top of page

Alliteration

The same letter or sound at the BEGINNING of adjacent or closely connected words.

eg Tyko tries to make tacos.

Assonance

The repetition of the sound of a vowel in words near each other.

eg It beats as it sweeps by sleeping geese.

Personification

Giving an inanimate object human qualities.

eg The moon mocked her as she slept.

Consonance

Repetitive sounds through consonants within a sentence or phrase. Generally close together.

eg pitter patter

Imagery

Activating any of the five senses.

eg The sunset was amazing; the clouds were edged with pink and gold.

Repetition

Repeating same words or phrases to make an idea more clear and/or memorable.

eg The boy was terrified. He shuddered at the least sound and he shuddered at the least breath of air.

Rhyme

Repetition of similar sounding words. Occurs at the end of lines in poems or songs. Brings rhythm.

eg You have brains in your head; you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

Metaphor

A comparison not using 'like' or 'as'.

eg She was summer.

Simile

A comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

eg. She shone like summer.

 

Satire

A way to ridicule shortcomings, vices, follies, abuses.

eg "Satire lies about literary men while they live and eulogy lies about them when they die."

Onomatopoeia

The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.

eg warble, slam, splash, mumble

Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

eg It was so cold my feet froze off.

I have a million things to do today.

 

Idiom

A group of words that have a meaning that doesn't align with those of the individual words

eg.

"It's raining cats and dogs" means

it's raining heavily

 

Symbolism

Use symbolism to convey hidden meanings. Places, objects, and actions can all be symbols, with many layers of meaning tied to them. 

I hear leaves drinking rain;
I hear rich leaves on top
Giving the poor beneath
Drop after drop;
Tis a sweet noise to hear
These green leaves drinking near

​

-top leaves represent the rich, getting rain first etc.

new 

The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.

eg warble, slam, splash, mumble

​

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

eg It was so cold my feet froze off.

I have a million things to do today.

 

bottom of page