simile

a figure of speech that compares

two unlike things

using 'the words "like" or "as"

personification

figure of speech in which

inanimate or nonhuman things

are given human characteristics or abilities

metaphor

figure of speech that makes something

seem less important or serious 

to emphasize its importance

apostrophe

(not punctuation!)

figure of speech that directly addresses

an abstract quality,

a non-human,

or an individual that is not present

hyperbole

figure of speech that uses

exaggeration for effect

onomatopoeia

figure of speech in which 

the sound of the word corresponds

to its meaning

alliteration

repetition of initial consonant sounds

('barely breathing')

assonance

repetition of vowel sounds within words

('free and easy')

consonance

repetition of consonant souns at the end of words

(short and sweet)

understatement

figure of speech that compares

two unlike things

without using any comparison words

rhyme

identical sounds,

usually at the ends of words or lines of poetry

where the final vowel sounds and following consonant sounds are the same.

allegory

A form of extended metaphor with the following qualities:Objects, people, and actions in the story represent something more than their literal meaning; Characters often represent some abstract quality like betrayal, goodness, greed, joy, jealousy, etc.;

The underlying meaning is usually social, political, or religious.

imagery

anything that appeals to our senses:

sight, taste, touch, sound, and smell.

allusion

any reference to a literary work

or historical person, place, or event