Topic 7 Lang Index Cards - Figurative Language

Figurative language

A literary device that uses words or expressions with a different meaning from their literal interpretation

Example: Simile - her hair was a blond as gold

Trope

A commonly used theme, motif, or rhetorical device in media and storytelling

Example: “Reluctant hero” - Harry Potter was unwilling to accept his role at first but grew into it

Simile

A figure of speech that compares two things using “like” or “as”

Example: The custard was as smooth as velvet

Metaphor

A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as”

Example: Time is a thief

Irony

A literary device where there is a discrepancy between what is expected and what actually happens; can be humorous or dramatic

Example: Verbal irony - saying “isn’t the weather lovely” in the middle of a storm

Incongruity

A situation where something is out of place or doesn't fit with the surrounding context; creates a sense of surprise or absurdity

Example: A dietician eating a Crumbl Cookie

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate or resemble the natural sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to; create imagery

Example: A murmur sounds soft and is a soft sound

Personification

A figure of speech where non-human things or abstract concepts are given human qualities or characteristics

Example: The wind whispered

Apostrophe

A figure of speech where a speaker directly addresses someone or something that is not present or cannot respond; used to convey emotion

Example: “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are” - the star cannot respond

Paradox

A statement or situation that seems self-contradictory or illogical, but may reveal an underlying truth or make sense in a different way upon inspection

Example: “Less is more” - contradictory, but having less can sometimes make you feel more fulfilled

Oxymoron

A figure of speech where two contradictory or opposite words are combined to create a paradoxical effect

Example: The phrase “bittersweet” because the two words are antonyms

Idiom

A phrase or expression whose meaning is not directly derived from the meanings of the individual words but through common usage/sense

Example: The phrase “piece of cake” means easy, but the phrase itself doesn’t imply that

Metonymy

A figure of speech where one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it's closely associated

Example: Using “Hollywood” to refer to any American film industry

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole or the whole is used to represent a part; type of metonymy

Example: “The US won gold in the 4×800 meter relay” - the whole country didn’t win, just its athletic representatives

Hyperbole

A figure of speech that involves exaggerated statements or claims that are not meant to be taken literally

Example: “I’ve told you a million times” - you probably haven’t actually told someone something a million times

Understatement

A figure of speech where something is described in a way that makes it seem less important, serious, or significant than it really is

Example: Saying “it’s a bit chilly” during a blizzard - you are minimizing the frigid temperatures

Rhetorical Question

A question asked not to get an answer, but to make a point or to encourage the audience to think about something

Example: Any ice cream ad asking “who doesn’t love ice cream” - not actually meant to be answered

Litotes

A figure of speech that involves making an understatement by using double negatives or negating the opposite of what you actually mean

Example: Saying “it wasn’t bad” to imply that something was good

Allusion

A reference to another text, event, person, or cultural artifact, often from history, literature, mythology, or religion; used to draw comparisons and add deeper meaning

Example: Saying your weakness is your “Achilles' heel”

Motif

A recurring element, theme, or idea that appears throughout a work of literature, art, music, or other forms of storytelling

Example: The main motif throughout Beethoven’s 5th Symphony is often repeated or referenced through variations

Symbol

A person, object, event, or concept that represents something beyond its literal meaning
Example: The Cross represents sacrifice, faith, and redemption in Christianity