Poetic Devices-Meaning of Words

Question 1

Allegory

Answer 1

• Abstract ideas and principles are DESCRIBED with characters, figures, and events
• Prose/Poetry to tell a STORY
• Purpose of teaching/explaining idea or principle of story
• Symbolic narrative

Question 2

Allusion

Answer 2

Brief reference to:

• person
• historical event
• work of art,
• biblical or mythological situation/character

Question 3

Ambiguity

Answer 3

A word or phrase that can mean more than one thing

Ex Each of us saw her duck
Saw her ducking or saw an actual duck

Question 4

Analogy

Answer 4

Comparison between two things (an unfamiliar thing with a familiar thing)

Ex. Bring your arm up like you are about to punch someone

Question 5

Apostrophe

Answer 5

-Character speaking directly to real/imagined listener -or inanimate object
Address that person by name

Ex. O Captain! O Captain! Or fearful ship…

Question 6

Cliche

Answer 6

Figure of speech that was once clever but has been overused

Ex. Busy as a bee

Question 7

Connotation

Answer 7

• Its meaning apart of its literal meaning
• The emotional, psychological or social meaning

Ex. ‘Wall Street’ literally is a street but connotatively it refers to ‘wealth’ and ‘power’

Question 8

Contrast

Answer 8

Closely arranged things with very different characteristics

Ex. He was dark, sinister and cruel; she was radiant, pleasant, and kind

Question 9

Denotation

Answer 9

• The dictionary meaning of a word

- The literal meaning of a word

Question 10

Euphemism

Answer 10

• An understatement used to lessen the effect of something that may be hurtful

Ex. ‘She is at rest’ is the euphemism of ‘She is dead’

Question 11

Hyperbole

Answer 11

An outrageous exaggeration used for effect

Ex. I am so hungry, I can eat a house

Question 12

Irony

Answer 12

Contradictory statement or situation to reveal a reality that differs then what appears to be true

Ex. Wow, thanks for the expensive gift!; did it come with a fun meal or the Burger king equivalent

Question 13

Metaphor

Answer 13

hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated but share a few characteristics

Ex. The assignment was a breeze
Implies that the assignment was very easy to complete

Question 14

Metonymy

Answer 14

Figure of speech in which person, place, or thing is referred to by something closely associated with it

Ex. The white house stated today…/ the King reported today…

Question 15

Oxymoron

Answer 15

Combination of two words that contradict each other

Ex. Seriously funny
Tragic comedy

Question 16

Paradox

Answer 16

Statement that appears to be self-contradictory but can reveal an unexpected truth

Ex, Truth is honey, which is bitter

Question 17

Personification

Answer 17

Attributing human characteristics to an inanimate object, animal, or abstract idea

Ex. Look at my car, she’s such a beauty isn’t she?
The wind whispered through the dry grass

Question 18

Pun

Answer 18

Word play in which words with totally different meanings have similar sounds

Ex. Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana

Question 19

Simile

Answer 19

Direct comparisons of two unlike things using “like” or “as”

Ex. He’s as big as a shark
She eats like a pig

Question 20

Symbol

Answer 20

A thing that represents another thing

Ex. A flag symbolizes a country

Question 21

Synecdoche

Answer 21

PART of something represents the WHOLE

or

WHOLE represents a PART of something

Ex. “sails” refers to Ship