English H 10 Figurative Language

Alliteration

Repetition of the same beginning sound in nearby words.

Allusion

A reference to a famous person, place, event, or work of art/literature.

Analogy

A comparison showing how two different things are alike in some way.

Euphemism

A polite or mild word/phrase used instead of something harsh or unpleasant.

Hyperbole

An extreme exaggeration used for emphasis.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses.

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”

Metonymy

When something is referred to by the name of something closely related.

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech combining two opposite or contradictory terms.

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a truth.

Personification

Giving human qualities to nonhuman things.

Simile

A comparison using “like” or “as.”

Symbol

Something that stands for or represents something else.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech where a part is used to represent the whole (or vice versa).