Antithesis

​A contrast of ideas, words, or sentences--it's basically the opposite of something.

Parallellism

​A similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses.

For example: She still had to brush her teeth, comb her hair, and go to bed.

Alliteration

Reptition of consonants in two or more adjacent words.

For example: Allen ate apples all day long.

Assonance

Repetition or similarity of the same internal vowel sounds in words of close proximity

For example: No pain, no gain!

Anaphora

​Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a clause or sentence

For example: We are going shopping, we are going to get our nails done, then we will go home.

Epistrophe

​A figure of speech in which there is repetition of words or phrases at the end of clauses or sentences.

Juxtaposition

A contrast or contradiction created by placing two concepts, characters, or places near or next to each other.

For example: A dark, gloomy castle and a Beautiful, light-filled home

Metaphor

​A figure of speech that compares two things without using "like" or "as" to make the comparison.

For example: He was a roaring lion on the field.

Simile

A comparison of two things using the words "like" or "as" to compare them.

For Example: She was as light as a feather.

Hyperbole

Exaggerating something for effect.

For example: I feel like I haven't slept in a million years!

Personification

Giving inanimate objects or ideas human qualities and abilities.

For example: Her idea took off at a sprint!

Irony

When a word or expression either means the opposite of what it should, or when something is the opposite of what you would expect.

Oxymoron

The combination of terms that are ordinarily contradictory.

For example: False positive

Paradox

Something that seems to contradict itself but actually has a bit of truth to it or reveals something.

For Example: Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore---it's too crowded.