Figurative Language

Apostrophe

a literary device in which the speaker addresses either an absent person or a non-human object, idea, or being.

Ex: Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are!

Imagery

Using words to recreate SENSORY impressions.

EX: The rooster crowed at early dawn, a sign that it was time to start the day. John woke up, listening to the quiet murmurs of his children in the kitchen below; the clang of pots and pans signaled that breakfast was almost ready

Understatement

Understatement is when a writer presents a situation or thing as if it is less important or serious than it is in reality.

EX: King Arthur: "Your arm's cut off"

Knight: "It's just a scratch".

Tone

The attitude an author feels toward a subject, characters, etc. Narrator's point of view and their thoughts.

Mood

The intended feeling/sensation the author creates for the reader

Synedoche

A figure of speech in which you use a part of something to stand for the whole thing.

EX: When you call something “wheels” when you mean a car

Metonymy

the substitution of the name of something for another word associated with that subjected. EX: Saying "the crown" when you mean the british royalty. Or saying “the white house” when you mean the president

Pun

It's a play on words.

EX: You can tune a guitar, but you can't tuna fish.

Oxymoron

the joining of two terms which are ordinarily contradictory

EX: humblebrag, seriously funny, etc

Verbal Irony

A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant

EX: Sarcasam

Situational Irony

An outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected

EX: A fire station burns down

Dramatic Irony

when a reader is aware of something that a character isn't

Metaphor

A comparison without using like or as

EX: Laughter is the best medicine