Figurative Language
is the use of figures of speech to be
more effective, persuasive and
impactful.
Figures of Speech
is a word or phrase that has
a meaning something different than its
literal meaning.
1. Simile
a figure of speech that makes a
comparison, showing
similarities between two
different things. Unlike a in your little heart,
metaphor, a simile draws
resemblance with the help of
the words like or as.
Therefore, it is a direct
comparison.
Using similes attracts the
attention and appeals directly to
the senses of listeners or
readers encouraging their
imagination to comprehend
what is being communicated. In
addition, it inspires life-like
quality in our daily talks and in
the characters of fiction or
poetry
Example:
I would have given anything
for the power to soothe her frail soul,
tormenting itself in its invincible
ignorance like a small bird beating
about the cruel wires of a cage
-Joseph Conrad
2. Metaphor
a figure of speech which makes
an implicit, implied or hidden
comparison between two things
that are unrelated but share
some common characteristics.
In other words, a resemblance
of two contradictory or different
objects is made based on a
single or some common
characteristics.
Furthermore, a metaphor
develops a comparison which is
different from a simile i.e. we do
not use like or as to develop
a comparison in a metaphor.
Using appropriate metaphors
appeals directly to the senses of
listeners or readers, sharpening
their imaginations to
comprehend what is being
communicated to them.
Example:
I am the wind that you
breathe.
I am the song of your life.
3. Personification
a figure of speech in which a
thing, an idea or an animal is
given human attributes. The
non-human objects are
portrayed in such a way that we
feel they have the ability to act
like human beings.
It is not merely a decorative
device but it serves the purpose
of giving deeper meanings to
literary texts. It adds vividness
to expressions as we always
look at the world from a human
perspective.
Examples
Have you got a brook
Where bashful flowers
blow,
And blushing birds go
down to drink,
And shadows tremble
so?
4. Apostrophe
a rhetorical device used by
playwrights and authors
whenever their characters
address a character that isnt
present in the scene.
apostrophe is often used by
characters who are addressing
a personification or an idea.
(apostrophe in the form of
personification)
Example
Grim death, how foul and
loathsome is thine image.
-Taming of the Shew,
Shakespeare
5. Hyperbole
derived from a Greek word
meaning over-casting this
figure of speech involves an
exaggeration of ideas for the
sake of emphasis.
in literature, it has very serious
implications. By using
hyperbole, a writer or a poet
makes common human feelings
remarkable and intense to such
an extent that they do not
remain ordinary.
In literature, usage of hyperbole
develops contrasts. When one
thing is described with an over-
statement and the other thing is
presented normally, a striking
contrast is developed. This
technique is employed to catch
the readers attention.
Example
I had to wait in the station for
ten days-an eternity.
- The Heart of
Darkness Joseph
Conrad
6. Litotes
derived from a Greek word
meaning simple, it is a figure
of speech which employs an
 understatement by using
double negatives or, in other
words, positive statement is
expressed by negating its
opposite expressions.
Litotes uses ironical
understatement in order to
emphasize an idea or situation
rather than minimizing its
importance.
Example
I am not unaware how the
productions of the Grub Street
brotherhood have of late years
fallen under many prejudices.
(Jonathan Swift, A Tale of a Tub)
7. Metonymy
a figure of speech that replaces
the name of a thing with the
name of something else with
which it is closely associated.
in a metonymy, the word we
use to describe another thing is
closely linked to that particular
thing, but is not a part of it, (ie.
Crown which means power or
authority is a metonymy.)
Generally, metonymy is used in
developing literary symbolism
i.e. it gives more profound
meanings to otherwise common
ideas and objects. By using
metonymy, texts exhibit deeper
or hidden meanings and thus
drawing readers attention. In
addition, the use of metonymy
helps achieve conciseness. For
instance, Rifles were guarding
the gate is more concise than
The guards with rifles in their
hands were guarding the gate.
Example
Friends, Romans, countrymen,
lend me your ears.
8. Synecdoche
a literary device in which a part
of something represents the
whole or it may use a whole to
represent a part.
By using synecdoche, the
writers give otherwise common
ideas and objects deeper
meanings and thus draw
readers attention.
Example
The western wave was all a-
flame.
Tell that its sculptor well those
passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on
these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them.
9. Irony
a figure of speech in which
words are used in such a way
that their intended meaning is
different from the actual
meaning of the words.
It may also be a situation that
may end up in quite a different
way than what is generally
anticipated.
In simple words, it is a
difference between the
appearance and the reality.
Types of Irony
1) Verbal Irony it occurs
when a speaker speaks
something contradictory to
what he intends to. It is an
intentional product of the
speaker and is
contradictory to his/her
emotions and actions. (Ex:
I will not marry yet; and,
when I do, I swear it shall
be Romeo, whom you know
I hate, rather than Paris.)
2) Situational Irony it occurs
when incongruity appears
between expectations of
something to happen, and
what actually happens
instead.
10. Allusion
is a brief and indirect reference
to a person, place, thing or
idea of historical, cultural,
literary or political significance.
By and large, the use of
allusions enables writers or
poets to simplify complex ideas
and emotions. The readers
comprehend the complex ideas
by comparing the emotions of
the writer or poet to the
references given by them.
Example
There is no open sesame to
the treasures of learning.