Figurative Language Flashcards

What is an allusion in literature?

Answer: A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work

An allusion is an indirect reference to something outside the text — such as a historical event, myth, or famous work — that the reader is expected to recognize.

"The stars danced playfully in the night sky" is an example of:

Answer: Personification

Personification attributes human behavior (dancing playfully) to non-human things (stars).

In the sentence "She has a heart of gold," what type of figurative language is being used?

Answer: Metaphor

This is a metaphor because it directly equates her heart with gold (a symbol of great value) without using 'like' or 'as.'

Assonance in poetry refers to the repetition of:

Answer: Vowel sounds in nearby words within a line

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, as in 'the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.'

Which of the following best defines an oxymoron?

Answer: Two contradictory or opposite terms placed together

An oxymoron combines two contradictory terms to create a striking effect, such as 'deafening silence' or 'bittersweet.'

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is best classified as which type of figurative language?

Answer: Idiom

This is an idiom; its true meaning — don't judge something by its outward appearance — cannot be derived from the literal words alone.

Which sentence is the best example of alliteration?

Answer: Sally sells seashells by the seashore.

Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a series of words; multiple words in this sentence begin with the 's' sound.