Figurative Language

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What is a simile?

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A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'. For example, 'She’s as tiny as a mouse.'

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What is personification?

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Personification is a figure of speech in which human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts. For example, 'The west wind dances down the road.'

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What is alliteration?

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Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a series of words. For example, 'Polly Peters positively played Ping-Pong.'

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What is a metaphor?

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A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'. For example, 'The snow on the ski hill was powdered sugar.'

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What is hyperbole?

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Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement that is not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect. For example, 'I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.'

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What is onomatopoeia?

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Onomatopoeia is a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound it describes. For example, 'buzz', 'bang', or 'sizzle'.

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What is an oxymoron?

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An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms appear in conjunction. For example, 'deafening silence'.

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What is imagery?

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Imagery is the use of descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating a mental picture for the reader. For example, 'The fragrant flowers bloomed in the bright sunlight.'

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What is a pun?

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A pun is a form of word play that exploits multiple meanings of a term or similar-sounding words for humorous or rhetorical effect. For example, 'Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.'

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What is a hyperbole?

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Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement that is not meant to be taken literally, often used for emphasis. For example, 'I’ve told you a million times.'