4. Lexico-syntactical expressive means and stylistic devices

Antithesis - presentation of two contrasting ideas in close succession.

E.g. Mrs. Nork had a large home and a small husband. /Lewis/.

Litotes – presentation of a statement in the form of a negation, e.g. The idea was not totally erroneous. The thought did not displease me. /I.Murdoch/

Periphrasis - using a roundabout form of expression instead of a simpler one, to designate the same object.

E.g. The two friends returned to their inn. Mr. Winkle to ruminate on the approaching struggle (a duel), and Mr. Modgrass to arrange the weapons of war (pistols). /J.Galsworthy/.

Simile - comparison of two objects belonging to different sphere but presented as having some feature in common.

E.g. The menu was rather less than a panorama, indeed, it was as repetitious as a snore. /E.O'Meil/

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