Figurative language terms

Symbol

representing something else example: white symbolizes purity

Connotation

feeling or idea a word has; second or subtle meaning example: The girl was feeling blue today.

Personification

giving human actions/qualities to something nonhuman example: the coat was begging to be drycleaned

Apostrophe

speech or address to a person who is not present or to a personified object example: O, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"

Alliteration

the same letter or sound in a row of words example: Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore

Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as" example: The girl ran fast like a cheetah

Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word Example: The book is the color blue.

Understatement

an statement that makes a situation seem less important than it is example: It is only a little scratch (after she crashed the car in a bad accident)

Metaphor

a comparison without using like or as example: The girl was a cheetah as she sprinted around the track.

Oxymoron

a figure of speech with contradictory words example: jumbo shrimp, big difference

Paradox

a statement that seems contradictory but is actually true. doesn't really make sense example: I will never forget what-his-name This statement is a lie

Synecdoche

a word that refers to a part of something rather than a whole example: He has some really cool wheels --> car

Onomatopoeia

a word that represents a sound example: mooooo

Hyperbole (Overstatement)

an exaggerated statement that is not meant to be taken literally example: I'm so hungry, I could eat 500 burgers

Allegory

an extended metaphor where things carry different meaning example: Animal farm book we all read last year where the entire story the animal represent people who are greedy

Allusion

reference back to something historical (literature or event) example: The old man was a scrooge who didn't use his money to help others. (allusion to a Christmas Carol)

Imagery

visual descriptions that create a picture in the readers minds example: The house was dark and gloomy with it's black paint peeling off the siding

Irony

when something happens that is the opposite of what you would expect example: the fire station burns down

Metonymy

when you use a completely different object to represent something else example: The pen is mightier than the sword --> pen = words, sword = fighting