Figurative Language Notes

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pun

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A play on words that exploits multiple meanings of a term or similar-sounding words for humorous or rhetorical effect.

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oxymoron

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A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction, such as 'bittersweet'.

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metaphor

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A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things by stating one is the other, without using 'like' or 'as'.

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allusion

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An indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.

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hyperbole

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An exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect.

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simile

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A figure of speech that compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'.

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personification

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A figure of speech in which human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts.

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imagery

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Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

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idiom

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A phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning, such as 'kick the bucket'.

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symbolism

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The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, where a symbol stands for something beyond its literal meaning.