Figurative

What is
Figurative Language ?
Languages
Credits to the Owner: Prof. Vanessa Cuesta, Faculty, College of Arts & Sciences Education, UM- Main Campus, Davao City
Figurative language has meaning
beyond the actual meaning of the
words.
It creates images or pictures in the
reader's mind.
It makes stories more interesting
and ideas clearer.
What are the kinds of
figurative language?
 Simile
Compares two unlikes things using
"like" or "as"

The metal twisted like a ribbon.

She is as sweet as candy.

 Important!
Using “like” or “as” doesn’t make a simile.

A comparison must be made.

Not a Simile: I like pizza.

Simile: The moon is like a pizza.

 Metaphor
Direct comparison without using
"like" or "as"

Life is a roller coaster ride.

You are the sunshine of my life.

She is as sweet as candy.

 Personification
Gives human qualities to nonhuman
things

The truth will set you free.

The delicious chocolate is calling

my name.
 Onomatopoeia
The use of sounds which suggest the
real meaning

Please throw that alarm if you won't

get up! The ringing is killing.

Animal sounds: roar, hiss, buzz,

meow, etc.
 Idiom
A phrase whose meaning goes
beyond its words

It’s raining cats and dogs.

Butterflies in my stomach
Once in a blue moon
Piece of cake
Break a leg
 Hyperbole
Use of exaggeration for emphasis

I am so hungry I can eat a horse.

I waited for you for a century!

Where have you been?!
 Oxymoron
A combination of contradictory words.

She is an original copy of her mother.

She’s so tired that she appears to be a walking dead.
Her life is an open secret.
It was an amazingly awful story.
Her departure was a sad joy.
 Alliteration
A series of words which begins with the same
consonant sound.

Fred’s friends fried French fries for Friday’s food.

Hanna’s home has heat now, hopefully.
Seven sisters slept soundly on the sand.
 Cliché
A phrase that, due to overuse, is seen as lacking in
substance or originality.

“Plenty of fish in the sea.”

“It’s not you, it’s me.”
“The customer is always right.”
 Metonymy
(aka SYMBOLISM)

The use of association or a symbol

to represent what is really meant

Pen is mightier than sword.

The house was called to order.
We have always been loyal to the
crown.
 Imagery
Appeals to reader’s senses (touch,
hear, see, feel, taste, sound)

His coat felt so soothing as it reaches

my skin.
The siren turned into a whisper as it
ended.
 Synecdoche
A part represents its whole

wheels - car
roof - house
head - person
sails - ship
Other Types of Figurative
Languages
 Allusion
Use of a prominent figure as a
comparison

Einstein is coming this way. Let's

ask him to lend us his homework.

My English teacher is Hitler.

 Antonomasia
Makes use of a title or epithet in
place of a name.

He is watching Da King on
television.
• King of basketball
• Pearl of the orient
• Man’s best friend
• The Bard
• The Boy Who Lived
• The face that launched a thousand ships
• The Punisher
• Star-crossed lovers
 Climax
A series of statements that are
arranged from very simple to a more
interesting highlight and conclusion

Ex: I came, I saw, I conquer

It's a bitd, ift's a plane, it's superman
 Anticlimax
A series of statements that disrupts
the climactic order

Ex.: He lost his family, his car, and

his shoes.
 Irony
Expresses an idea that is opposite to
what is meant.

Thank you for coming late.

It is very cold, isn't it?

(In a hot weather)
 Understatement
aka
Litotes
Understatement that uses negation to
express a positive (double negation).

You wont be sorry.

The movie was not bad.
I cant disagree with your point.
 Paradox
A statement that contradicts itself

In order to save money, spend it.

You have to die to live.
This is the beginning of the end.
A child is the father of the man.
I close my eyes so I can see.
 Pun
aka
paranomasia
A play with words

Santa’s helpers are called subordinate clauses.

A bicycle cant stand on its own coz its two-tired.
A pessimist’s blood type is always B-negative.
Trust a glue salesman. They stick to their words.
I love you from my head TOMATO.
Let’s Practice!
Identify what figurative language is used.
“Life is a journey; travel it well.”
“The fog crept on little cat feet.”
“I was so embarrassed that I wanted to die...”
Snap, crackle, and pop are examples of...?
“He is as strong as an ox.”
 “It's a bit yellow.”

(While describing a very bright yellow dress)

Congratulations! You failed.
Being the smartest, John is known as the
Einstein of their batch.
Thanks a million!
She loves hearing the chirping of the birds in the
morning.
She loves pigging out, especially when stressed at
work.
Their mother is the iron lady of the house.
I live in the same roof with my parents.
Fail for you to succeed.
Words cannot espresso how much you bean to
me! I love you a latte!
🤗 QUIZ 🤗
1. She died countless times after all her dreams fell
apart.

2. I loved him like some dark places that are

mysterious.

3. Truth speaks.

4. Speech is silver; silence is gold

5. It was a hello-and-goodbye kind of love story.

 What does it mean? What is it?
Figurative Language (Explain the meaning of (What type of figure of
the statements) speech is used)
1. The aroma of freshly
brewed coffee perfumed
the entire kitchen.
2. His dream is a foggy
cloud because of his
indolence.