Poetry Terminology

Match the following types of figurative language to their meanings.

• Idiom

• An expression particular to a specific group of people or culture

• Personification

• A direct comparison between unlike things

• Metaphor

• Giving human traits or abilities to inanimate objects or animals

• Simile

• An indirect comparison between unlike things using words such as “like,” “as,” or “than”

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Figurative language

Match the following types of figurative language to their meanings.

• Understatement

• when a person, place, thing, or concept is used to represent something other than its typical definition

• Symbolism

• making something seem less important or less severe than it really is

• Hyperbole

• an extreme exaggeration used to make a point or stress an idea

• Euphemism

• a polite expression used in place of words or phrases that otherwise would be considered harsh or unpleasant

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Figurative language

What type of figurative language is used?

After being hit with a dodgeball, Mrs. Bryant fell down as if she had been struck by a cannonball.

Answer explanation

The words “as if” are being used to make an indirect comparison between a dodgeball and a canon ball.

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Figurative language

What type of figurative language is used?

My dad's boss had to let him go because my father had not met his sales goal.

Answer explanation

The phrase "let someone go" is a polite way for saying someone's job was terminated. This means the dad was fired for not selling enough merchandise.

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Figurative language

What type of figurative language is used?

Now that I'm old, my memory is Swiss cheese.

Answer explanation

The speaker's memory is being compared to Swiss cheese. The comparison implies that the speaker cannot remember things as Swiss cheese is full of holes.

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Figurative language

What type of figurative language is used?

Vernon passed the test by the skin of his teeth. Next time, he should study more.

Answer explanation

"Skin of his teeth" is an idiom that means "just barely" or "narrowly." Thus, Vernon narrowly passed his test; this is reinforced by the detail that Vernon needs to study more.

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Figurative language

What type of figurative language is used?

Does anyone have a snack? I am starving to death!

Answer explanation

The speaker is exaggerating when he or she claims to be starving "to death."

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Figurative language

What type of figurative language is used?

After defeating the the opposing team 72-21, Pauline modestly said, "We played okay today."

Answer explanation

A fifty-one point victory is a major defeat, but Pauline makes it sound as if the team did not win by such a large points spread.

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Figurative language

What type of figurative language is used?

The thunder boomed, "Go inside!" as the storm approached.

Answer explanation

Speech is a human ability, so this is personification.

Seeing that this question asks about figurative language, not sound devices, onomatopoeia is not an appropriate answer.

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Figurative language

Match the following sound devices with their meanings.

• alliteration

• the repetition of a consonant sound in nearby words

• onomatopoeia

• the repetition of the initial consonant sound in nearby words

• assonance

• the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words

• pun

• a play on words--often humorous-- that involves homophones or words with multiple meanings

• consonance

• the use of words that imitate sounds

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Sound device