Literary terms

Allusion

A figure of speech where an object or circumstance from an unrelated context is referred to.

Alliteration

Repetition of beginning consonant sounds.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds.

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement, or a claim not meant to be taken literally.

Imagery

Using description, vivid language, and the five senses to deepen the reader's understanding.

Metaphor

Comparison without like or as.

Onomatopoeia

A word that phonetically imitates the sound that it describes.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech where two contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

Pathetic fallacy

Poetic practice of attributing humor emotion or responses to nature, inanimate objects, or animals.

Personification

Giving human characteristics to something nonhuman.

Simile

A comparison with like or as.

Symbol

A thing that has both a literal and figurative meaning