Figurative Language

By Toy Andrews

Alliteration- term refers to the repetition of a single letter in the alphabet.

Ex: Mystic Mountain, Tuxedo T-shirt, ; Portly Penguin

Metaphor- a form of comparison that directly compares two unlike things.

Ex: Glass case of emotion. This House is a prison!

Simile- a form of comparison in which one thing is compared to another unlike thing by using specific words of comparison: For instance, like, as, and resembles.

Ex: Chip I’m gonna come at you like a spider monkey.

Personification- when you are speaking of something that is not human as if it had human abilities and human reactions.

Ex: The Skeleton took a shower. The human torch was denied a bank loan.

Hyperbole- a great exaggeration used to emphasize a point, and is used for expressive or comic effect. It is not to be taken literally.

Ex: World’s best cup of coffee! I’m so happy I can’t feel my arms!

Idiom- a group of words whose meaning are different from the ordinary meaning of the words. While these appear to make little sense, people generally understand the little meaning because they are often repeated and develop a new meaning on their own.

Ex: That’s the old ball and chain. Piece of cake.

Onomatopoeia- refers to the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.

Ex: Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Ow! Whoop! There it is!

Reference

Ashley Parker, “Will Ferrell Figurative Language”, Youtube Video retrieved on October 7, 2014