Figurative Language & Devices Flashcards
A reference in literature to a famous person, place, or event. (Ex: “Sylvan history, who canst thus express/ A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme…” from “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats, which alludes to the Sylvan deity of Greek mythology.)
Allusion
A statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner. (Ex: “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.”- Benjamin Franklin) An aphorism is another word for dictum (or the plural version, dicta, as used in chapter 13.)
Aphorism
A metaphor that describes a place, a thing, or a person in such a way that gives readers a richer, deeper meaning and/or a more vivid description. Epithets are also used in a derogatory way to inflict insult.
Epithet
Substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive. (Ex: Using “passed away” instead of “died.”)
Euphemism
An exaggeration or overstatement. (Ex: He said it a million times.)
Hyperbole
An expression that should not be interpreted literally; its meaning is figurative and means something quite different from the literal meaning of the phrase. (Ex: “Blow it out your ear” meaning “go away,” or “leave me alone.”)
Idiom
When the opposite of what is expected or said happens.
Irony
Is a figure of speech which employs an understatement by using double negatives or, in other words, positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite expressions. (Ex: Not too bad; sh’s not a beauty queen; I’m not as young as I used to be.)
Litotes (Understatement/form of Irony)
A use of an incorrect word in a place of similar sounding word that results in a nonsensical and humorous expression. (Ex: “I was most putrified with astonishment…” from Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. The speaker, Aunt Sally, meant petrified instead of putrified.)
Malapropism
A comparison that does not use “like” or “as.” (Ex: The test was a breeze.)
Metaphor
A figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated. (Ex: U.S. send troops to the Middle East- the “U.S. refers to the defense department/government; Lend me your ear- “ear” referring to your listening attention.)
Metonymoy
Is a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. (Ex: Act naturally, awfully good, sweet sorrow, honorable villain.)
Oxymoron
Is a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth. It is also used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary to accepted traditional ideas. (Ex: “I must be cruel to be kind.” from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.)
Paradox
Giving an animal, object, or idea human characteristics or personality.
Personification
Words with a double meaning. (Ex: When the cobbler tells Marullus he is “a mender of bad soles” playing on the word “soles” as “souls” from Julius Caesar by Shakespeare.)
Pun
