Figurative Language Figurative Language used by writers and

Figurative Language

Figurative Language Ø used by writers and poets to say something different from the usual way Ø use of words that go beyond their ordinary meaning Ø requires imagination to figure out the author’s meaning Ø can heighten senses

Figurative language can be classified in five categories: (according to Merriam – Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature) Ø Ø Ø resemblance or relationship emphasis or understatement figures of sound verbal games error

1. Simile Ø compares two unlike objects with the common quality Ø uses the words “like” or “as” Examples: 1. My love for you is as deep as the sea. 2. My father is busy as a bee. 3. The still lake reflects the mountain like a mirror.

2. Metaphor Ø a form of comparison that directly compares two unlike things Ø created when there are common characteristics between a literal concept and a figurative one Examples: 1. Her teeth are pearls. 2. Time is gold. 3. You are the sunshine of my life.

3. Personification Ø the attribution of human characteristics to non-human/ inanimate objects (an animal, an object or a concept) Ø reader visualizes the literal term as human form/trait Examples: 1. Fear grabbed me as I heard footsteps behind me. 2. The flood waters swallowed the trees in one big gulp. 3. The stars winked at us from the night sky.

4. Onomatopoeia Ø the use of a word whose sound suggests the meaning Examples: 1. Six burgers were sizzling on the grill. 2. The hissing of the snake scared me. 3. The bee buzzed to my ears.

5. Irony Ø a figure of speech which a person is saying the opposite of what he means Examples: 1. The bad news is that everybody got perfect in yesterday’s test. 2. It is so nice of you to tell my secrets. 3. It is good of you for scolding me in front of my friends.

6. Apostrophe Ø identified by the addressing of someone absent, dead, or nonhuman as if the person or thing were alive and could answer the speaker talking Ø often used in informal writing contexts • Creative writing and persuasive essays that lean heavily on emotional strength are ideal places for apostrophe.

Examples: 1. “ Apostrophe! We thus address More things than I should care to guess Apostrophe! I did invoke Your figure even as I spoke. ” - John Hollander 2. “ Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone Without a dream in my heart Without a love of my own. ” - Lorenz Hart, “Blue Moon”

7. Hyperbole Ø an overstatement or exaggeration for effect of humor Examples: 1. You snore louder than a freight train. 2. I will love you till the seas run dry. 3. I have reminded you a million times to keep away from bad friends.

8. Litotes Ø a figure of speech in which understatement is employed for rhetorical effect, principally via double negatives Ø emphasizes truth Examples: Litotes “Not bad. ” “(…) no ordinary city. ” “You are not wrong. ” As a means of saying: “Good. ” “ (…) a very impressive city “You’re correct. ”

9. Epithet Ø also known as byname Ø a descriptive word or phrase added to or substituted for the name of somebody or something, highlighting a quality or figure Examples: 1. Alexander the Great; Aristides the Just 2. “Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns…” (Odysseus) 3. Calypso, the bewitching nymph Atlas, wicked Titan

10. Allegory Ø an extended metaphor Ø a literary device in which characters or events represent or symbolize ideas and concepts Ø present high truths with vividness and power (illustrate complex ideas and concepts in ways that are easily digestible and tangible to the readers) Examples: Aesop’s Fables Ø The Ant and the Grasshopper Ø The Fox and the Grapes Ø The wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

11. Metonymy Ø the use of one object in place of another word of another which it closely suggests Examples: 1. “The pen is mightier than the sword. ” pen – the written word sword – military aggression and 2. We must wait to hear from the crown until we make any further decisions. 3. Can you please give me a hand carrying this box up the stairs?

12. Synecdoche Ø may use part of something to represent the entire whole Ø may use the entire thing to represent part of it Examples: 1. Fifty sails entered the harbor. 2. Two heads are better than one. 3. At the Olympics, you will hear that United States won gold medal in an event.

13. Alliteration Ø characterized by the repetition of initial vowel or consonant sounds Ø great way to help you remember names and phrases Examples: 1. Peter piper picked a peck of pickled pepper. 2. Quincy’s quilters quit quilting quickly. 3. Fred’s friends fried Fritos for Friday’s food.

14. Allusion Ø a reference made to some familiar fact of history of literature Examples: 1. There is no Open Sesame to the treasures of learning. 2. The girl’s love of sweets was her Achilles’ heel. 3. He was a Romeo with the ladies. 4. David was being a scrooge!

15. Oxymoron Ø a figure of speech in which a pair of opposite or contradictory terms is used together for emphasis Examples: Ever noticed that it’s simply impossible to find seriously funny oxymorons online? The only choice is to ask one of those paid volunteers at the library for an original copy of some obviously obscure documents that were found missing.

16. Pun Ø an expression intended for a humorous or rhetorical effect by exploiting different meaning of words Examples: 1. When a son said that his ambition was to drive an army tank, his father said, “I won’t stand in your way. ” 2. I wondered why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

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