Determine the meaning of words and phrases
as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes. 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.
What does figurative language help us to understand?
Using figurative language is an effective way of communicating an idea that is not easily understood because of its abstract nature or complexity. … Writers of prose and poetry use figurative language to
elicit emotion
, help readers form mental images and draw readers into the work.
Why is it important to have an understanding of the difference between figurative and literal language?
Literal language is precise
, and expresses exactly what the author or speaker means. Literal language does not use confusing words or does it encourage the reader to think beyond what is being said. … Figurative language often uses symbolism, requiring the reader or listener to think beyond the words that are written.
Why does figurative language matter?
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.
How do you understand 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.
Which type of figurative language is this?
- Simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things and uses the words “like” or “as” and they are commonly used in everyday communication. …
- Metaphor. A metaphor is a statement that compares two things that are not alike. …
- Hyperbole. …
- Personification. …
- Synecdoche. …
- Onomatopoeia.
What is figurative language symbolism?
Symbolism can be defined as
the practice or art of using an object or a word to represent an abstract idea
. An action, person, place, word, or object can have symbolic meanings. When authors want to suggest a certain mood or emotion, they use symbolism to hint at it rather than just blatantly saying it.
What’s the difference between figurative language and literal?
Literal language means exactly what it says, while figurative language uses
similes, metaphors, hyperbole, and personification
to describe something often through comparison with something different. See the examples below. Literal Descriptions • Grass looks green. Sand feels rough.
What is difference between literal and figurative language?
Literal language is used to mean exactly what is written. … Figurative language is used to
mean something other than what is written, something symbolic, suggested, or implied
. For example: It was raining cats and dogs, so I rode the bus.
What is figurative language and examples?
Figurative language
creates comparisons by linking the senses and the concrete to abstract ideas
. Words or phrases are used in a non-literal way for particular effect, for example simile, metaphor, personification.
Does it important to use figurative language in learning literature?
Figurative language is important to literature in relation to understanding and analysing a text
. … A knowledge of figurative language ensures that the deeper meaning of a text will be understood. It enhances the creativity of and emphasises features of the text that readers may not grasp by reading the text literally.
Which is the best description of figurative language?
The best definition of figurative language is;
when words are used in a way that departs from their actual meanings to achieve a special effect or mental image, then the language is
called figurative language. Fiction writers mostly make use of this type of language.
How does figurative language create mood?
Figurative Language Creates Mood
Figurative language can affect the mood of a short story. The term mood refers to the atmosphere that envelopes the reader and evokes certain feelings. … Figurative language is used to draw the reader into the story quickly.
What are 5 examples of figurative language?
- Simile.
- Metaphor.
- Personification.
- Onomatopoeia.
- Oxymoron.
- Hyperbole.
- Litotes.
- Idiom.
How do you identify figurative language in a poem?
- 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. …
- Analyze Verbs and Adjectives. …
- Look for a Second Meaning. …
- Flag Superlatives.
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.
