This document defines and provides examples of various types of figurative language and literary devices including irony, sarcasm, allegory, understatement, symbolism, personification, metaphor, alliteration, simile, idiom, hyperbole, and rhyme. It explains that irony creates a contrast between what is stated and what is meant or expected, while satire criticizes individuals, ideas, and institutions through humor. Allegory uses characters and situations symbolically.

1.  Writing or speech not meant to be taken
literally.
 Writers use figurative language to express
ideas in vivid and imaginative ways.

2.  Irony – a contrast between what is stated and
what is meant, or what is expected to happen
and what actually happens.
 Sarcasm (Verbal Irony) – a word or phrase is
used to suggest the opposite of its usual
meaning
 Dramatic Irony – a contradiction between
what a character thinks and what the reader
or audience know

3.  Irony continued…
 Irony of Situation – an event occurs that
contradicts the expectations of the
characters, of the reader or audience

4.  Satire – writing that ridicules or criticizes
individuals, ideas, institutions, social
conventions or other works of art or
literature.
 Allegory – story where the characters and
situation are symbolic of something else
 Understatement – a statement that lessens or
minimizes the importance of what is meant

5.  Poetic Devices
 Symbolism
 Personification
 Metaphor
 Alliteration
 Simile
 Idiom
 Hyperbole
 Rhyme