Epithet

Epithet, the next term on the list of 'figurative language'.

What is it? Epithet is a descriptive word or phrase that usually has emotion or a deeper meaning connected to the person or object being discussed.

In some senses an epithet can be synechdoche because you are using a label to convey something else (remember part for whole). An epithet could very well be idiom as well since the word or phrase has a hidden meaning.

In the well known Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Tolkien uses references to allow the reader to know who his characters are talking about. Such as, the Necromancer or Eye, referring to Sauron. In the Sword of Truth Series by Goodkind, The Lord Rahl is also an epithet because it refers to the leader of an empire, and a family heritage of wizards. So, an epithet could be also a nickname or sobriquet.

Think of epithet as a second name for a person or place that has a connected emotional meaning that would be easily recognized by the audience. The emotional hints and intensity would be clear.

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