Definition – language used for descriptive effect and often used to apply ideas indirectly

ALLITERATION DEFINITION – THE REPETITION OF CONSONANT SOUNDS USUALLY AT THE BEGINNINGS OF WORDS EXAMPLE - She sells seashells by the seashore. The consonant or letter S was repeated.

ASSONANCE DEFINITION – THE REPETITION OF VOWEL SOUNDS AT THE BEGINNING OR IN THE MIDDLE OF WORDS EXAMPLE – The waves on the bay made me say, “Ahhh”. The long vowel sound of a was repeated.

SIMILE DEFINITION – A FIGURE OF SPEECH USING LIKE OR AS TO COMPARE TWO UNLIKE THINGS EXAMPLE – HER EYES WERE AS SPARKLY AS THE STARS. Eyes were compared to stars (as was used in the comparison).

METAPHOR DEFINITION – A FIGURE OF SPEECH COMPARING UNLIKE THINGS WITHOUT THE USE OF LIKE OR AS EXAMPLE – HER EYES WERE SPARKLY STARS DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT. Eyes were compared to stars (do not use like or as).

ONOMATOPOEIA DEFINITION – THE USE OF WORDS THAT IMITATE SOUNDS EXAMPLE – Crackle! Kapow! THE FIREWORKS NOISILY BRIGHTENED THE SKY ON JULY 4 TH. Crackle and Kapow imitate the sound of exploding fireworks.

PERSONIFICATION DEFINITION –A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH AN ANIMAL, AN OBJECT, OR AN IDEA IS GIVEN HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS EXAMPLE – THE LEAVES DANCED A JIG AS THEY FLOATED TO THE GROUND. The leaves were given the human ability or quality of dancing.

HYPERBOLE DEFINITION – AN EXTRAVAGANT OR HUGE EXAGERRATION EXAMPLE – THE SIDEWALK WAS SO HOT THAT YOU COULD FRY AN EGG ON IT! ‘YOU COULD FRY AN EGG ON IT’ IS AN EXAMPLE OF EXAGERRATION. THE SIDEWALK IS NEVER HOT ENOUGH FOR FRYING FOOD.