Figures of Speech Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering key definitions and examples of various figures of speech for language and literature study.

Figure of Speech

A creative use of language to generate an effect using figurative language that relies on implied or suggested meaning rather than a dictionary definition.

Simile

A comparison of two dissimilar things using "like" or "as" to give the reader a more vivid understanding of something.

Metaphor

The direct comparison of dissimilar things to create more vivid imagery or understanding.

Personification

The act of assigning human attributes to nonhuman things, such as floorboards groaning under weight.

Hyperbole

A deliberate exaggeration that adds emphasis, urgency, or excitement to a statement.

Irony

A contradiction between words and expressions that confuses the other person about what you said and what you meant.

Oxymoron

A phrase that uses two contradictory words to create a new meaning, such as "sweet sorrow" or "loving hate."

Synecdoche

A figure of speech that occurs when a part is represented by the whole or, conversely, the whole is represented by the part.

Metonymy

A literary device in which a word or object stands in for a closely related word or object.

Alliteration

The repeating of consonant sounds right next to each other, which creates a memorable or melodic effect.

Apostrophe

A figure of speech where a character addresses someone or something that isn't present or cannot respond, such as the deceased, an inanimate object, or a concept.

Onomatopoeia

A word that sounds like what it means, such as "Sheesh!" or "tattarrattat."

Euphemism

A way to say something in an understated manner, often to avoid difficult topics like money, death, or sex.