Figurative language

Question	Answer
Figurative Language	uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. ex. when pigs fly
Metaphor	compares two things not using "like" or "as." ex. John was a beast on the football field.
Simile	compares two things using "like" or "as" ex. Life is like a box of chocolates.
Alliteration	the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. Ex. Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers
Hyperbole	extreme exaggeration Ex. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
Understatement	words that intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is Ex. You win one million dollars and when asked how you feel, say: "I am delighted."
Idiom	an expression not interpreted literally but meaning something quite different from what individual words of the phrase would imply Ex. It's raining cats and dogs.
Personification	giving human qualities to nonhuman things. Ex. The sun waved goodbye.
Paradox	a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth Ex. This sentence is a lie. "I know that I know nothing." ~Socrates
Oxymoron	two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect Ex. "jumbo shrimp" or "awfully pretty"
Allusion	a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance Ex. This place is like a Garden of Eden.
Imagery	to represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses Ex. He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee.
Assonance	two or more words, close to one another repeat the same vowel sound, but start with different consonant sounds Ex. “I must confess that in my quest I felt depressed and restless.” — With Love, by Thin Lizzy
Consonance	repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase. This repetition often takes place in quick succession Ex. “pitter, patter”
Irony	Words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words, or a situation that ends up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated. It is a difference between appearance and reality.
Dramatic Irony & Situational Irony	Dramatic: characters are oblivious to the situation, but the audience is not Situational: the characters and the audience are fully unaware of the implications of the real situation
Theme	the idea the author wants to convey about the subject (It's not conveyed in one word; that's a universal idea!) Ex. You are your own worst enemy. Love conquers all. There is hazard in passing judgment.
Anaphora	deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect Ex. “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.”
Tone	writer's/speaker's attitude toward the subject, the audience, or the character through the use of diction, imagery, figurative language, and syntax Ex. optimistic, demeaning
Mood	the feeling created in the reader; the atmosphere of the piece
Conflict	tension between opposing forces: human v. human human v. fate human v. self human v. nature human v. society
Analogy	makes connections between familiar and unfamiliar things; suggests a deeper significance, or create imagery in the reader's mind. Ex. "Memory is to love what the saucer is to the cup." - The House in Paris, Elizabeth Bowen
Juxtaposition	placing two elements or words side by side to show irony, humor or sadness. Ex. Merry and tragical? Tedious and brief?; [...] How shall we find the concord of this discord? - A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare
Symbolism	using an object or a word to represent an abstract idea; an action, person, place, word, or object can be a symbol. Ex. Black represents death or evil. White stands for life and purity. Red can symbolize blood, passion, danger, or immoral character.

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	Created by Twanta Moore about 8 years ago

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