Imagery

Imagery is vivid imagery that evokes one of the five senses (sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell). Abstract imagery refers to emotions or ideas that cannot be touched, but which can still be felt (i.e. friendship, tension, harmony).

Imagery is created through descriptive word choice, or diction, as well as figurative language.

Sound elements

Rhyme is when two words have the same ending sound, such as "dune" and "moon." If the rhyme is not exact, it is referred to as slant rhyme.

Assonance is when two words have the same vowel sound, such as "vie" and "dive." Just because two words have the same vowel does not mean they have the same sound.

Consonance is when two words have the same consonant sound, such as "mammal" and clam." The consonant can occur in any part of the word.

Alliteration is when the beginning of two words sound the same, such as "she" and "sells." The beginning letter may be a vowel, consonant, or consonant blend.

Refrain is repetition of a word or phrase.

Figurative Language

A comparison of two unlike things, not meant to be taken literally.

A simile is an indirect comparison using like or as.

A metaphor is a direct comparison that does not use like or as.

Personification is a metaphor, comparing a nonhuman thing to a human by attributing it human properties, such as emotion or thought.