Figurative Language

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What is Irony?

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Irony is a figure of speech where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning. For example, saying 'That hairdresser really needs a haircut' is ironic because it suggests the hairdresser's own hair is unkempt.

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What is an Analogy?

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An analogy is a comparison between two things that are alike in some way, often used to explain a concept. For example, 'As a sword is the weapon of a warrior, a pen is the weapon of a writer'.

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What is Personification?

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Personification is a figure of speech where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts. For example, 'The chocolate cake was calling my name'.

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What is a Rhyme Scheme?

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A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem. For example, in 'Roses are red, Violets are blue, I'm out of my head, Thinking about you', the rhyme scheme is AABB.

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What is an Oxymoron?

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An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction. For example, 'Parting is such sweet sorrow' combines opposing ideas.

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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. For example, 'I’m so hungry I could eat a horse'.

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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 'like' or 'as'. For example, 'Her smile is like the sun'.

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What is Alliteration?

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Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a series of words. For example, 'She sells sea shells by the sea shore'.

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What is Assonance?

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Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words. For example, 'The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain'.

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What is Anaphora?

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Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. For example, 'I have a dream' in Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech.