figurative language Flashcards
Alliteration
A series of words that begin with the same consonant sound
Allusion
A reference to a famous figure, text, or event
Anaphora
The repetition of words or phrases, often with a slight variation
Assonance
The repetition of similar vowels
Euphemism
A polite, respectful, word or phrase, often that replaces an offensive or harsh statement
Hyperbole
Using extreme exaggeration for emphasis
Idiom
A well- known expression that doesn’t mean literally what it says
Imagery
Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses
Irony
Verbal: sarcasm
Dramatic: a secret only the audience knows
Situational: the opposite of what one would expect
Metaphor
Compares two things by stating another one
Metonymy
A word is replaced by something associated with it
Onomatopoeia
A word that sounds like it’s description
Oxymoron
two words with opposite meanings coming together
Personification
Giving human attributes to non-human things
Pun
(usually humorous) play on words
Simile
compares two things using ‘‘like’’ or ‘‘as’’
Symbolism
representing an idea through an image, object, action, or character
Synecdoche
the whole is referred to by just a part
