Poetry - Figures of Speech

Terms Related to Poetry – Figures of Speech

Figurative language –

language that is used to mean some other or something more than it says; language that is used in a non-literal way

Figures of speech –

various ways speech is used figuratively

Simile –

a comparison using the word "like" or "as"

Metaphor –

a direct comparison or equivalence

Extended simile – 

comparison using the word "like" or "as" which is repeated in the poem; more commonly used in an epic poem where the same comparison is used throughout.

Extended metaphor –

direct comparison which is repeated in the poem; more commonly used in an epic poem where the same comparison is used throughout

Personification –

attributing human qualities to a non-human or non-living object

Hyperbole –

saying more than what is meant; exaggeration

Understatement –

saying less than what is meant

Metonymy –

referring to one thing by something else it is associated with: the crown refers to the king

Synecdoche –

use of a part of a person to object to refer to the person or the object: the hand that rocked the cradle refers to the person rocking the cradle.

Apostrophe –

where the speaker speaks to a dead or non-present person

Allusion–

a reference to an historical event, aspect of culture, character or content in a piece of literature, or other widely known type of information to convey a feeling, idea, or image; serves to convey information using a few words.