Figurative Language

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter - it's the difference between the lightning bug and lightning. ” -Mark Twain

Imagery: Language that creates pictures in the mind and excites the senses.

Metaphor: A figure of speech, not using the words like or as, that compares two usually unrelated things.

Example:

Love 9 to 5 Job Hunger Highway Pain TV Dinner Happiness Flower Sleep Cloud Desire Hammer Friends Clock Life Park

Uses like or as to compare usually unrelated things. Simile: Uses like or as to compare usually unrelated things.

“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” -Forrest Gump

Allusion: Reference to a well known person, place, thing or idea.

The Lion King references Shakespeare’s play Hamlet The Lion King references Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. The plot is very similar; the uncle kills the king to take his place and the son seeks revenge.

Antithesis: The specific balancing and contrasting of one term against another, which is the opposite.

Contrast Imagery: “Ask not what your country can do for you: Ask what you can do for your country.” -John F. Kennedy

Example: It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, experienced or inexperienced, rich or poor, you can make a difference in this organization.

Oxymoron: Places words that are in opposition directly side by side

Examples: Quiet storm Awfully pretty Agree to disagree Civil War Educated guess

Hyperbole: Overstatement; saying more than what is true for the sake of emphasis.

Examples: “I called you a million times!” “Mom, I don’t have anything to wear to school!” “lol”

Understatement: Makes less of something; uses language that “draws the listener in” because it cleverly “distorts” in its own way and makes us see an absurdity more clearly.

Example: It’s a bit hot in Texas. My summer was okay. Michael Phelps did pretty good in the Olympics.

Personification: Giving human characteristics to non-human things.

Examples: The wind whistled throughout the day. The stars winked at me. The candle flame danced in the night.