Figurative Language

Presentation of Group 1 in Trends Networks and Critical Thinking

Devotion Sharing
What is Figurative Language?
What is
Figurative
Language?Figurative language is a way of expressing oneself that does not
use a word’s strict or realistic meaning. Common in comparisons
and exaggerations, it’s usually used to add creative flourish to
written or spoken language or explain a complicated idea.
What is
Figurative
Language?
Basically, figurative language is anytime you stretch the actual
meaning of words for effect, whether to sound artistic, make a joke,
or communicate more clearly and engagingly. Figurative language
is a common technique in narrative writing, where the author
strives to make emotional connections with the reader.
5 Common Types
of Figurative
Language
1. Simile
is a type of figurative language that describes
something by comparing it to something else
with the words like or as.
 Examples of Simile
• She was as sly as a fox.
• That knife is as sharp as a razor.
• He's as sick as a dog.
• It was as big as an elephant.
• He is as bright as a button.
• She's as cold as ice.
• It's as tough as an old boot.
• He's as good as gold.
2. Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object
or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain
an idea or make a comparison.
 Examples of Metaphor

•Life is a highway.
•Her eyes were diamonds.
•He is a shining star.
•The snow is a white blanket.
•She is an early bird.
 3. Personification
Personification is a figure of speech in which an idea or thing is given human
attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human. Personification is a
common form of metaphor in that human characteristics are attributed to
nonhuman things. This allows writers to create life and motion within inanimate
objects, animals, and even abstract ideas by assigning them recognizable human
behaviors and emotions.
Examples of Personification

• My alarm yelled at me this morning.

• I like onions, but they don’t like me.
• The sign on the door insulted my intelligence.
• My phone is not cooperating with me today.
• That bus is driving too fast.
• My computer works very hard.
• However, the mail is running unusually slow this week.
• I wanted to get money, but the ATM died.
4. HYPERBOLE
It's a trick of exaggerating a
situation, action or feeling by
using extreme language to
intensify the image created in the
reader's mind. Simply put, it uses
exaggeration to emphasize and
intensify meaning.
Examples of Hyperbole

• I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.'

• 'I haven't seen you in ages!'
• 'The teacher gave us a ton of
homework.'
• 'When your mum sees what you've
done, she will kill you.'
• 'She never stops talking.'
• 'This work is going to take me years to
finish.'
• 'I'll be there in two seconds.'
• 'I was dying of laughter.'
5. Paradox
A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself, or that
must be both true and untrue at the same time.
Paradoxes are quirks in logic that demonstrate how
our thinking sometimes goes haywire, even when we
use perfectly logical reasoning to get there.
Examples of Paradox

•less is more.
•do the thing you think you cannot do.
•you're damned if you do and damned if you
don't.
•the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
•the beginning of the end.
•if you don't risk anything, you risk
everything.
•earn money by spending it.
Purpose and Importance of Figurative
Language

 What is the purpose of figurative

language?
Literal language serves its purpose in
certain contexts, such as professional
communication, academic papers, or legal
documents.
However, in other contexts, to put it
bluntly,
literal writing could be boring.
Importance and Purpose of
Figurative Languages

 On the contrary, figurative language helps make writing and

speeches more engaging and amusing. The reader or listener has
to think about the words a little more, as if deciphering a riddle,
which means they’re actively participating.
Importance and Purpose of
Figurative Languages

 Another use of figurative language is to

help simplify complex ideas. Scientists
might use it to explain the more
complicated aspects of their research
that a general audience might not
understand.
Summary of the Lesson:

• Figurative language is not the literal meaning.

• The common types of Figurative Language are:
simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole and
paradox.
• Figures of speech are important because they add
vibrant and color to the written text that may not
bored the readers.
Maraming Salamat Po Grade
12 Generosity