Figurative Language

Alliteration  Definition--the use of words that begin with the same sound near one another  His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.

Symbolism  Definition—The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities  Examples—A dove represents peace

Repetition  Definition– The repeating of a sound, syllable, word, phrase, line, stanza, or pattern in a poem.  Example—I looked upon the rotting sea, and drew my eyes away, I looked upon the rotting deck, and there the dead men lay.

Personification  Definition– Giving non- human objects a human quality.  Example—The wind whispered through dry grass

Metaphor  Definition—The comparison of two like things without using “like” or “as”.  Example—The cat is the shadow dancing on the wall.

Simile  Definition—The comparison of two unlike things using the works “like” or “as”.  Example—I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o’er vales and hills

Imagery  Definition– Using the senses (sight, taste, touch, sound, smell) to create pictures in your mind.  Example—The girl ran her hands on a soft satin fabric.

Onomatopoeia  Definition– A word that imitates the natural sounds of a thing.  Example—The sack fell in the river with a SPLASH.

Hyperbole  Definition—A figure of speech, which involves an exaggeration.  Example– I am trying to solve a million issues these days.

Irony  Definition– using language that normally signifies the opposite.  Example– The name of Britain’s biggest dog was “Tiny”.

Pun  Definition– A humorous way of using a word or phrase so that more than one meaning is suggested.  Example: An elephant’s opinion carries a lot of weight.

Paradox  Definition– A statement that seems to say two opposite things but may also be true.  Example– Jumbo shrimp