Figurative Language Quiz

Figurative language is when an author carefully chooses words to evoke an emotional or sensual response, rather than relying on a literal, direct approach to writing.

Alliteration is the repetition of similar sounds. For example, in The Outsiders, when the Socs jump Ponyboy, Hinton writes, 'They walked around slowly, silently, smiling.' The three words that begin with the letter 's' are an example of alliteration.

Allusion is when an author alludes to, or vaguely mentions, something, and then leaves it up to the reader to interpret it. For example, Johnny's last words, 'Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.' are an example of allusion, referring to Robert Frost's poem 'Nothing Gold Can Stay'.

Ponyboy, the narrator, uses alliteration to draw attention to the way the Socs unexpectedly sneaked up on him and surrounded him before he knew they were there.

Johnny sees a great deal of hope for the future in Ponyboy, but understands that the negativity that surrounds them has the ability to make him jaded.

Foreshadowing is dropping hints to the reader that something is about to happen. In the text, Ponyboy leaves hints that the church is going to burn when he narrates, 'If that old church ever caught fire there'd be no stopping it.' And, it does, indeed, burn to the ground.

An example of hyperbole is when Dally describes his concern for Ponyboy after he caught on fire. 'Kid, you scared the devil outa me the other day. I thought I'd killed you.' The purpose of hyperbole is to exaggerate and emphasize the level of concern that Dally had for Ponyboy in that moment.

Irony occurs when a big departure arises between what happens and what you would expect to happen. In the text, Ponyboy writes, 'In the country. I loved the country. I wanted to be out of towns and away from excitement.' But while he's in the country, the church he is staying in catches on fire and Ponyboy ends up saving children from a burning building. The city ends up being the place he goes to recover.

An example of a metaphor is when Ponyboy compares Darry to Superman. 'He (talking about Dally) didn't have Soda's understanding or dash, or Two-Bit's humor, or even Darry's Superman qualities.' The metaphor compares Darry's strength and character to the traits of Superman, emphasizing Ponyboy's view of Darry as almost untouchable perfection.

Onomatopoeia is a word that is used for its sound effect. In the text, when the guys start messing around in the church and embarrass Johnny and Ponyboy, you can almost hear the 'bang.' 'It wasn't long before he and Steve and Two-Bit were throwing paper wads at each other and clowning around, and finally Steve dropped a hymn book with a bang, accidentally, of course.' The use of onomatopoeia emphasizes the disruptive noise and the humiliation felt by Ponyboy and Johnny.