Idioms

Definition: An idiom is an expression that has meaning different from the meaning of its individual words.

Song example:

Your bridges were burned, and now it's your turn

To cry, cry me a river- Justin Timberlake "Cry Me A River"

Explanation: The relationship between two people is severed. It's time for the other person in the relationship to be sad and cry. Because tears are water, the amount of tears that are shed is being compared to the amount of water in a river. The author's purpose is to show the intensity of the hurt and sadness that the people have experienced.

Irony

Definition: Irony is a special kind of contrast between appearance and reality. There are three types of irony. Situational irony is the contrast between what a reader or character expects and what actually happens. Dramatic irony is when the reader/viewer knows something that the characters do not. Verbal irony is when someone knowingly exaggerates or says one thing but means another.

Song example:

An old man turned ninety-eight

He won the lottery and died the next day

It's a black fly in your Chardonnay

It's a death row pardon two minutes too late

And isn't it ironic... don't you think- "Ironic" Alanis Morissette

Explanation: The irony is that an old man finally gets lucky enough to win the lottery, but then the old man dies the next day before he can enjoy his winnings. The irony in the song is when someone gets to enjoy a glass of wine and there is a fly in it, so he or she cannot drink the wine. Also, the irony is when someone on death row is fortunate enough to have his or her prison sentence pardoned, but not in enough time to enjoy his or her life as a free person. The author's purpose is to show that coincidences happen, so everyday we should appreciate life and live life to its fullest.

Onomatopoeia 

Definition: Onomatopoeia is the use of words that sound like what they refer to.

Song example:

Happiness is a warm gun (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot)- "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" The Beatles

Explanation: Happiness is very natural. Happiness shoots out of people because they can't contain their cheerfulness. The author's purpose is to show that a person should shoot cheerfulness and happiness out from him or her just like the sound of shots from a gun. The author's purpose is to relate real sounds from a gun to the feeling of happiness.

Pun

Definition: A pun is a joke that comes from a play on words. Puns can make use of a word's multiple meanings or of a word's rhyme.

Song example:

Now you're just somebody that I used to know- "Somebody That I Used To Know" Gotye

Explanation: The pun in this picture is that a fox just killed a bunny, so it's some bunny that the fox used to know before the fox killed the bunny. The author's purpose is to change the words from a song and make it facetious.

Simile

Definition: A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things using the words like or as.

Song example:

I, I love you like a love song, baby- "Love You Like A Love Song" Selena Gomez

Explanation: The simile in this song is that he or she loves someone so deeply and fully, like he or she loves his or her favorite love song. The author's purpose is to compare the love for another person to the gentleness and passion of a love song.