Poetry Terms/Figurative Language Flashcards
literal
language that means exactly what it says and leaves nothing to the imagination
figurative
language that is not meant to be taken literally; appeals to the senses and creates pictures and images in the reader’s mind
personification
when the author gives human-like characteristics to nonhuman things or objects
alliteration
when a set of words uses the same sound or letters repeatedly (at the beginning of the word)
onomatopoeia
a word that sounds like the noise it describes
metaphor
a comparison of two or more things without using “like” or “as”; typically uses words like “is,” “are,” and “was”
simile
a comparison of two or more things using the words “like” or “as”
denotation
the dictionary definition of a word
connotation
the emotions and associations connected to a word;
the unspoken, hidden meaning that gives a word more emotional impact (how a word feels or sounds to a reader)
mood
how the reader feels while reading a text; the emotional response that the writer wishes to evoke (bring out) in the reader of a text
tone
an author’s attitude toward what they are writing about; the stylistic choices the author uses to reveal their attitude(s) in a work of literature
idiom
a well-known expression that makes a point different than what it actually says (different than the literal meaning)
hyperbole
An extreme exaggeration; an exaggeration so dramatic that no one would believe it’s true.
imagery
visual description of images; uses sensory detail to convey an image or idea; language that stimulates the reader’s senses
audience
The people reading a text; who the author writes their piece for
