Figurative Language

What is figurative language?

Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else, you are using figurative language.

Types of Figurative Language

• Imagery

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Alliteration

• Personification

• Onomatopoeia

• Hyperbole

• Idioms

• Irony• Euphemism• Metonymy• Antithesis• Apostrophe• Assonance• Paradox• Litotes• Oxymoron

• Synecdoche• Symbolism

Imagery

• Sight

• Hearing

• Touch

• Taste

• Smell

Language that appeals to the senses. Descriptions of people or objects stated in terms of our senses.

Simile

Example: The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.

A figure of speech which involves a direct comparison between two unlike things, usually with the words like or as.

Simile

as faithful as a dog.

as punctual as a clock.

as ferocious as a tiger.

as big as an elephant.

“Good coffee is like friendship:

rich, warm and strong.”

MetaphorA figure of speech that compares two unlike things WITHOUT using the words like or as and states the comparison as if it were a fact.

•The conductor’s voice was a bass drum echoing throughout the car.

• You are the light in my life.

• Love is a lie

Examples:

Personification

Example: “The wind yells while blowing."

The wind cannot yell. Only a living thing can yell.

A figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea.

Personification examples…

• The wind whistled against my cheeks.

• The sun greeted me this morning.

• The flowers begged for water.

• The wind screamed as it raced around the

house.

• Lightning danced across the sky.

• Trees bowed to the ground.

• The carved pumpkin smiled at me.

AlliterationRepeated consonant sounds occurring at the beginning of words or within words.

Example:

She was wide-eyed

and wondering while

she waited for Walter

to waken.

Alliteration examples…

• Carries cat clawed her couch, creating chaos.

• Dan’s dog dove deep in the dam, drinking dirty water as he dove.

• Eric’s eagle eats eggs, enjoying each episode of eating.

• Fred’s friends fried Fritos for Friday’s food.

• Hannah’s home has heat hopefully.

• Alice’s aunt ate apples and acorns around August.

OnomatopoeiaThe use of words that mimic sounds.

Example:

The firecracker

made a loud

ka-boom!

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is an outrageous exaggeration that emphasizes a point, and can be ridiculous or funny.

Hyperbole examples…

• The lottery winner's grin stretched from New York City to Los Angeles.

• You snore louder than a freight train.

• I have died everyday waiting for you

• It was so cold, I saw polar bears wearing jackets.

• I am so hungry that I can eat a horse.

• I had a ton of homework

Idioms

An idiom or idiomatic expression refers to a construction or expression in one language that cannot be matched or directly translated word-for-word in another language.

Idioms

Example:

You should keep your eye

out for him.

To keep an eye out for

someone means to watch

out for them.

Irony

Example:

Irony is the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really think especially in order to be funny.

• “This is my brilliant son who failed out of college.”

• She’s a great singer who sings like a crow.

Euphemism

Example:

• Passed away – died

• I’m busy – Leave me the alone

• Your being let go – Your Fired

The substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant

Examples :

METONYMYIn Metonymy an object is designated by the name of the something which is generally associated with it.

The crown, for kings.

Red-coats, for British soldiers.

In antithesis a striking opposition of words or sentiments, is made in the same sentence.

ANTITHESIS

They promised freedom and provided slavery.

Example:

Many are called but few are

chosen

The addressing od usually absent people or a usually personified thing rhetorically.

Apostrophe

Carlye’s “O Liberty, what things are done in thy name.

Example:

LITOTESIn Litotes an affirmative is conveyed by negation of the opposite, the effect being to suggest a strong expression by means of a weaker. It is the opposite of Hyperbole.

Not unhappy

Not a bad singer

Examples :

Not unlike

The use of words that have the same or very similar vowel sounds near one another.

Assonance

• Example:

• Summer fun

• Rise high in the bright sky.

In which a statement appears to contradict itself

Paradox

• Example:

• “War is Peace.”

• “Freedom is slavery.”

• “Ignorance is strength.”

• My weakness is my strength.

Oxymoron

Example:

• Great Depression

• Criminal Justice

• Hell’s Angels

Contradictory terms appear side by side. Known as a compressed paradox.

Examples:

SYNECDOCHEIn Synecdoche a part is used to designate the whole or the whole to designate a part.

• Give us this day our daily bread (for food)

• He has many mouths to feed.

• A ten sail (for ten ships)

• As a creature (for a man)

Symbolism

Examples:

• A heart means love

• Tears- Emotion

• Red light means stop

• Light bulb means “new idea”

Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention