Untitled Flashcards Set

Figurative language is when writers use expressions that go beyond the literal meaning of words to create deeper descriptions and suggest ideas. It encourages readers to think beyond the surface to uncover hidden meanings.

Literary devices are tools writers use to communicate ideas or create effects that help readers better understand the message.

There are many examples of both, with some being used more often than others. For a full list, check out this link.

An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a specific meaning in a particular language or culture, but doesn’t make sense if you break it down literally. In other words, the meaning is different from the individual words' meanings. For example, "kick the bucket" means "to die," but if you take it literally, it sounds odd.

Here’s a simplified version of these definitions:

Alliteration is when the same consonant sound is repeated at the beginning of words close together.
Example: "Descending dew drops. Finally falling forward."

Allusion is a reference to something well-known, like a person, event, or place, that helps add meaning.
Example: "Thanks for the tip, Sherlock." or "My boss is a real Scrooge."

Foreshadowing gives hints or clues about what will happen later in the story, creating suspense.
Example: In a scary movie, a family hears a noise in the car and jokes about it breaking down, but it really does later.

Hyperbole is a big exaggeration, not meant to be taken literally, used to emphasize a point.
Example: "I had to repeat the instructions a million times." or "I had to walk a mile to get there."

Here’s a simplified version of these definitions:

Imagery is when an author uses descriptive words to help the reader picture something clearly in their mind by appealing to the senses.
Example: "The bacon filled the air with a thick aroma of salt as it crackled in the slippery sheet of oil coating the frying pan."

Verbal irony is when what someone says is the opposite of what they really mean.
Example: "There’s nothing else I would rather be doing than chores." or "I guess today’s my lucky day,” she said, finding her keys in the locked car.

Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the character does not.
Example: Snow White eating the poisoned apple, or a character walking into an empty house when the audience knows the killer is inside.

Situational irony is when what happens is completely different from what you would expect.
Example: A fire station burning down, a tow truck needing to be towed, or a marriage counselor getting divorced.

Here’s a simplified version of these definitions:

Metaphor is a comparison between two things that are different, but without using "like" or "as." It just says one thing is the other.
Example: "I’ve been on a rollercoaster of emotions." or "Love is a battlefield."

Onomatopoeia is when words sound like the things they describe.
Examples: Hiss, Buzz, Smack, Pop.

Oxymoron is a phrase with two opposite or contradictory words next to each other.
Example: "He was a very wise fool." or "Deafening silence overcame the crowded auditorium."

Pathetic fallacy is when human emotions are given to nature or objects, reflecting the characters’ feelings.
Example: In Julius Caesar, a storm rages and weeps before Caesar’s assassination, showing the chaos to come.

Suspense is the feeling that something risky or dangerous is about to happen.
Example: Two teenagers enter an old, spooky house on Halloween night, building tension.

Anthropomorphism is when nonhuman thing behaves like a human.

Sure! Here are examples for each term, including the ones from earlier:

Alliteration

• Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Allusion

• Example: “You’re a regular Einstein!” (Referring to the famous physicist Albert Einstein to highlight someone's intelligence.)

Foreshadowing

• Example: In a mystery novel, a character hears a clock ticking loudly in a quiet room. This hints that time will play a significant role later in the plot.

Hyperbole

• Example: “I’ve told you a million times!” (Exaggerating how many times something was said.)

Imagery

• Example: The soft, golden light of the setting sun bathed the calm, turquoise sea, while the salty breeze gently brushed across my skin.

Verbal Irony

• Example: After it starts raining heavily, someone says, “Well, isn’t this just perfect?” (They don't really mean it's perfect, they mean the opposite.)

Dramatic Irony

• Example: In a horror movie, the audience knows the villain is hiding in the closet, but the character opens it unaware, adding tension.

Situational Irony

• Example: A fire station burning down. It’s unexpected because fire stations are supposed to prevent fires, not become victims of them.

Metaphor

• Example: “Time is a thief.” (Time is being compared to a thief because it steals moments from our lives.)

Onomatopoeia

• Example: The clock ticked, the door creaked, and the leaves rustled in the wind.

Oxymoron

• Example: “Bitter sweet” or “jumbo shrimp.” (Two contradictory terms used together.)

Pathetic Fallacy

• Example: In The Great Gatsby, the weather reflects the mood of the characters—when Gatsby waits for Daisy, the weather is hot and oppressive, mirroring the tension and anticipation.

Suspense

• Example: In a thriller movie, a character walks down a dark alley, and the music builds, creating a feeling of something dangerous about to happen.

Anthropomorphism

• Example: In The Lion King, the lions and other animals talk, think, and act like humans, giving them human-like qualities.

These examples should help clarify how each literary device works!