You have to make an inference to understand what the poet, author, playwright is trying to tell the reader. An example would be a metaphor in the poem or a symbol within a novel.

the author, poet, playwright tells us exactly what he/she means.

an idea that represents something else.

a group of words that cannot be taken literally.

Using harsh or bitter words that are meant to hurt or make fun of another person

Written words including poems, fiction and non-fiction

Clues in the text that can help the reader discovered the meanings of words and phrases

a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.

A comparison that uses like or as

A comparison that does not use like or as

Using the same beginning sounds

Repeating of a line or word

The writer or speaker's attitude toward the subject

Occurs over and over

Object that recurs over and over in a work of fiction; for example, the color pink or an oak tree.

The tension between what is expected and what really happens.

When the reader or audience knows what's going to happen but the character does not

Something happens that you would not expect

the opposite of what is said is meant

to explain