Figurative Language About Suits

1.       Metaphor

a.       To have no suit is to have no life.

b.      We understand the idea of not having a life. When combined with the idea of not having a suit in such a direct and forward approach the reader is able to see the severity of not having a suit. This is quite the insult for a man who doesn’t have a suit (although I created the metaphor I disagree with it ha.) This may also be classified as part of parallelism as both parts of the sentences are similar in structure. This could even be considered a hyperbole (as metaphors are often used) because it can be considered an exaggeration.

2.       Paronomasia

a.       All who wear suits, are suited well.

b.      In this case, both words are virtually identical yet both represent two different things. While the first use of suit refers to the noun (article of clothing) the second suits is used as a meaning for “appropriate.” This is to suggest that suits suit people well.

3.       Anthimeria

a.       Suiting is so common in the business world that you would look foolish not to do it.

b.      The word suit is typically used as a noun to classify what someone might wear. In this instance “suiting” represents the act of wearing the suit. This noun-turned-verb becomes a powerful way to demonstrate how essential a suit is in the business world.

4.       Hyperbole

a.       A true man has an infinite amount of suits to choose from.

b.      Clearly there is no man who has so many suits that they cannot be counted. Nonetheless, this hyperbole allows the listener to recognize that the more suits you have the better off you will be providing a clear picture of what is expected of a “true man.”

5.       Oxymoron

a.       When a man dresses in such a brilliantly dark suit as this one he will surely come away as victor.

b.      The two words “brilliantly dark” are often times opposing in nature. To be brilliant is to be bright or radiant while dark quite the opposite. Standing side by side, these two words powerfully influence the image of a deep dark suit therefore creating an effective oxymoron.

Schemes about suits:

1.       Parallelism

a.       All suits are to be tailored, cleaned, and preserved.

b.      A simple sentence in a clear form of parallelism of words. To be “tailored, cleaned, and preserved” demonstrate the similarity in structure placing emphasis on the needs of a good suit therefore fitting under the scheme of parallelism.

2.       Anastrophe

a.       Powerful men, suits produce.

b.      Simply rearranged, the original sentences could be worded, “Suits produce powerful men.” By rearranging the order of the sentence the focus is set upon the men who become powerful. The second focus becomes the “how” of why they become powerful which one can find in the second part (suits make men powerful). An effective example of anastrophe.

3.       Ellipsis

a.       Some suits are sleek and others, not.

b.      Although it is clear that both parts of the sentence addresses suits, the second part (referring “others”) omits the reference back of suits; thus creating an ellipsis.

4.       Alliteration

a.       When suits are sown smoothly they satisfy the surrounding standbys.   

b.      This sentences connects a string of words that begin with the letter “s” and all have a similar sound. As a result, the sentence catches the attention of the audience drawing their interest to understand and clarify what each word offers to the sentences.