Why Is Figurative Language Used?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Figurative language

compares things in order to give them more detail

. We use figurative language to help the reader better understand what we are trying to describe.

How does figurative language help the reader?

Figurative language can transform ordinary descriptions into evocative events, enhance the emotional significance of passages, and turn prose into a form of poetry. It can also help the

reader to understand the underlying symbolism of a scene or more fully recognize a literary theme

.

What is figurative language and why is it used in writing?

What is Figurative Language? Figurative language refers to

the use of words in a way that deviates from the conventional order and meaning in

order to convey a complicated meaning, colorful writing, clarity, or evocative comparison.

What is the use of figurative language in life?

The primary function of figurative language is

to force readers to imagine what a writer wants to express

. Figurative language is not meant to convey literal meanings, and often it compares one concept with another in order to make the first concept easier to understand.

How do you teach figurative language?

  1. Start Out of Context. Anytime I introduce my students to a new literary device, I like to give examples and teach them explicitly what it is. …
  2. Deeper Thinking with In-Context Learning. …
  3. Teaching Figurative Language through Poetry. …
  4. Independent Practice.

What are figurative language examples?

  • This coffee shop is an icebox! ( …
  • She’s drowning in a sea of grief. ( …
  • She’s happy as a clam. ( …
  • I move fast like a cheetah on the Serengeti. ( …
  • The sea lashed out in anger at the ships, unwilling to tolerate another battle. ( …
  • The sky misses the sun at night. (

What are the 8 kinds of figure of speech?

  • Simile.
  • Metaphor.
  • Personification.
  • Paradox.
  • Understatement.
  • Metonymy.
  • Apostrophe.
  • Hyperbole.

What are 5 examples of figurative language?

  • Simile.
  • Metaphor.
  • Personification.
  • Onomatopoeia.
  • Oxymoron.
  • Hyperbole.
  • Litotes.
  • Idiom.

How do you identify figurative language in a poem?

  1. Find Connecting Words. Simile and metaphor are two of the most common types of figurative language, and they both use connecting words, which makes them a little easier to identify. …
  2. Analyze Verbs and Adjectives. …
  3. Look for a Second Meaning. …
  4. Flag Superlatives.

How do you explain figurative language to a child?

Figurative language is a word or phrase that does not have its normal everyday, literal meaning. It is used by the writer for the sake of comparison or dramatic effect. Authors use similes, metaphors, hyperbole, and personification to make their stories more interesting.

What are the 7 figurative language?


Personification, onomatopoeia , Hyperbole, Alliteration

, Simily, Idiom, Metaphor.

What is a metaphor in figurative language?

Full Definition of metaphor

1 :

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between

them (as in drowning in money) broadly : figurative language — compare simile.

How do you explain figurative language?

Figurative language is

when you describe something by comparing it to something else

. The words or phrases that are used don’t have a literal meaning. It uses metaphors, allusions, similes, hyperboles and other examples to help describe the object you are talking about.

What is example of personification?

Common Personification Examples


The wind howled in the night. The car complained as the key was roughly turned in its ignition

. Rita heard the last piece of pie calling her name. My alarm clock yells at me to get out of bed every morning.

What is an example of a simile?

Many commonly used expressions (idioms) are similes. For example, when someone

says “He is as busy as a bee

,” it means he is working hard, as bees are known to be extremely busy. If someone says “I am as snug as a bug in a rug,” they mean that they feel very comfortable and cozy or are tucked up tight in bed.

What are the examples of alliteration?

As a method of linking words for effect, alliteration is also called head rhyme or initial rhyme. For example, “

humble house”

, “potential power play”, “picture perfect”, “money matters”, “rocky road”, or “quick question”. A familiar example is “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.