Here are three examples of figures of speech from literature:
Simile : A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things, usually by employing the words "like" or "as." An example can be found in the poem "A Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns: "O my Love's like a red, red rose." Here, love is being compared to a red rose, highlighting its beauty and freshness.
Metaphor : A metaphor is a figure of speech that involves an implicit comparison between two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another, thereby highlighting their similarities. In William Shakespeare's play "As You Like It," Jaques famously declares "All the world's a stage." Here, life is compared to a stage, suggesting that people are merely actors playing their roles.
Personification : Personification is a figure of speech where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts. In the poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson, death is personified as a kind carriage driver who takes the speaker on a journey: "Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me." This gives human characteristics to death, making it a more tangible and relatable concept.