FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

WHAT IS FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE? Figurative language presents ordinary things in fresh ways, communicating ideas that go beyond words’ ordinary meanings.

Figurative vs. Literal To understand figurative language one has to understand the difference between figurative and literal

Literal To be literal is to mean what you say. For example: If I tell you to sit down! I mean it literally: “sit down,” as in: “sit in your seat now, please.” My meaning is exactly what I say.

Literal Here’s another example. I’m tired and going home. There is no other meaning other than what is said. I mean exactly what I say.

Figurative For example: If, I tell you: “let’s go chill!” To be figurative is to not mean what you say, but imply something else. For example: If, I tell you: “let’s go chill!” I’m not suggesting we get into the freezer.

Figurative continued “let’s go chill” … …means let’s relax together and do something fun. It has nothing to do with temperature.

Figurative as imaginary Figurative vs. Literal Confused? Think of it this way: Literal as real Figurative as imaginary

Why Figurative Language? Also known as descriptive language, figurative language helps the writer paint a picture in the reader’s mind.

Again: Figurative Language Figurative Language does not always mean what is being said or read, but serves to make texts more interesting.

Buy really, why??? Figurative Language An abstract emotion, such as love, cannot be clearly defined and is difficult to describe to someone who has not experienced it. Figurative language can be used to explain abstract emotions such as love, grief, envy and happiness.

Buy really, why??? The statement, "Love is blind," made famous by Shakespeare, is figurative language that employs personification in the form of a metaphor. The phrase suggests that a person's love for another causes them to overlook faults and discount physical appearance.

Again: Figurative Language Advertisers often use figurative language when promoting a product or service to create a positive impression of what they’re selling.

Again: Figurative Language Research analysts in advertising have discovered that advertisers who use figurative language produce more successful campaigns than those who don't.

Figurative Language

Figurative Language

Figurative Language

Again: Figurative Language In literature, figurative language influences the story. Creates mood “Her room was as black as pitch,” constructs a dreary mood. Develops characterization “The man is a gigantic creature,” displays the character as animalistic. Advances the plot Create suspense to drive the storyline

10 Techniques of Figurative Language You will need to: understand them identify them determine their effect Joyet 2004

10 Techniques of Figurative Language SIMILE METAPHOR PERSONIFICATION HYPERBOLE IMAGERY ALLUSION 7.ALLITERATION 8.ONOMATOPOEIA 9.REPITION 10.APOSTROPHE

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: IT’S LIKE A SIMILE – a comparison of two unlike things using the words like or as. Examples of simile: “Life is like a box of chocolates.” “The girl is as beautiful as a rose.” “The willow is like an etching…”

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: IT IS A METAPHOR – a comparison of two unlike things without using the words like or as. Examples of metaphor: “My father is a tall, sturdy oak.” “The hotel is a diamond in the sky.” “who know’s if the moon’s a balloon…”

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: PERSONIFICATION – the giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or idea. Examples of personification: “Hunger sat shivering on the road.” “The flowers danced on the lawn.” “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Smokey the Bear” are personified characters.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: HYPERBOLE – an exaggerated statement used to make a point. Examples of hyperbole: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” “I could sleep for a year.” “This book weighs a ton.”

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: IMAGINE THE IMAGERY – Words and phrases that appeal to the five senses—what can be seen, heard, touched, tasted, smelled, as well as what can be felt internally. Creates a mental picture.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: IMAGINE THE IMAGERY Examples of imagery: “Her clammy back felt like bark of the tree after a summer’s rain.” “The willow’s music is like a soprano…”

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: ALLUSION – A reference to a famous person, place, or event believed to be familiar to the audience. The writer assumes that the reader understands the reference and can apply it to the current context. Examples: “Chocolate was her Achilles’ Heel.” “The good luck charm was more like a Trojan Horse.” “This place is like the Garden of Eden.”

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: SOUNDS LIKE ONOMATOPOEIA - the use of words whose sounds suggest their meanings. Examples of onomatopoeia: “The bang of a gun.” “The hiss of a snake.” “The buzz of a bee.” “The pop of a firecracker.”

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: ALLITERATION Repetition of CONSONANT SOUNDS at the BEGINNING of at least two words in a line of poetry. The same sound starts a series of words or syllables. Examples of Alliteration “the frog frolicked frivolously on the forest floor.” Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered weak and weary

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: REPETITION - the repeating of sound, words, phrases or lines in a poem used to emphasize an idea or convey a certain feeling. Examples of repetition: “Sing a song full of faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song of the hope that the present has brought us…” “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…” “The isolation during my vacation created a situation of relaxation.” “I have a dream….” “I have a dream…”

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: APOSTROPHE – A direct address to an: Absent or dead person “O stranger of the future!” -Billy Collins Inanimate object “Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are.” Idea “Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.” -John Donne

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