Figurative Language and Poetic Devices

Figurative Language and Poetic Devices

Alliteration: Repetition of the Beginning consonant sound

Alliteration Stan the strong swimmer saved several swimmers on Saturday.

Allusion A reference to well known characters, places, events or another work of literature.

Allusion… He is such a liar, I was surprised his nose wasn’t growing like Pinocchio's.

Hyperbole exaggeration

I nearly died laughing! Hyperbole… Authors use Hyperbole for emphasis

Imagery creates mental pictures by appealing to one or more of the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell or taste.)

Imagery The golden daffodils filled the field. Her silvery hair gleamed in the sun

Irony The difference between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen. (An unexpected twist.)

Irony Think about it – why are these ironic? The sign painters spelled school wrong! Last night the firehouse burned to the ground.

Metaphor: • A comparison that • says one thing is another Hint – does NOT use ‘like’ or ‘as’

Metaphors The girl is a fish in the water. We are comparing the girl to a fish. The balloon was a feather floating away. We are comparing the balloon to a feather.

Onomatopoeia: A word that imitates the sound it represents

Onomatopoeia

To give human characteristics or qualities to animals or objects Personification

Personification The flowers dancedin the wind. (Flowers can’t really dance – only people can.) Oreo – milk’s favorite cookie. (Milk can’t really have a favorite – only people can.)

Repetition/Refrain Repeating a word, phrase, line or stanza throughout a poem so as to have that idea stand out.

Repetition/Refrain

Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as"

Similes: His feet are as big as boats. We are comparing the size of feet to boats. She is fast like a cheetah. We are comparing her speed to that of the fastest running animal.

Theme The message or lesson of the story. A theme of Pinocchio is honesty is the best policy.

TONE TONE is the author’s attitude toward the subject. You can recognize the tone/attitude by the language/word choices the author uses. His/her language will reveal his perspective (that is, whether his/her opinion is positive or negative) about the subject. Tone must be inferred through the use of descriptive words.

Tone example If a mother asks “How is your dinner?“ A child could respond “I love it!” The tone depends on how this is said. If the child said “I love it!" in a simple, positive way, he or she would not have a problem with their mother. However, if the child responded with a whiney “I love it!” because he or she actually does NOT like the meal, then the entire meaning of the words change.

MOOD Mood is the feeling or atmosphere perceived by the reader. It is the emotions you feel while reading. The mood indicates a prevailing feeling, or frame of mind, especially at the start of the story. It creates a sense of expectation to readers of what is to follow. All the choices for setting, images, objects and details contribute to creating a mood.

Mood Example The night was dark and stormy. The sentence gives you a scary ‘mood’. There was plenty of food and the music was playing. Everybody was having a good time. The sentence gives you a mood of happiness and fun.

Denotation Dictionary definition of a word - the literal meaning Example: Home - a place where people live, a residence

Connotation An idea or feeling that a word invokes for a person in additionto its literal or primary meaning - the figurativemeaning • Example: • Home - a place to feel safe

Figurative Language and Poetic Devices