FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Source: https://literarydevices.net
 FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Figuring out its meaning…
 Figurative language is used by poets to express
something different from the usual way.

 When thoughts and feelings are expressed using

figurative language, they go beyond their ordinary
meaning.

 Figurative language can heighten our senses as it

requires our imagination to figure out the
poet’s/author’s/writer’s meaning.
 APOSTROPHE

 Apostrophe is identified by the addressing of

someone absent, dead, or nonhuman as if the
person or thing were alive and could answer the
speaker talking.

 Similarly when apostrophe is used, the writer

or speaker using it, speaks directly to someone who
is not present or is dead, or speaks to an inanimate
object.
 Example of APOSTROPHE…

“Oh! Stars and clouds and winds, ye are

all about to mock me; if ye really pity
me, crush sensation and memory; let me
become as naught; but if not, depart,
depart, and leave me in darkness.”
Frankenstein (by Mary Shelly)
 Another Examples of APOSTROPHE…

“Blue moon, you saw me standing alone

Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own.”
Blue Moon (by Lorenz Hart)

Watch this enrichment video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Seg757TNU
 ALLUSION
 Allusion is another figurative language that presents a
reference to some familiar fact of history of literature.

 It is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place,

thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political
significance.

 It does not describe in detail the person or thing to

which it refers. It is just a passing comment and the
writer expects the reader to possess enough knowledge
to spot the allusion and grasp its importance in a text.
 Examples of ALLUSION…
The use of allusions are not confined to literature alone. Their
occurrence is fairly common in our daily speech. Look at
some common allusion examples in everyday life:
Examples:
 “Don’t act like a Romeo in front of her.” – “Romeo” is a
reference to Shakespeare’s Romeo, a passionate lover of
Juliet, in “Romeo and Juliet”.

 The rise in poverty will unlock the Pandora’s box of

crimes. – This is an allusion to one of Greek Mythology’s
origin myth, “Pandora’s box”.

Watch this enrichment video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CAkyYKgwA4
 LITERAL versus FIGURATIVE
Literal:
The white clouds float in the blue sky.

Figurative:
Imaginary scenes of wisp silently blow and
profile the endless heavens.
SUMMARY on FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Figurative language is a creative way of

expressing one’s thoughts and feelings.

Figurative language creates a more descriptive

picture in the mind of the reader.

The use of figurative language makes writing

more exciting, challenging and interesting.