Literary Terms (Figurative language)

Question 1

alliteration

Answer 1

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning words (e.g. she sells seashells by the seashore).

Question 2

metaphor

Answer 2

a figure of speech in which one thing is said to be another in a non-literal sense (e.g. That man is a bear).

Question 3

pun

Answer 3

a joke that uses the double meaning of words for comedic effect

Question 4

personification

Answer 4

giving human characteristics to objects or ideas (e.g. the wave swallowed him up).

Question 5

allusion

Answer 5

an indirect reference to a person, event, thing, or another text

Question 6

onomatopoeia

Answer 6

a word that has a sound association with what is named (e.g. sizzle, bang, etc.)

Question 7

simile

Answer 7

when two dissimilar things are compared using like or as for the purpose of highlighting a shared trait (e.g. he eats like a pig).

Question 8

hyperbole

Answer 8

overly exaggerated statements or claims

Question 9

idiom

Answer 9

an expression in language that has a distinct meaning, and from which the meaning can not be derived from individual words (e.g. “beating around the bush” means taking a long time to get to the point).

Question 10

paradox

Answer 10

a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement that highlights two conflicting ideas