Figurative Language Devices

Front 1

Litotes

Back 1

Understatement for effect, esp. such understatement in which something is express by a negation of the contrary. Example: He is not the most attractive person in the world...She is not the brightest star in the class.

Front 2

Hypophora

Back 2

Raising a question and also giving an answer to the question. Example: Do you know who won the Premier League last year. It was the invinsible, and already legendary, Liverpool team with stars like Gerrard and Suarez who took home their second title in a row back to Anfield.

Front 3

Sentential adverb

Back 3

Is a word or phrase that’s used to lend emphasis to the words adjacent to the adverb. Word and phrases like in fact, indeed, I think, without doubt, I suppose. Example: But the lake was not drained before April - But the lake was not, in fact, drained before April.

Front 4

Amplification

Back 4

The act or result of amplifying, enlarging or extending. Example: I am hungry - I am incredibly hungry.

Front 5

Rhetorical question

Back 5

A question asked only for the effect, as to emphasize a point, no answer being expected. Example: Why are so many children hungry every day in our country?

Front 6

Anaphora

Back 6

Using the same word or words to start two or more sentences or paragraph that follow another. Example: Because I understand, because I want to, because I love you.

Front 7

Allusion

Back 7

A statement that hints at something rather than being direct. Example: I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinnochio’s...He was a real Romeo with the ladies.

Front 8

Metonymy

Back 8

A figure of speech in which one thing is replaced with a word closely associated with it. Stand-Ins for other words. Example: Crown - in place of a royal person...The suits - in place of business people… Pen - for the written word.

Front 9

Symbolism

Back 9

This word is the practice of giving special meaning to objects, things, relationships or events. An example of symbolism is Christians making the cross a representation of Jesus.

Front 10

Hyperbole

Back 10

Greatly exaggerating the truth (often used to be funny). Example:I have told you a million times… I am so hungry I could eat a horse.

Front 11

Personification

Back 11

Giving human characteristics to non-living things or ideas. Example the run down house appeared depressed… her life passed her by.

Front 12

Onomatopoeia

Back 12

Naming an action or a thing according to what it sounds like. Example: Thonk! Thunk! Birds twittered and tweeted.

Front 13

Alliteration

Back 13

Using several words that all include the same sound. Example: Toby was totally lost… wide whispering woods… fearful frenzied.

Front 14

Metaphor

Back 14

Comparing two things by substituting one object for another (without using words like or as). Example: broken heart...the light side of life...it’s raining men.

Front 15

Simile

Back 15

Comparing two unlike things using the words like or as. Example: cute as kitten...as busy as a bee...as happy as a clam.

Front 16

Imagery

Back 16

The definition of this word is pictures created by the mind or from memory. Example: He fumed and charged like an angry bull...The word spread like leaves in a storm.