Figurative Language – language that is not meant to be taken literally.

Alliteration – repetition of sound

“She sells seashells by the seashore.”

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

“The soul selects her own society.”

Allusion – and indirect reference to a famous time, event, person, place, or thing.

Popular TV show titles with allusions to popular culture:

Phineas and Ferb – Episode 4, “The Fast and the Phineas”

Phineas and Ferb – Episode 68, “The Baljeatles”

Psych – Episode 33, “Murder?...Anyone?... Anyone?...Bueller?”

Psych – Episode 77, “The Polarizing Express”

Hyperbole – an exaggeration

“I am starving to death!”“When she smiles, the whole world stops and stares for a while.”

Idiom – a group of words that has a commonly understood meaning that is different from the literal meaning

“Piece of cake.”

“He kicked the bucket.”

“You’re driving me up a wall!”

Metaphor – compares two unlike things directly (without using “like” or “as”)

“Her hair was a cascade of silk.”

“Ms. Mecham is a monster.”

“This classroom is a prison!”

Onomatopoeia – when you read the word, it makes the sound effect of the word it is supposed to represent.

“Boom! Clap! The sound of my heart.”

“You’re gonna hear me roar.”

Oxymoron – two contradictory (opposite) words are placed next to each other

“That dog is pretty ugly.”“Tonight I’m going to eat some jumbo shrimp.”“Everyone act naturally!”“That movie was seriously funny!”

Paradox – two contradictory (opposite) meanings are combined in a singular sentence that makes sense

“You have to spend money to make money.”“I have to be cruel to be kind.”

Personification – giving human characteristics or traits to inanimate objects.

“The daffodils danced in the breeze.”

“The heavens wept.”

Pun – a play on words; a word that has a double meaning

“Exes and ohs, they haunt me.”

“The baker worked overtime because he needed to make some dough.”

Simile – compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as.”

“Her hair was like silk.”

“Her hair was like dry straw.”

“His skin was as soft as a rose petal.”

Synecdoche – when a part represents a whole

“All eyes on me.”

“Land ho! All hands on deck.”

“Lend me your ear.”