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 • Irony • Synecdoche

• Simile • Euphemism • Symbolism
• Metaphor • Metonymy
• Antithesis
• Alliteration • Apostrophe
• Personification • Assonance
• Onomatopoeia • Paradox
• Hyperbole • Litotes
• Idioms • Oxymoron
 Imagery
Language that appeals to the senses.
Descriptions of people or objects
stated in terms of our senses.
• Sight
• Hearing
• Touch
• Taste
• Smell
 Simile
A figure of speech which involves a
direct comparison between two unlike
things, usually with the words like or
as.
Example:
The muscles on his
brawny arms are
strong as iron
bands.
Simile “Good coffee is like friendship:
rich, warm and strong.”

as faithful as a dog.

as punctual as a clock.

as ferocious as a tiger.

as big as an elephant.
 Metaphor
A 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.
Examples:
•The conductor’s voice was a bass drum echoing
throughout the car.
• You are the light in my life.
• Love is a lie
 Personification
A figure of speech which gives
the qualities of a person to an
animal, an object, or an idea.
Example:
“The wind yells
while blowing."
The wind cannot yell.
Only a living thing
can yell.
 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.
 Alliteration
Repeated 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.
 Onomatopoeia
The 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
Irony is the use of words that
mean the opposite of what you
really think especially in order to
be funny.
Example:
• “This is my brilliant son who failed
out of college.”
• She’s a great singer who sings like a crow.
 Euphemism
The substitution of an agreeable or
inoffensive expression for one that may
offend or suggest something unpleasant
Example:
• Passed away – died
• I’m busy – Leave me the alone
• Your being let go – Your Fired
 METONYMY
In Metonymy an object is
designated by the name of the
something which is generally
associated with it.
Examples :

The crown, for kings.

Red-coats, for British soldiers.
 ANTITHESIS
In antithesis a striking
opposition of words or
sentiments, is made in
the same sentence.
Example:
They promised freedom and
provided slavery.
Many are called but few are
chosen
 Apostrophe
The addressing od usually absent
people or a usually personified
thing rhetorically.

Example:

Carlye’s “O Liberty, what

things are done in thy name.
 LITOTES
In 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.
Examples :
Not a bad singer
Not unhappy
Not unlike
 Assonance
The use of words that have the
same or very similar vowel
sounds near one another.

• Example:
• Summer fun
• Rise high in the bright sky.
 Paradox
In which a statement appears to
contradict itself

• Example:
• “War is Peace.”
• “Freedom is slavery.”
• “Ignorance is strength.”
• My weakness is my strength.
 Oxymoron
Contradictory terms appear side
by side. Known as a compressed
paradox.

Example:
• Great Depression
• Criminal Justice
• Hell’s Angels
 SYNECDOCHE
In Synecdoche a part is used to
designate the whole or the whole to
designate a part.
Examples:
• 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
Something that represents
something else by association,
resemblance, or convention
Examples:
• A heart means love
• Tears- Emotion
• Red light means stop
• Light bulb means “new idea”