Figurative Language III

ALLUSION An allusion is a short, informal reference to a famous person or event. These are usually drawn from history, Greek and Roman mythology, Shakespeare, the Bible and literature.

Cultural Literacy This is being aware of the allusions that have been set up within our society. It is know the allusions and references even without having read all of the literature. In writing today we have to be more careful with allusions because our cultural literacy can no longer be assumed

Eponym This is a specific type of allusion. The person that is being alluded to is substituted for the attribute itself. Examples I would need to be Hercules to lift this box of books off of the floor and on to the shelf. All of my students are young Einsteins.

Apostrophe An apostrophe is a direct address to someone, whether present or absent, and whether real, imaginary or personified. The next opportunity for a snow day---sorry to tell you this—is not until January.

epithet An epithet is an adjective or adjective phrase that describes key characteristics of the noun. Examples: Brightening dawn Cruel murder Laughing happiness Sneering contempt Untroubled sleep

Metaphorical epithets These are epithets that usually contain personification Examples Joyous night Jocund day Lazy road Sleeping night Smirking billboards Tired landscape Wandering river

Transferred Epithet This is an adjective modifying a noun that it usually would not modify even though it makes figurative sense. The ragged breathing of the old man came from beyond the curtain.