Vocabulary 1
a casual and brief reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event
Allusion
the repetition of initial consonant sounds
Alliteration
narrative in which literal meaning corresponds directly to symbolic meaning
Allegory
speaking to an absent or dead person
Apostrophe
repetition of similar vowel sounds
Assonance
an adjective or phrase that describes a prominent feature of a person or thing. Example: Alexander the Great
Epithet
the use of words to express something different than their literal meaning, or different than what's expected
Irony
a form of understatement in which a statement is affirmed by negating its opposite. Example: This is no small problem.
Litotes
a comparison without using like or as
Metaphor
a figure of speech in which part of something is used to stand for the thing itself. Example: "Washington" stands for the entire United States government.
Metonym
the substitution of a mild or less negative word or phrase for a harsh or blunt one
Euphemism
the use of words which in their pronunciation suggest their meaning
Onomatopoeia
a figure of speech which, for emphasis, contradictory terms are brought sharply together
Oxymoron
a self-contradictory statement that finds deeper meaning
Paradox
use of two or more words, phrases, or sentences with the same grammatical structure
Parallelism
a figure of speech in which deliberate exaggeration is used for emphasis
Hyperbole
giving an inanimate object human qualities
Personification
a figure of speech using like or as
Simile
a type of irony that occurs when speaking that, by context, implies its opposite
Verbal Irony
a type of irony that occurs when what is expected to happen is different than the outcome
Situational Irony
place two items side by side to create an effect, reveal an attitude, or accomplish a purpose
Juxtaposition
work that exposes to ridicule the shortcomings of individuals, institutions,or society
Satire
A play on words that exploits the similar in sound between two words with distinctly different meanings. Example: Pythons go to great lengths to kill their prey.
Pun
a techinque used by writers to hint at what will happen next
Foreshadowing
author reveals what other people say about the character; readers make inferences about what the character is like as opposed to being told directly
Indirect Characterization