Figurative Language Flashcards
Allegory
An extended metaphor
(Carries through the story)
Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds
Ex. Cultural Continuity
Allusion
A casual/brief reference to real life
- historical
- literary
- Biblical
- Mythological
- Pop culture
Analogy
Comparison of two things, simple vs complicated
- to use the simple to understand the complicated
Ex. Hamburger is like a paragraph, skating is like walking
Assonance
Repetition of the sound of a vowel, but starts with different consonant
Ex. “I must ERASE all TRACE of my RACE”
Cliché
A worn out or stale expression
- can make writing dull when overused
Ex. Practice makes perfect
Colloquial Language
Words or expressions from everyday speech
Ex. Slay, fizz, spill the tea
Expletive
Swear words - to be used sparingly
Euphemism
A more delicate choice of words to describe something harsh
Ex. Passed away, “My heart the target for my warrior FALLS”
Imagery
When the author “paints a picture” with words
- touch
- smell
- taste
- sight
- hearing
Irony
Expression of something that is the opposite of the actual meaning
- verbal : what someone says (sarcasm)
- Situational : what someone does/event that happens
- Dramatic : when you know more than the characters
Metaphor
A comparison of two things by stating that one thing is another thing
- when in doubt, its a metaphor
Personification
Representing an animate object as if it has human characteristics
Ex. “The ocean yawned, and rudely blowed…”
Onomatopoeia
Words that mimic sounds
Ex. Whoop of laughter, honk, smack
Oxymoron
Two opposite things but side by side
Ex. Wise fool, tender cruelty, less is more
