Lit terms Figurative Language

Epic similie

An anology developed over several lines of verse, especially one used in an epic poem

Ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. "This vaccume sucks"

Imagery

The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, thing, place, or experience

Conceit

a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.

Metaphor

a figure of speech comparing to unlike things without using like or as

Apostrophe

a figure of speech in which one directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, or some abstraction

Hyperbole

a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor

Pun

a humorous play on words

Allusion

a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize

Extended simile

a simile running to many lines, in which the comparisons made are elaborated in detail.

Epithet

a term used to point out a characteristic of a person. Homeric epithets are often compound adjectives ("swift-footed Achilles") that become an almost formulaic part of a name. Epithets can be abusive or offensive but are not so by definition. For example, athletes may be proud of given epithets ("The Rocket").

Litotes

a type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite (saying something is "not bad", to say that it's okay).

Euphemism

an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

Symbol

anything that stands for or represents something else

Oxymoron

conjoining contradictory terms (as in 'deafening silence')

Analogy

drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect. Metaphors, similies, or longer comparisons.

Irony

incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs

Situational irony

occurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected

verbal irony

occurs when what is said contradicts what is meant or thought (sarcasm)

Metonymy

substituting the name of one object for another object closely ASSOCIATED (doesn't have to be a physical part of something) with it ("The pen [writing] is mightier than the sword [war/fighting].")

Personification

the act of attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas etc.

Understatement

the opposite of exaggeration. It is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended.

Onomatopoeia

using words that imitate the sound they denote

Anthropomorphism

when inanimate objects, animals or natural phenomena are given human characteristics, behavior or motivation

Dramatic irony

(theater) irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play

Symbolism

A device in literature where an object represents an idea.

Figure of speech

A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Examples are apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonomy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement.

synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning "Cleveland's baseball team") (has to be a smaller part of a larger idea)

Paradox

A statement that appears self-contradictory but that reveals a kind of truth (expresses the complexity of life)