Figurative Language

We’ll cover tons of them!

We’ll cover these:

Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Simile Onomatopoeia Personification Parody Synecedoche Idiom Irony Juxtaposition

Oxymoron Paradox Parallelism Repetition Allusion Pun Satire Aphorism Connotation/denotation Assonance/Consonance

Alliteration

Alliteration happens when the beginning of words start with the same consonant or vowel sounds.

All the words must be close together.

Alliteration

Examples: Sally Sold seven sea shells at the sea

shore. The crazy cat climbed up the crooked

cable.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to give a certain impact within your statement.

You use these a million times a day!

Hyperbole

Examples: Sounds like a herd of buffalo! Working like a dog! She’s madder than an old wet hen! I bit off more than I can chew!

Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares dissimilar objects that are alike in some way.

They help create a clearer picture. DO NOT use these words: like, as,

than, similar to and resembles.

Metaphor

Examples: That guy is a motor mouth. Means that guy is never quiet

That athlete is a powerhouse. Means the athlete is strong

Simile

A simile is a figure of speech which resembles a metaphor but uses these words: like, as, than, similar to.

Simile

Examples: The lie formed like a blister on his lips. Means: he lied and it was ugly. Her heart was like a shattered light bulb. Means: she was heart-broken.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is the usage of word which best demonstrates the sound it makes.

Comics are a good resource to find these “sound words” such as: crash, boom, bang, crunch, kerplunk, zap and buzz.

Onomatopoeia

Examples: The water gurgled down the drain. The little kid slurped his soup. The noisy chicken clucked her head

off!

Personification

Personification is a figure of speech which uses a strategy to give objects, things or animals human characteristics which we recognize in ourselves.

Personification has the root word “person” to give you a clue as to how this figure of speech was developed.

Personification

Examples: The camera hates me. Means: I take an awful picture. Technology is out to get me! Means: I can’t get it to work when I want

it to.

Oxymoron

A two to three word phrase that contains opposite words or ideas

Example: Wise fool Working Vacation Plastic Glasses

Paradox

An extended oxymoron. It pits contradictory ideas against one another so that the statement appears to be untrue. However, when the reader evaluates a paradox in context, he or she discovers the paradox to hold a profound truth.

Paradox

Example: “Good men must not obey the laws too

well.” Ralph Waldo Emmerson “Much Madness is Divinest Sense”

Emily Dickinson

Parallelism

It the repetition of words, phrases or sentence structures. It adds

It adds rhythm and emotional impact to writing.

It appears in poetry, speeches, and other literary forms.

Parallelism

Ex. Not only is she my mother, but she is also my best friend. …not only, but also

I need her to love me, to comfort me, and to protect me.

Repetition

Words or phrases repeated in writing to produce emphasis, rhythm, and/or sense of urgency.

Ex. The cook was a good cook, as cooks go; and as cooks go, she went.

“I…I…I…don’t have Mme. Forestier’s necklace.”

Allusion

A reference made to a famous person, place, or event. Allusions should be familiar to the author’s intended audience for them to be effective.

Allusions…

Mary said, “Cale is my Prince Charming!”

Kevin doesn’t do so well in math, but in art class, he’s a regular Picasso.

Pun…a play on words

People have a happy time vacationing in Ireland because they are walking on Eire.

In the winter my dog wears his coat, but in the summer he wears his coat and pants.

Satire

Writing that makes fun of habits, ideas, or weaknesses in a person, an institution, an entire society, or humanity in general.

Ex. Weird Al Yankovic’s songs

Parody

Writing that makes fun of a piece of literature, art or music.

Ex. Saturday Night Live creates parodies of famous people, commercials, etc.

Synecdoche

a figure of speech in which the word for part of something is used to mean the whole, e.g. "sail" for "boat," or vice versa

bread for food, the army for a soldier, or copper for a penny

Aphorism

Is any general truth conveyed in a short and pithy sentence, in such a way that when once heard it is unlikely to pass from memory.

Example: He who rocks the boat seldom has time to row it.

Idiom

A phrase common to people who speakt he same language that doesn’t literally mean what it says.

Ex. Cat got your tongue Ex. Two Peas in a Pod

Irony

Is a contradictory statement or situation

Ex: Having a free ride on roller coaster after you have already paid.

Song Lyrics to “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette

Juxtaposition

Is two random objects moving in parallel

Ex.

Connotation Denotation

Is the thoughts, feelings, and images associated with a word.

Ex. America- connotes freedom, individualism, and opportunity.

Is the dictionary definition of a word

Ex. America-denotes the country south of Canada and north of Mexico.

Assonance Consonance

Is the repetition of vowel sounds at the beginning, middle, or end of a word.

Ex. He is all pine, and I apple orchard (a sound)

Is the repetition of consonant sounds anywhere within a word.

Ex. Lies stretching to my dazzled sight/ A luminous belt, a misty light (s and l sounds)