English 9 / Unit 4: Figurative Language and Poetry
4.2 Imagery, Hyperbole, Idiom and Allusion
Notes
Authors use other devices to create pictures, exaggeration and connections.
- Imagery: language that appeals to the five senses.
- Hyperbole: extreme exaggeration for effect ("I'm so hungry I could eat a horse").
- Idiom: an expression whose meaning differs from its literal words ("break a leg").
- Allusion: a reference to a well-known person, place, event or text ("He's a real Romeo").
- Understatement: making something seem smaller than it is ("It's a bit warm," in a heat wave).
Practice
"This backpack weighs a ton!" is an example of:
It is an obvious exaggeration.
"Our new quarterback is no Hercules, but he gets the job done." The reference to Hercules is a(n):
Hercules is a famous figure from Greek myth.
"The crunch of dry leaves, the smell of woodsmoke and the sting of cold air on my cheeks." This sentence mainly uses:
It appeals to hearing, smell and touch.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 4 test.