All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is imagery in literary language?
Answer: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses. Imagery evokes sensory experiences to immerse readers in the scene or emotion described.
Flashcard 2: What is an allusion in figurative language?
Answer: An indirect reference to a known person, event, or text. Allusions enrich text by evoking associations with familiar references without explicit explanation.
Flashcard 3: What is idiom as a type of figurative language?
Answer: A phrase whose meaning is not literal. Idioms convey cultural or contextual meanings that differ from the words' literal interpretations.
Flashcard 4: What is hyperbole in figurative language?
Answer: Extreme exaggeration for emphasis, not literal truth. Hyperbole amplifies ideas or emotions through intentional overstatement to emphasize a point.
Flashcard 5: What is personification in figurative language?
Answer: Giving human qualities to something nonhuman. Personification makes abstract or inanimate elements more relatable by attributing human traits or actions.
Flashcard 6: What is a simile in figurative language?
Answer: A comparison using "like" or "as". Similes enhance descriptions by explicitly comparing two unlike things to highlight similarities.
Flashcard 7: What is a metaphor in figurative language?
Answer: A direct comparison stating one thing is another. Metaphors create vivid imagery by directly equating two unlike things to convey deeper meaning or emotion.
Flashcard 8: What does the idiom "spill the beans" mean in context?
Answer: To reveal a secret. The idiom figuratively means disclosing confidential information unintentionally.
Flashcard 9: What is symbolism in a text?
Answer: Using an object or action to represent an abstract idea. Symbolism adds layers of meaning by linking concrete elements to broader concepts or themes.
Flashcard 10: What is irony (verbal irony) in figurative language?
Answer: Saying one thing while meaning the opposite. Verbal irony creates contrast or humor by conveying a meaning opposite to the literal words.
Flashcard 11: What is onomatopoeia in figurative language?
Answer: A word that imitates a sound (for example, "buzz"). Onomatopoeia enhances auditory imagery by mimicking sounds through word formation.
Flashcard 12: What is oxymoron in figurative language?
Answer: Two contradictory words placed together. Oxymorons highlight paradoxes or complexities by juxtaposing opposing ideas for emphasis.
Flashcard 13: What is a pun in figurative language?
Answer: Wordplay based on multiple meanings or similar sounds. Puns add wit or humor by exploiting homophones or polysemy in language.
Flashcard 14: Identify the figurative device: "Her smile was sunshine."
Answer: Metaphor. This equates a smile to sunshine, implying warmth and brightness without using like or as.
Flashcard 15: Identify the figurative device: "He ran like the wind."
Answer: Simile. This compares speed to wind using 'like,' highlighting swiftness through explicit analogy.
Flashcard 16: Identify the figurative device: "The leaves danced in the breeze."
Answer: Personification. This attributes dancing, a human action, to leaves, animating nature for vivid effect.
Flashcard 17: Identify the figurative device: "I have told you a million times."
Answer: Hyperbole. This exaggerates repetition for emphasis, not intending a literal count of one million.
Flashcard 18: Identify the figurative device: "It is raining cats and dogs."
Answer: Idiom. This idiom describes heavy rain figuratively, not literally involving animals falling.
Flashcard 19: What does the idiom "break the ice" mean in context?
Answer: To ease tension and start a friendly interaction. The idiom implies initiating conversation to reduce awkwardness in social situations.
Flashcard 20: What is the most reliable first step for interpreting figurative language?
Answer: Decide whether the words are meant literally in context. Assessing literal versus non-literal intent helps identify when language conveys deeper meaning.
Flashcard 21: Which clue most strongly signals figurative meaning: literal impossibility or factual detail?
Answer: Literal impossibility. Literal impossibility prompts recognition of figurative intent over straightforward facts.
Flashcard 22: Identify the implied meaning: "After the loss, the house felt like a tomb."
Answer: The house felt silent, bleak, and lifeless. The simile compares the house to a tomb, evoking death-like emptiness after bereavement.
Flashcard 23: Identify the implied meaning: "The test was a mountain to climb."
Answer: The test was very difficult and required great effort. The metaphor portrays the test as a mountain, symbolizing formidable challenge and perseverance needed.
Flashcard 24: What is the best way to interpret an allusion you do not recognize?
Answer: Use surrounding context to infer the intended comparison or idea. Context provides clues to the allusion's purpose, even if the reference is unfamiliar.
Flashcard 25: What does symbolism require you to connect: literal object or event to what?
Answer: An abstract meaning or theme beyond the literal level. Symbolism links tangible elements to intangible concepts, enriching textual interpretation.