Figurative Language

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What is an idiom?

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An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning. Example: 'It's raining cats and dogs' means it's raining heavily.

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What is a simile?

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A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'Her smile was like sunshine'.

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What is personification?

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Personification is a literary device where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts. Example: 'The wind whispered through the trees'.

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What is litotes?

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Litotes is a figure of speech that uses understatement to emphasize a point by stating a negative to affirm a positive. Example: 'Not bad' means 'good'.

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What is symbolism?

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Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. Example: A dove often symbolizes peace.

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What is a metaphor?

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A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'Time is a thief'.

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What is hyperbole?

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Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect. Example: 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse'.

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What is imagery?

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Imagery involves using descriptive language to create vivid mental pictures for the reader. Example: 'The golden sun set behind the purple mountains'.

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What is consonance?

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Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity within a sentence or phrase. Example: 'The lumpy, bumpy road'.

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What is assonance?

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Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words. Example: 'The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain'.