Figurative Language

simile

uses the words "like" or "as" to liken two objects or concepts to each other

metaphor

implies similarities between two (usually unrelated) concepts or objects

in order to reveal or emphasize one or more things about one of them, though the

differences between the two may also be revealing.

personification

a type of comparison that assigns a human trait or quality to a nonhuman object, entity, or idea, thus characterizing that object, entity, or idea.

alliteration

the repetition of the same letter sound at the beginning of adjacent or nearby words to emphasize those words and their associations or representations.

onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

understatement

the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is; a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended.

imagery

a collection of word pictures that appeal to the reader; uses devices such as metaphor, simile, etc.

repetition

the action of repeating something that has already been said or written.

symbolism

a material object that comes to represent, or stand for, an idea or concept

allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

irony

the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning

oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

idiom

A common, often used expression that doesn't make sense if you take it literally.

pun

a humorous play on words