Figurative Language & Rhetorical Devices

Metaphor & Conceit

A metaphor is a direct comparison between unlike things. A conceit is an extended, often elaborate

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration for effect.

Allusion

A reference to a well-known work, person, or event.

Paradox

A seemingly contradictory statement that reveals truth.

Oxymoron

Two opposite words paired together (e.g., “jumbo shrimp”).

Metonymy

Substituting something closely associated (e.g., “The crown” = royalty).

Synecdoche

A part representing a whole (e.g., “All hands on deck”).

Apostrophe

Speaking to someone absent or something nonhuman.

Satire

Humor, irony, or ridicule to expose and criticize.

Rhetorical Question

Asked for effect, not an answer.

Jargon

Specialized language of a particular field.

Juxtaposition

Placing two ideas side by side for contrast. (e.g. Light vs. dark)

Connotation

The emotional or cultural meaning attached to a word.

Parallel Structure

Repetition of grammatical patterns.

Litany

A repetitive series, often for emphasis or buildup.

Internal Rhyme

Rhyme within a single line of poetry.