Literary Terms 3

Metaphor

the most important and widespread figure of speech in which one thing, idea, or action, is referred to by a word or expression normally denoting another thing, idea, or action, so as to suggest some common quality/qualities shared by the two

Extended Metaphor

an idea sustained throughout the work

Dead Metaphor

one that has been used so much it has lost its figurative meaning and is taken literally

Mixed Metaphor

a combination of 2 or more inconsistent metaphors in a single expression

Metonymy

figure of speech in which a representative term is used for a larger idea

Onomatopoeia

the use of words that seem to imitate the sounds they refer to

Oxymoron

a figure of speech in which 2 contradictory words or phrases are combined in a single expression

Personification

the technique by which animals, abstract ideas, or inanimate objects are referred to as if they were humans

Proverb

a short saying that expresses some commonplace truth or bit of folk wisdom

Pun

A form of wit, not necessarily funny, invol

Simile

a less direct metaphor, using like or as

Syllogism

a form of logical reasoning, consisting of 2 premises and a conclusion

Synaestheisa

the description of one kind of sensation in terms of another

Synecdoche

figure of speech that utilizes a part as representative of the whole

Tautology

repetition of an idea in a different word, phrase, or sentence

Understatement

a type of verbal irony in which something is purposefully represented as being far less important than it actually is