SIMILE

SIMILE

A comparison of two unlike things using ‘like” or ‘as’

She was as pretty as a peach.

ONOM

ATOPOEIA

ONOMATOPOEIA

Words that imitate sounds

The crackling bag crumpled in his fist.

ALLITERATION

ALLITERATION

The repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of words. ( (Poe liked to use this!)

“…while I pondered weak and weary”

From The Raven

METAPHOR

METAPHOR

A comparison of two unlike things without

using like or as.

War was a beast.From Brother Sam Is Dead

IDIOM

IDIOM

A statement in which the meaning is NOT the same as the literal translation.

That test was a piece of cake!

PERSONIFICATION

PERSONIFICATION

Giving an inanimate object human characteristics.

The shutters on the house winked.

From The Westing Game

IMAGERY

IMAGERY

Descriptive writing which helps to provide a visual picture for the reader

“….a red wheel barow Glazed with rain waterBeside the white chickens”

From William Carlos Williams

ALLUSION

ALLUSION

A reference in literature to famous person, place, or event

Visions of championships danced in their heads.

From Stargirl (allusion to “T’was the Night Before Christmas”)

HYPERBOLE

HYPERBOLE

An extreme exaggeration

I’ve told you a million times!

IRONY

IRONY

A figure of speech that refers to a difference between the way something appears and what actually is true.

Isn’t it ironic that Britain’s largest dog was named Tiny?

MOOD

MOOD

The overall emotion felt by the reader while reading the text. It is expressed through setting, character actions, and plot events.

CLIMAX

CLIMAX

The high point of action in a story- the conflict takes a turn. Sometimes the main character chanes or is forced to change.

EXPOSITION

EXPOSITION

Beginning of the story where setting and characters are revealed.

RESOLUTION

The conflict is resolved and the story brought to a close.

TONE

TONE

The author’s attitude toward the topic or subject