Personification

consists in attributing human qualities or emotions or attitudes to inanimate objects, so that this thing or phenomenon really comes alive and has a personality of its own. (the fog comes on little cat's feet it sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches and then moves on.) One and the same object can be personified with very different ways. Linguistically personification is sometimes marked by the use of capital letters and pronouns “he”, “she” instead of “it”. (the Nature can take her revenge on us. And Time that gave doth now his gift confound. The bookcase … repudiated all familiarities.)

Allegory

is a piece of discourse with a double m-ng. On one hand it means what it says on the other hand it says quite a different story, used symbolically. It is found on a sentence level and often manifests itself through proverbs (не говори гоп, пока не перескочишь – don't cross the bridge before you have come to it) on the textually level it is found in such genres as fables and parables (притчи). There are novels which are allegoric. On the sentence level we can distinguish between metaphorical and metonymical allusion. Sometimes we have both (волка ноги кормят) the way to a man's heart lies through his stomach. Язык мой — враг мой.

allusion - contrast

Periphrasis

Is an umbrella term for a number of notions

Euphemism, dysphemism, political correctness, “double speak”, poetical periphrasis, kenning/

Euphemism

Is a word or expression we use instead of another which seems to be too coarse or which may hurt the listener’s feelings. It can be trite and genuine.

Dysphemism

Using a rougher word or phrase instead of a neutral expression (my old folk – father). It can be used for the sake of informality of tone or avoiding sentimentality.

Political correctness

Is a kind of euphemism imposed on the language community by the current cultural ethics. (“the black population”). Invalids are called “handicapped”, “physically challenged”, “vertically challenged”, “horizontally challenged”.

religion, gender relationships, disabilities, with old people, professions, economical/social positions

Double speak (talk)

Periphrasis for political purposes, is meant to channel public perception, to conceal some ungainly facts.

Poetic periphrasis

Consists in using lengthy and high-flown expressions instead of a plainer and shorter one. The purpose is often humorous or ironic. (There was considerable difference in inducing Oliver to take upon himself the office of respiration)

Kenning

Is a kin to metaphor. It appears in all English and Scandinavian poetry. “God’s beacon” for “sun”, “ring-giver” for “king”.

Hyperbole

Is a device consisting in exaggeration which is meant to be understood as such.

Trite (I haven’t seen you for ages. A thousand thanks, pardons)

Authentic (it could reach up and grab the Moon)

• Mummy, I’ve just seen a dog run by as big as a horse.

• I told you a thousand times not to exaggerate.

Just a drop, a cat-size pony (reversed hyperbole)

Understatement (Meiosis)

We state smth. in restrained terms, to make it sound less than it is.

Litotes is a kind of meiosis, structurally restricted (negation – not, no + the initial noun, antonym)

not without

double negation

not + adjective

far from + adjective

She was not unattractive (she was very attractive)

She was far from plain. She was not devoid of charm.

Can express lexically, without annigation. (the rumour of my death was slightly exaggerated). Functional words (that was some game)

Oxymoron

A combination of 2 words usually an adjective and a noun or an adverb + adjective which are sharply opposed in m-ng (живой труп, eyes wide shut, sweet pain, the first word is always fore grounded and has a metaphorical m-ng (тишиной оглушены, deafening silence) every oxymoron is an unusual collocation, but not every unusual collocation is an oxymoron. (she is so deliciously low – неотразимо вульгарна).