Poetic Devices

Question 1

Metaphor

Answer 1

Simply put, a metaphor is a figure of speech containing an implied comparison. With metaphors, words or phrases that are ordinarily applied to one thing are applied to something you wouldn’t necessarily pair it with.

Eg. “The curtain of night fell upon us.”

Question 2

Simile

Answer 2

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things. The main difference between a simile and a metaphor is that a simile uses “like” or “as.”

Eg. “He is as busy as a bee.”

Question 3

Personification

Answer 3

Personification is a type of metaphor; it is when you assign the qualities of a person to something that isn’t human or that isn’t even alive, like nature or emotions.

Eg. “I tripped because the curb jumped out in front of me.”

Question 4

Imagery

Answer 4

Visually descriptive or figurative language.

Eg. “The F-16 swooped down like an eagle after its prey.”

Question 5

Symbolism

Answer 5

Symbolism is the practice or art of using an object or a word to represent an abstract idea.

Eg. “Time is money.”

Question 6

Metonymy

Answer 6

Metonymy is the use of a linked term to stand in for an object or concept.

Eg. “The pen is stronger than the sword.”

Question 7

Synechdoche

Answer 7

Using part of a whole to represent the larger whole.

Eg. “Check out my new wheels.”

Question 8

Idiom

Answer 8

Idioms are words or phrases that are not meant to be taken literally.

Eg. “Don’t cut corners.”

Question 9

Jargon

Answer 9

Jargon is a form of shorthand between people in certain groups, and often meaningless when used outside of that context.

Eg. “AWOL”

Question 10

Alliteration

Answer 10

Alliteration is a term to describe a literary device in which a series of words begin with the same consonant sound.

Eg. “She sells seashells by the sea-shore.”

Question 11

Consonance

Answer 11

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in words.

Eg. “Mike likes his new bike.”

Question 12

Assonance

Answer 12

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words.

Eg. “Try to light the fire.”

Question 13

Onomatopoeia

Answer 13

Onomatopoeia is when a word describes a sound and actually mimics the sound of the object or action it refers to when it is spoken.

Eg. “The bee buzzes.”

Question 14

Rhyme

Answer 14

A rhyme occurs when two or more words have similar sounds. Typically, this happens at the end of the words.

Eg. “Mike likes bats. Bats like cats.”

Question 15

Euphony

Answer 15

The use of words and phrases that are distinguished as having a wide range of noteworthy melody or loveliness in the sounds they create. It gives pleasing and soothing effects to the ear due to repeated vowels and smooth consonants.

Eg. ““Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”

Question 16

Cacophony

Answer 16

The use of words with sharp, harsh, hissing, and unmelodious sounds – primarily those of consonants – to achieve desired results.

Eg. “Into the bulging bouillon, harnessed jelly of the stars.”

Question 17

Allusion

Answer 17

Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.

Eg. “Hey! Guess who the new Newton of our school is?”

Question 18

Apostrophe

Answer 18

A writer or speaker, using apostrophe, speaks directly to someone who is not present or is dead, or speaks to an inanimate object.

Eg. “O stranger of the future!”

Question 19

Paradox

Answer 19

It is a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly, but which may include a latent truth. It is also used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary to accepted traditional ideas. A paradox is often used to make a reader think over an idea in innovative way.

Eg. “I am nobody.”

Question 20

Oxymoron

Answer 20

An oxymoron is a combination of two contradictory or opposite words.

Eg. “That’s seriously funny.”

Question 21

Irony

Answer 21

Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that ends up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated.

Eg. “The fear of long words is called hippopotomonstrosesquippedalio phobia.”

Question 22

Hyperbole

Answer 22

An exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis.

Eg. “Your suitcase weighs a ton!”

Question 23

Understatement

Answer 23

An understatement is a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is.

Eg. “I have to have this operation. It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.”

Question 24

Euphemism

Answer 24

The term euphemism refers to polite, indirect Expressions that replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite, or which suggest something unpleasant.

Eg. “He is a special child (disabled or learning challenged).”