Figurative Language Flashcards
Personification
Giving human qualities, feelings, actions, or characteristics to inanimate (not living)
Example: The house stared at me with looming eyes. The verb, stared, is a human action. A house is a non-living object. Therefore, we have a good example of personification.
Example: The ancient car groaned into first gear. The verb, ________________, is a human action. A _________________ is a non-living thing.
Figurative language
A tool that an author uses, to help the reader visualize, or see, what is happening in a story or poem.
Simile
A comparison using like or as. It usually compares two unlike objects.
Example: His feet are as big as boats. Feet and boats are being compared.
Metaphor
States that one thing is something else. It is a comparison, but does NOT use like or as to make
the comparison.
Example: Her hair is silk. Hair and silk are being compared.
Alliteration
The repetition of the initial consonant. There should be at least two repetitions in a row.
Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. The first letter, p, is a consonant. Its sound is repeated many times.
Onomatopoeia
The imitation of natural sounds in word form. These words help us form mental pictures, or visualize, things, people, or places that are described. Sometimes a word names a thing or action by copying the sound.
Example: Bong! Hiss Buzz!
Symbolism
Occurs when one thing stands for or represents something else.
Example: The dove symbolizes peace.
Hyperbole
Intentionally exaggerated figures of speech.
Example: It was raining cats and dogs.
Imagery
Involves one or more of your five senses – the abilities to hear, taste, touch, smell, and see. An author uses a word or phrase to stimulate your memory of those senses and to help create mental pictures.
Idioms
An expression that means something other than the literal meanings of its individual words.
They are overused expressions.
