Literary Elements/Devices (Figurative Language

Figurative language is a tool that an author uses to help the reader visualize what is happening in a story or poem. Figurative language is meant to be interpreted imaginatively, not literally

Types of Figurative Language: Simile Metaphor Personification Hyperbole Irony Symbol Imagery Alliteration Paradox

Simile a figure of speech that compares two dissimilar things by using the key words “like” or “as”. Example: Her feet felt like ice As old as time Dead as a doornail.

Metaphor a figure of speech that compares two unlike things describing one as if it were like the other. *Does not use “like” or “as” Examples: Blanket of Darkness My brother’s room is a pigpen.

Personification a figure of speech in which human qualities are given to a nonhuman subject Example: The leaves danced in the autumn wind. The lightening lashed out with anger.

Hyperbole an exaggerated statement or overstatement. It’s a figure of speech that is not to be taken literally. Example – I’m so hungry I could eat a horse! I’m so full I’m about to pop.

Irony The use of words to express something different or opposite from their literal meaning (Not what you expected). – There are three types of irony Situational Irony Dramatic Irony Verbal Irony

Situational Irony When things turn out differently than expected. Examples: – A greedy millionaire winning the lottery. – Two bank robbers have their car stolen while robbing a bank. – A man survives a plane crash only to be killed on the way to the hospital in an ambulance wreck.

Dramatic Irony When the audience knows something the character doesn’t. – Example: When we know as an audience that someone is hiding in the closet, but the character doesn’t.

Verbal Irony When the author says one thing but means another. Example: When somebody drops a tray of food and someone tells them “good job”. When a person trips and someone tells them “Slick move, Rick”.

Symbol Symbols are animals, elements, things, places, or colors, writers use to represent other things. –Example: Snake – Evil, Temptation. Black - Death

Imagery When an author uses words that appeal to one or more of our senses. – Examples: The cold of late December blew against my skin as I walked up to my family’s festive house for our holiday dinner. As I walked in the door, the aromas of warm apple pie and honey baked ham made me feel at home once again.

Alliteration The repetition of an initial consonant sound (consonants are all of the letters of the alphabet that are not vowels. – Example: "The soul selects her own society.“ “A moist young moon hung above the mist of a neighboring meadow."

Paradox a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true. – Example: Freedom is Slavery Ignorance is bliss I know that I know nothing.