has for Stella.

• ODIE: Bums if they can’t protect themselves why should they be bothered? The Guerillas gunned down their patron the other dy. What did they do? Nothing. So?

IN THE PLAY AMINATA BY

HERE ARE EXAMPLES OF SARCASM USED

• NUHU: Headman when a village child drowns in the raging waters of swollen river, do the villagers stop drinking water?

NDURURU: Those are wise words son of Rabala. You have spoken well.

JUMBA: Wise words are they? Wisdom, what is wisdom Ndururu?(pause) Tell me have you ever seen a man die wisely?

Here Jumba goes opposite way of his fellow headmen. This men were thinking that they were talking well and wisely hoping that Jumba would be pleased but it the outcome is opposite of what they expected. The use of sarcasm here try’s to show the anger Jumba has for his fellow Headmen.

• MULEMI: What about the will? That is what is important.

AMINATA: (Sarcastic) in membe, what is written down on apiece of paper is of no consequences whatsoever. They want the evidence of the living, not the dead. (pg 36)

Aminata emphasize his message by being sarcastic and also this figure of speech creates a mental picture on the mind of the reader so it become more Cleary.

• MULEMI: (AMUSED) these are not thorns auntie, they are darts. This is a game of darts.

KEZIA: A game of darts? (Pause) Is it for men whose wives have gone away? (pg 30)

Kezia uses sarcasm in order to ridicule Mulemi. This expresses art of humor.

• MULEMI: for a messenger I would say you are going a little too far.

KEZIA: A little too far? No, my boy, I have not even begun yet. Your father……………………………………… (pg32)

The use of sarcasm here is used by the author to put emphasis to message that is being passed across and also to attract the attention of the reader.

• KEZIA: When the house is warm? Stay well and do not tell Aminata that I greeted her.

Kezia here is telling Mulemi that he should greet Aminata but instead of passing the message directly she say the opposite of it “do not tell Aminata that I greeted her” This brings the effect of humor to the reader.

3. SATIRE

A literary term used to ridicule or make fun of human vice or a weakness often with the intent of correcting or changing the subject of the satire attack.

Also is a piece of literature designed to ridicule the subject of the work. While satire can be funny, it’s aim is not to amuse but to arouse contempt. Jonathan swift’s “ Gulliver’s Travels” satirizes the English people making them seem dwarfish in their ability to deal with large thoughts, issues or deeds.

IN THE BOOK “ AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE” BY

SOME EXAMPLES OF SATIRE USED

• DR STOCKMANN: (adding the stone to a heap of others on the table). I shall treasure these stones as relics. Ejlif and Morten shall see them every day and when they are grown up they shall inherit them.( Rakes about a bookcase) Hasn’t…………………………………….

Dr stockmann here uses satire to ridicule the people who stoned his house. He takes this matter lightly and talks like nothing had happened or it’s like he wanted this to happen so that his sons shall inherit the stones.

• DR STOCKMANN: Yes isn’t their cowardice astonishing? Look here I will show you something. Here are all the stones they have thrown through my windows. Just look at them! There are no more than two decently large bits of hard stone in the whole heap; The rest are nothing but Gravel wretched little things and yet they stood out there swearing that they would break everyone in my bone as for doing anything. You don’t see much of that in this town (pg 92)

Here Dr stockmann ridicule what he was done that’s is stoning of his house. He says that what they did is cowardice they could have done more than they did. “two decently large bits of hard stone in the whole heap; rest are nothing but gravel”.

• MORTEN KILL: You pull their legs (Gets up) .if you can work it so that the major and his friends all swallow the same bait, I will give ten pounds to charity on the spot.

DR STOCKMANN: That’s very good of you.

MORTEN KILL: Yes, I haven’t got much money to throw away I can tell you; but if you can work this, I will give pounds to charity this Christmas.

Morten Kill uses satire here. He tells Dr Stockmann if he succeeds he will award the charity. He is ridiculing him since he knows that it will be hard for Dr Stockmann to succeed that’s why he says “ I haven’t got much money to throw away”.

EXAMPLE OF USE OF SATIRE IN AMINATA

• ROSINA: Your late brother’s dying wishes was is not pastor Ngoya’s wish that his grave should be cemented ?

JUMBA: How am I to know? Have you been talking to the dead?

Rosina try’s to drive a point to Jumba but instead Jumba try’s to change the subject by ridiculing him in order to change the topic.

• ROSINA: (Entering) pleased? Did I here you say, pleased? Jumba, my husband, why do you deafen your ears against my words? What worms block your ears when I speak?

JUMBA: Worm? (Clear his ears with index finger) What worms.

Jumba ridicule Rosina when he is told why he is deafening his ears against his words. Jumba take this lightly and start clearing his ears with his finger to look for worms in his ears.

• MULEMI: Leave Aminata out of this pettiness.

KEZIA: When we leave Aminata out of it what are we left with? Nothing except you, this board and those chattering monkeys.

Here there is the effect of humor used by using satire. Mulemi trys to get out of the topic that they are talking but Kezia ridicule him.

• MULEMI: That’s is my proffesion, Auntie. The monkeys ,the rabbits and the rats are for serious business. They are for research.

KEZIA: Researcher, what game is that one? Is it a game of bulls too?

The use of satire here is for ridiculing Mulemi for what he does. Kezia try’s to amuse Mulemi for what he is doing since she don’t like what he is doing.

SHREDS OF TENDERNESS

EXAMPLE OF SATIRE USED IN THE BOOK

• STELLA: (her voice) I’ll get it, Odie.

ODIE: Go right ahead, sis (Afterthought) you’ve all the time in the world.

Odie here uses satire to amuse Stella.

4. HYPERBOLE

This is the use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but isn’t meant to be taken literally.

Also is a figure of speech that uses an exaggerated a extravagant statement to create an emotional response also to create emphasis effect.

EXAMPLES OF HYPERBOLE IN AMINATA

• JUMBA: Mama Rosina, it is not fitting that you and is should lock horns over this matter Ababio is my late brother’s eldest son. Now if he wants his father’ grave cemented on a Friday, a Saturday, or a Sunday, who am I to stop him?

Jumba uses exaggeration here in order to put emphasis to his message so that Rosina whom they were talking with this time could understand more Cleary that he could not do anything about the situation.

• JUMBA: (absent –minded) Yes Membe’s grow-worm in days gone.( recovering) I am sure his shadow is more than pleased with it. (pg 1)

Also here hyperbole has been used here to put emphasis to the message passed across by Jumba that his shadow is more pleased with it for the job well done.

USE OF HYPERBOLE IN THE BOOK THINGS FALL APART.

• The two ridges lay side by side.

This is the use of exaggeration. The writer success this in order to create mental a mental picture to the mind of the reader.

• The land was fertile. It was the whole of Gikuyu Country from one horizon embracing the heavens to other hidden in clouds so….

This is an example of hyperbole. The author exaggerates the statement so as to put more emphasis on what he was saying and create a mental picture to mind of the reader.

USE OF HYPERBOLE IN SON OF FATE

• We found a seat just next to the entrance and we made ourselves comfortable for the first time in eight years……………………………………………… (pg1)

The use of hyperbole here put more emphasis to the message the author is talking about and also create a visual likeness to the mind of the reader.

Kiriamiti uses hyperbole when he goes to buy things for her grandmother. This brings the art of humor to the readers. ………” I bought a kilogram of sugar, a packet of tea leaves, some loaves of bread and some ciggarrates. I went completely broke. If my grandmother wasn’t there then I was sunk………………”

USE OF HYPERBOLE IN AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE

• MRS STOCKMANN: But Thomas are you sure we should take this step, this business about leaving….?

DR STOCKMANN: Are you suggesting that I should stay here, where they have pillared me as enemy of the people. Branded me-Brocken my window! And just look here, Katherine- they have torn my trouser tool! (pg 89)

Dr stockmann uses hyperbole here in order to create a strong emotional response and emphasis. He exaggerates his statement by saying ‘Katherine- they have torn my trouser tool!’ that was the best pair he had so using that her wife could easily get the emotional he heard.

• DR STOCKMANN: What the devil are you driving at Hovstand?

Dr stockmann exaggerates his statement by adding the name devil, this brings more emphasis to what he is talking by using the word Devil also brings the effect of humor.

5. CARICATURE.

Refers to a portrait that exaggerates or distort the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. In literature a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristic and over simplification of others.

Caricature can be insulting or complimentary and can serve a political purpose or be drawn solely for entertainments.

CARICATURE IN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE

• DR STOCKMANN: We won’t live in such a disgusting hole any longer. Pack up as quickly as you can Katherine; the sooner we get away, the better (pg 92)

This is an an example of caricature. He calls his country a disgusting hole. This show that his place wasn’t good for them to live in. this creates a mental picture on the mind of the reader of what he was talking about.

• HORSTER: It is not such an easy matter, he said, for a party man……….

DR STOCKMANN: The worthy man spoke the truth. A party is like a sausage machine; it mashes up all sorts or heads together into mincemeat of fatheads and blockheads.(pg 94)

Dr stockmann compare a party to a sausage machine. She uses exaggeration comparing a party to a sausage thus creating a identifiable visual likeness.

• DR STOCKMANN; If we want to another town do you suppose we should not find the common people just as insolent as they are here? Of course there is not much to choose between them. Oh well lets the mongrels yap- that is not the worst part of it. The worst is that, from one end of this country to other every man is the slave of his party. (pg90)

Here Dr Stockmann uses caricature. He compares people with other countries people. Here he try’s to explain to her wife people are all the same by creating an identifiable visual likeness.

CARICATURE IN THE RIVER BETWEEN.

• Behind Kameno and Makuyu were many more valleys and ridges, lying without discernible plan. They were like many sleeping lions which never woke. They just slept the big sleep of their creator.

Here the author makes his description more Cleary by creating a more clear picture on the mind of the reader.

• And he still spoke aloud his message and cried” There shall come a people with clothes like butterflies”. These were the white men…………………………………..

There is an exaggeration of describing the people .and use of personification thus creating a visual likeness to the mind of the reader.

6. PARODY.

A literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule.

EXAMPLE OF PARODY IN AMINATA

• KEZIA: God put Adam and Hawa in the garden Of Eden and said “Go ye and multiply.” He did not tell them to go ye and play darts!

Here Kezia uses parody to create humor by using the quote in the bible and make it look funny. Also used for emphasis.

• AND Joshua’s followers gathered. They talked and sang praised to God. Muthoni was an evil spirit sent to try the faithful it was now clear to all that nothing but evil could come out of adherence to tribal customs. Joshua their leader was inspired. He now preached with vigor and a strange holiness.

• ABabio: Do you think I am drunk? No you are wrong. I only tasted. Fisrt Timothy, Chapter five verse twenty three” Drink no longer water but use a little wine fro thy stomach sake.”