What is Figurative Language?
In order for you to understand what I will be talking about you will need to know what figurative language is. One definition for figurative language is a language that is used imaginatively rather than literally. An easier way of putting it is that figurative language is a language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from it's literal meaning. When I hear these definitions I associate figurative language as describing objects and people in the poem or in any other writings. For example if you read, "Sally was as calm as a clam." in a poem, the simile would be describing how calm Sally was. Figurative language can make writing better. "Sally was as calm as a clam." would enhance the writing rather than saying, "Sally was very calm." They are both saying the same things, but one is more descriptive because it used figurative language and reading that sentence could help you imagine just how calm Sally was.
Elements of Figurative Language
Now that you know what figurative language is, you are probably wondering what are some elements of it. The sentence, "Sally was as calm as a clam." is an example of a simile. If you don't know what a simile is here is the definition:
simile (n.)- a comparison of two unlikely things that uses the words either "like" or "as"
That is only one element of figurative language. There are a lot more elements, but here are definitions for the figures of speech I will be talking about:
metaphor (n.)- a figure of speech that describes one thing as if it was another
paradox (n.) - a statement or idea that seems contradictory, but is actually expressing a truth personification (n.)- giving human traits, characteristics, or abilities to non-human objects or animals |