English 1
Mr. Ronzoni
Additional literary terms
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
To communicate clearly, students must be able to identify and use figurative language correctly.
What is Figurative Language?
Figurative language is language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal
interpretation. When a writer uses literal language, he or she is simply stating the facts as they are. Figurative
language, in comparison, uses exaggerations or alterations to make a particular linguistic point. Figurative
language is very common in poetry, but is also used in prose and nonfiction writing as well.
There are many different types of figurative language.
Term
Definition
Example
The repetition of usually initial consonant
sounds in two or more neighboring words or
Alliteration
The wild and woolly walrus waits and wonders.
cinnamon & snake
syllables
clock & kudos
holy & stony
Assonance
The repetition of vowel sounds in two or more
and
neighboring words or syllables
Fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese
A word or phrase that has become overly
No pain, no gain
Cliché
familiar or commonplace
Hyperbole
Big exaggeration, usually with humor
That store sells mile-high ice-cream cones.
Idiom
The language peculiar to a group of people
She sings at the top of her lungs.
It=s my dream to...
She gave 110%...
A figure of speech comparing two unlike things
Metaphor
without using like or as
Her hair was silk.
Naming a thing or an action by imitating the
Onomatopoeia
sound associated with it
Personification
Giving something human qualities
buzz, hiss, roar, woof
The stuffed bear smiled as the little boy
hugged him.
A figure of speech comparing two unlike things The sun is like a yellow ball of fire in the
Simile
that is often introduced by like or as
over
sky.
English 1
Mr. Ronzoni
Additional literary terms
2
Mood
Mood is the feeling that the reader gets from the writing. It is the atmosphere that pervades a literary work with the
intention of evoking a certain emotion or feeling from the reader. While tone often describes the writing overall, the mood
of a piece of writing can change throughout it. For example, at the death of a character the mood could be depressed or
sad, but at the discovery of a long lost friend, the mood could be upbeat and joyful. In drama, mood may be created by
sets and music as well as words; in poetry and prose, mood may be created by a combination of such elements as setting,
voice, tone, and theme.
Example: In Romeo and Juliet the mood of the Capulets= party is joyful. However, the mood of the last scene in the play
is sad.
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Tone
Tone is the writer's attitude toward the material and/or readers. Tone may be playful, formal, intimate, angry, serious,
ironic, outraged, baffled, tender, serene, depressed, or suspenseful. Tone is also generally thought of as describing the
work as a whole, rather than a particular section. Tone is closely linked to mood, but tends to be associated more with
voice.
Example: The tone of AThe Most Dangerous Game@ is suspenseful.
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Voice
Voice is associated with the basic vision of a writer, her general attitude toward the world. In writing, voice is the
way your writing sounds on the page. It is all about originality. Voice shows the writer's personality. The writing has a
sound different from everyone else's. It contains feelings and emotions so that it does not sound like an encyclopedia
article. The reader should be able to sense the sincerity and honesty of the writer. Voice has to do with the way you write,
the tone you take--friendly, formal, chatty, or distant. Your voice is also reflected in the words you choose--everyday
words or high-brow language.
Example: The narrator=s voice at the beginning of A Separate Peace seems very somber, and it is written in the style of an
adult. In contrast, the narrator=s voice in the flashback is more the style of a teenager searching for answers to a 17-yearold=s problems.
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Denotation and Connotation
A word=s denotation is its dictionary definition, a specific meaning. A word=s connotation involves the emotional
associations that the word brings to mind. It is important to consider both denotation and connotation as you
communicate. Many words have the same basic dictionary definitions, but their connotations may be different.
Slim and skinny have basically the same denotation, small in waist size as opposed to height. However, slim has a positive
connotation, while skinny has a negative connotation. The same holds true for the words cheap and inexpensive. Both
words refer to something being reasonable in price. However, cheap has a negative connotation, but inexpensive has a
positive connotation. Childlike has the connotation of innocence.
Words with similar dictionary meanings often have different connotations, so it is very important for a writer to choose
words carefully. Consider the following table. Each row contains a list of words with similar dictionary meanings but
different shades of feeling.
Favorable
Neutral
Unfavorable
relaxed
inactive
lazy
prudent
timid
cowardly
modest
shy
mousy