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Hyperbole is not meant or interpreted literally, but the exaggeration contributes to the true meaning of what is being said. Hyperbole – Hyperbole is the use of extreme exaggeration or extravagant statements, meant to create a strong impression, as well as to evoke or indicate strong feelings. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.ĥ. Alliteration is used a lot in poetry, but in prose as well, and its purpose is usually to call attention to that particular set of words, or to contribute to the overall rhythm and flow of the writing. It is sometimes more specifically defined as the repetition of sounds at the beginning of words, or in stressed syllables. Alliteration – Alliteration is the repetition of similar sounds within a sentence or a phrase. Like a simile, a metaphor’s purpose is to strengthen a description or comparison, and make it more memorable or vivid.Ĥ. Unlike a simile, a metaphor does not use a connecting word such as “like” or “as.” It asserts that the two things being compared are equal to one another. Metaphor – A metaphor is a figure of speech used to compare two unlike things by claiming that one thing is another. Seeing this play is like watching paint dry.ģ. The connecting word is most commonly “like” or “as.” Similes are usually used to make a description more vivid or memorable, or to establish a certain characteristic of the thing being described. Simile – A simile is a comparison of two things that are not necessarily alike, using connecting a word to link the comparison. Getting into the bed was like crawling onto a soft, fluffy cloud.Ģ. She was overwhelmed by the sweet smell of the cookies when she walked in. The jewels, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, sparkled at her throat. The scream reverberated through the silence of the neighborhood. Many other figurative language devices can qualify as imagery.įorgive me they were delicious, so sweet and so cold. Imagery is the use of any descriptive words or phrases that result in a clearer mental picture of the person, place, thing, or situation being described.
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Imagery – Imagery is broadly defined, usually in terms of writing, as the descriptive language used by an author to provide an image in the reader’s mind, appealing to one of the five senses. This list of figurative devices will introduce you to figurative language.ġ.
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Furthermore, being familiar with figurative language and figurative devices is important for writing as well as reading. These are very often found in literature, and identifying figurative language is an integral part of literary analysis. There are many different methods, called figurative devices or literary devices, by which figurative language can be used. Figurative language is used to imply concepts and meanings that are more complicated than those that can be conveyed with literal language. Figurative language is language that is used in ways that differ from the literal connotations and definitions of individual words or phrases.
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