AllegoryAllegory•A form of extended A form of extended metaphor in which people, metaphor in which people, things, and events have things, and events have another meaning outside another meaning outside of the work, sometimes of the work, sometimes symbolic. symbolic.

•An example is An example is Animal Animal FarmFarm. .

AlliterationAlliteration•Repetition of sounds, Repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant especially initial consonant sounds in two or more sounds in two or more neighboring words. “She neighboring words. “She sells sea shells.” In a sells sea shells.” In a passage, it can reinforce passage, it can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, and/or meaning, unify ideas, and/or supply a musical sound.supply a musical sound.

AllusionAllusion

•A figure of speech that makes A figure of speech that makes brief reference to a historical brief reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or or literary figure, event, or object.object.

•EX: In EX: In The CrucibleThe Crucible John John Proctor calls John Hale Proctor calls John Hale Pontius Pilate.Pontius Pilate.

AmbiguityAmbiguity•Multiple meanings a literary Multiple meanings a literary

work may communicate, work may communicate, especially two meanings that especially two meanings that are incompatible.are incompatible.

•Example from Gray’s “Elegy Example from Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Written in a Country Churchyard:”Churchyard:”

•““And all the air a solemn And all the air a solemn stillness holds”stillness holds”–All the air holds a stillness.All the air holds a stillness.–A stillness hold the air.A stillness hold the air.

AnalogyAnalogy• An analogy is comparable to metaphor and simile in An analogy is comparable to metaphor and simile in

that it shows how two different things are similar, that it shows how two different things are similar, but it’s a bit more complex. Rather than a figure of but it’s a bit more complex. Rather than a figure of speech, an analogy is more of a logical argument. speech, an analogy is more of a logical argument. The presenter of an analogy will often demonstrate The presenter of an analogy will often demonstrate how two things are alike by pointing out shared how two things are alike by pointing out shared characteristics, with the goal of showing that if two characteristics, with the goal of showing that if two things are similar in some ways, they are similar in things are similar in some ways, they are similar in other ways as well.other ways as well.

• EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:

• ““The operation of a computer The operation of a computer presents an interesting analogy presents an interesting analogy to the working of the brain." to the working of the brain."

AnaphoraAnaphora•A device of repetition, in which the A device of repetition, in which the

same expression, word, or words, are same expression, word, or words, are repeated at the beginning of two or repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences.more lines, clauses, or sentences.

•EX: As I ebb’d with the ocean of life,EX: As I ebb’d with the ocean of life,• As I wended the shores I know,As I wended the shores I know,• As I walk’d where the ripples As I walk’d where the ripples

continually wash you Paumanok.continually wash you Paumanok.

AnecdoteAnecdote •A short narrative detailing A short narrative detailing

particulars of an interesting episode particulars of an interesting episode or event. In the literary sense, or event. In the literary sense, anecdotes most frequently refer to anecdotes most frequently refer to an incident in the life of an an incident in the life of an important person and should lay important person and should lay claim to an element of truth. claim to an element of truth.

•EX: EX: Recall the anecdote of George Recall the anecdote of George Washington, that he could not tell a Washington, that he could not tell a lie when he cut down the cherry tree.lie when he cut down the cherry tree.

AntithesisAntithesis•A figure of speech characterized A figure of speech characterized by strongly contrasting words, by strongly contrasting words, clauses, sentences, or ideas. It is clauses, sentences, or ideas. It is a balancing of one term against a balancing of one term against another. another.

•EX: "The world will little EX: "The world will little note nor note nor long remember what we say herelong remember what we say here, , but it can but it can never forget what never forget what tthey hey did heredid here."."

ApostropheApostrophe•A figure of speech that directly A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or addresses an absent or imaginary person or imaginary person or personified abstraction, such personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. The effect as liberty or love. The effect may add familiarity or may add familiarity or emotional intensity. emotional intensity.

•EX: “Death, be not proud…”EX: “Death, be not proud…”

AssonanceAssonance•Repetition of vowel sounds within one Repetition of vowel sounds within one

line or lines of poetry.line or lines of poetry.•EX: EX:

“ “The bThe bowows glided ds glided dowown, and the coastn, and the coast

BlBlaackened with birds took a lckened with birds took a laast lookst look

At his thrAt his thraashing hair and whale-blue shing hair and whale-blue eye”eye”