Introduction To Literature

The Paper of
Figurative Language

Group 4
Arranged by:
Ilham Fajar Maulana 1813042020
Nenti Safitri 18130420
Safira Riskia 1913042050

LANGUAGE AND ART EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
OF LAMPUNG UNIVERSITY
2019
 CHAPTER 1
WHAT IS FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE?

Course Learning Outcomes

1. To understand the definition of figurative language
2. To understand the function of figurative language
3. To understand the type of figurative language
4. To distinguish the differences between types of figurative language
5. To mentioned the examples of seven main types of figurative language
6. To understand the importance of learning figurative language

Introduction

Figurative Language, a novelty of language evidently (and yet not absurdly)

estranged from the ordinary habit and manner of our daily talk and writing, and figure itself
is a certain lively or good grace set upon words, speeches, and sentences to some purpose
and not in vain, giving them ornament or efficacy by many manner of alterations in shape,
in sound, and also in sense, sometime by way of surplusage, sometime by defect, sometime
by disorder, or mutation, and also by putting into our speeches more pith and substance,
subtlety, quickness, efficacy, or moderation, in this or that sort tuning and tempering them,
by amplification, abridgement, opening, closing, enforcing, meekening, or otherwise
disposing them to the best purpose.

Definition of Figurative Language

 The term figurative language has traditionally referred to language which differs
from everyday, “nonliterary” usage. Figures were seen as stylistic ornaments with which
writers dressed up their language to make it more entertaining, and to clarify the meanings
they wanted to convey. According to this view, literary devices such as metaphor, simile,
rhythm, and so on, embellished “ordinary” language, and so forced readers to work harder
at making meaning in a text. Nowadays we recognize that all language is in some sense
“figurative”: there are very few ways of talking and writing about the world that do not
make use of comparisons, symbols, and so on.
Based on Abrams (1999), tells that figurative languages was a conspicuous
departure from what users of language apprehend as the standard meaning of words, or else
the standard order of words, in order to achieve some special meaning or effect.
In addition, Perrine (1982) tells that figurative languages is broadly defined as any
way of saying something other than ordinary way. It is more narrowly definable as a way of
saying one thing and meaning another. The readers and writers properly utilize superior
style to explain the ideas of the classical rhetorical them. Means of classical rhetoric has
been used by the Roman Cicero and Suetonius novelist who wears figura in the sense of
"shadows, images, allusions, allegories”.
Meanwhile, Keraf (2009) tells that figurative language is a way of expressing
typically thought through language that shows the spirit and personality of the author or the
user language.

Function of Figurative Language

Figurative language allows people to express abstract thoughts. It create tone and
communicates emotional content, often through humor. Figurative language helps reinforce
group identity and may help sell product by bringing certain image or cultural ideas to
mind. In short, figurative language makes language more colorful.
1. Creating Tone & Communicating Emotion
Figurative language is vivid and descriptive, it can create an image in your
mind. And also, it creates emotional tone more effectively. Reading it can cause an
emotional reaction like happy and sad.
Example:
Formal language: “He was very lonely.”
Using figurative language: “Tomi Escribano, died in the chruch, and was
buried along with his name, nobody came.”

2. Humor and Abstrack Thinking

 The ability to understand figurative language helps people play with
abstract ideas. Also, humorous comparisons are only funny if the figurative
language is understood.

3. Cultural Cohesiveness
Figurative language can be specific to a culture. The words you choose for
comparison in similes and metaphors can have different meanings depending on
your culture.
Example:
The word “fried” can mean extreme anger in Spanish and , in American English it
can mean extreme fatigue.
The idiom “playing chiken” (taking unnecessary risks) only makes sense in
American culture.

4. Marketing
Figurative language can help link language with emotional responses quickly
and effectively. This helps marketers create memorable messages about their
product.

Types of Figurative Language

In literary works, it is a common things that the writer use many kind of figurative
language to attract the attention of the reader. However, there are many types of figurative
language. Cited from the book ‘Pengajaran Gaya Bahasa’ (1985) by Henry Guntur
Tarigan, he states that the style of figurative language is a beautiful way that is used to
enhance the real effect on readers by adding and comparing certain objects or things with
other objects or things that more generally known.

Based on its function and the way it is written there are four type of figurative
language by Tarigan (1985). The first type of figurative language is comparative language
style which is used to find the similarities in different things. The second type is opposition
language style which is used to show the contradiction or the opposite of an idea of a
subject in sentences or phrases. The third type is connection or linking language style
which is use to show or express an idea, or a subject matter that is clearly associated or has
a strong relationship. And the last type is repetition language style in which the same words
or phrases are use repeatedly is succesive clauses.
 Remembering the essentsials function and the importance of figurative language,
the readers will easily find those kind of figurative language in many literary works. In fact,
there are many other branches of the four types of figurative language. In this case, we will
discuss the seven main kinds of figurative language that is commonly uses in literary
works.

1. Simile

Simile is a figure of speech that makes such a comparison or showing similarities

between two very different things. Commonly, simile uses the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ which
show direct comparison. Simile can be easily found in everyday daily conversation, for
example to describing something we often compare it with other things by looking at the
similarity, could be physical aspect of the things. The example of simile in daily
conversation is ‘her cheecks were as red as tomatoes’. Simile can be easily found in many
literary works because authors and poets utilize simile to convey their sentiments and
thoughts through vivid word pictures.

One of the example of simile in famous literary work is “… impressions poured in

upon her of those two men, and to follow her thought was like following a voice which
speaks too quickly to be taken down by one’s pencil… “1 . In this sentence, we could see
that the writer were trying to makes the point that her thoughts are difficult to follow, and
cannot be written quickly enough.

2. Metaphor

1 Virginia woolf, To The Lighthouse (1927)

 A Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden
comparison between two things that are unrelated, but which share some common
characteristics. In other words, many contradictory or differences of the objects is not
important because of a single common characteristics. The metaphor figure of speech is
different from a simile, because we do not use “like” or “as” to develop a comparison in
metaphor poems and metaphor sentences because metaphor makes an implicit or hidden
comparison and not an explicit one.

One of the example of metaphor in famous literary work is “…and it’s you are
whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you …”2 in
this famous love poetry, the writer implies his lover is the one his heart choose by
describing it as the choice of the moon and the sun.

3. Imagery

Imagery means to use figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in
such a way that it appeals to our physical senses, such as sense of hear, see, touch, taste,
smell, and other. Usually it is thought that imagery makes us create visual representation of
ideas in our minds. The function of imagery in literature is to generate a vibrant and graphic
presentation of a scene that appeals to as many of the reader’s senses as possible. It makes
reader’s imagination to envision the characters and scenes in the literary works clearly.

One of the example of imagery in famous literary work is ‘… he remembered that

day of his preliminary interview—sunny June, with the air full of flower scents and the
plick-plock of cricket on the pitch …’3. In this example, the writer tries to build up reader
imagination with senses. The word sunny refers to visual sense, flower scents refers to the
sense of smell, and the plick – plock of cricket refers to sense of hearing.

4. Personification

2 E. e. cummings, I Carry Your Heart With Me (1952)

3 James hilton, Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1934)

 Personification is a figure of speech in which a thing – an idea or an animal – is
given human characteristics. The non-human objects are portrayed in such a way that we
feel they have the ability to act like human beings. Writers and poets rely on personification
to bring inanimate things to life, so that their nature and actions are understood in a better
way.

One of the example of personification in famous literary work is “Have you got a
brook in your little heart, Where bashful flowers blow, And blushing birds go down to
drink, And shadows tremble so?”4 Flowers blow, blushing birds, and shadows tremble, are
the examples of personification.

5. Hyperbole

Hyperbole derived from a Greek word meaning “over-casting,” is a figure of speech

that involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis. Hyperbole is an unreal
exaggeration to emphasize the real situation. By using hyperbole, a writer or a poet makes
common human feelings remarkable and intense to such an extent that they do not remain
ordinary. In literature, use of hyperbole develops contrasts. When one thing is described
with an over-statement, and the other thing is presented normally, a striking contrast is
developed. This technique is employed to catch the reader’s attention.

One of the example of hyperbole from a famous literary work is “I’ll love you,
dear, I’ll love you. Till China and Africa meet, and the river jumps over the
mountain, and the salmon sing in the street. I’ll love you till the ocean is folded and
hung up to dry.”5 In this statement, the writer were describing his endless love with
things that is never gonna happen to make it sound exaggeration.

6. Allusion

4 Emily dickinson, Have You Got a Brook in Your Little Heart (1890)

5 W. h. auden, As I Walked Out One Evening (1937)

 Allusion 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. The use
of allusions enables writers or poets to simplify complex ideas and emotions. The readers
comprehend the complex ideas by comparing the emotions of the writer or poet to the
references given by them.

One of the example of allusion is “Learnèd Faustus, to find the secrets of

astronomy. Graven in the book of Jove’s high firmament, Did mount him up to scale
Olympus’ top. Where, sitting in a chariot burning bright, Drawn by the strength of yokèd
dragons’ necks. He views the clouds, the planets, and the stars.” 6 In this sentence the writer
refers Olympus top as home of Gods in Greek Mythology.

However, understanding allusion needs more knowledge in literary works. The

writer also should uses common allusion that most of the reader will know the meaning, so
that the purposes of using allusion will be achieved. In earlier years of literature, the writer
commonly uses the Greek Mythology or Biblical allusions in referring their writing.

7. Symbolism

Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them
symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Generally symbolism is an
object representing another, to give an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and
more significant. Symbolism gives a writer freedom to add double levels of meanings to his
work: a literal one that is self-evident, and the symbolic one whose meaning is far more
profound than the literal.

The example of symbolism can be found in this William Shakespeare’s line “All
the world’s a stage. And all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and

6 Christopher marlowe, Doctor Faustus (1592)

their entrances. And one man in his time plays many parts,” 7 These lines are symbolic of
the fact that men and women in the course of their lives, perform different roles. A stage
here symbolizes the world, and players is a symbol for human beings.

There are many other kinds of figurative language in literature, the seven type above
are the most common thing in literary works. However, the other type of figurative
language that has not been discussed were as important as the main seven type. The uses of
figurative language helps the writer to developed their feelings and makes the literary
works have more deeper meaning and makes it more entertaining for the reader.

Importance of Figurative Language

1. The importance of figurative language covering in types

First is Simile, simile can give the reader a description of the author’s
imagination, enables them to imagine how an event has happened in the story
carried in the poem. The second figurative language is metaphor. The main purpose
of metaphor is to describe an entity, event or quality more comprehensive and
concisely and in a more complex way than is possible by using literal language.The
third figurative language is personification. Personification can add life and
vividness to expressions or concepts as we always look at the world from the
perspective of a human being.The last figurative language is symbol. It is important
to us to learn symbol because Symbol can express the poet’s feeling and thoughts
about phenomena, life and death.
2. The importance of figurative languages found in product advertisements.
Figurative language is the use of words that make a reader have to make a
good interpretation not only by seeing what the words refer to or what it is said on
the text, but also by interpreting it from the context. Because of that, it can create a
misinterpretation.
The function of advertisement is promotional to draw people’s attention. From a
linguistic point of view, the language of advertising must be informative, instructive,
distinctive and persuasive. It must employ a style of language that will help in
attracting people’s attention. By using the figurative language, the producers can
persuade the consumers to buy their product. Suraya(2016) states that figurative
languages can make the producers sell the product quickly because they use the
7 William shakespeare, As You Like It (1600)
 memorable words, phrases and sentence. In the other side, Larson (1998) argued
that figure of speech cannot be taken literally. For example, a methapor “snow” to
indicate the color “white” would be meaningless to people living in tropical
countries in which snow does not exist.

Summary

Figurative language is one of the important aspect of literature. There are many
types of figurative languages that can be found either in our daily life or in any kind of
literary works. By understanding about figurative language, the reader will fully get the
feelings that the writer were trying to deliver, and figurative language also will make
language more colorful.

Glossary
 1. Literary = Concerned with or connected with the writing, study, or
appreciation of literature.8
2. Figurative = Used not with their basic meaning but with more imaginative
meaning, in order to create special meaning.9
3. Simile = Comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or
as.10
4. Allusion = An implied or indirect reference especially in literature.11
5. Hyperbole = a way of speaking or writing that makes someone or something
sound bigger, better, more, etc.12
6. Symbolism = The art or practice of using symbols especially by investing
things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by
means of visible or sensuous representations.13
7. Personification = A divinity or imaginary being representing a thing or
abstraction.14
8. Imagery = The use of words or pictures in books, films, paintings, etc. to
describe ideas or situations.15
9. Metaphor = 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.16
10. Embellished = To make beautiful with ornamentation.17

Exercises

1. Based on your knowledge, what is figurative language?

8 Literary meaning derived from https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/literary

9,15
meaning derived from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/figurative
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17
meaning derived from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simile
12
Hyperbole meaning derived from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/hyperbole
2. Does figurative language always appear on our daily life?
3. What is the connection between figurative language and culture?
4. What is the differences between simile and metaphor?
5. Why does figurative language makes language more colorful?

References
1. Fowler, Roger. Childs, Peter. (2006). Literary Terms. London: Routledge &
Kegan Paul Ltd.
2. Raisa, M. (2017). A study on figurative language covering simile, metaphor,
personification, and symbol in poem. Pontianak: University of Tanjungpura.
3. Defisyani, W., Hamzah., Fitrawati., (2012). The use of figurative languages
found in product advertisements. Padang: University of Padang.
4. Tarigan, Henry Guntur. (1986). Pengajaran gaya bahasa. Bandung :
Angkasa.
5. Types of figurative language derived from
https://literarydevices.net/figurative-language/
6. Woolf, Virginia. (1927). To The Lighthouse. United Kingdom : Hogarth
Press
7. E. E. Cummings, (1952). I Carry Your Heart With Me. derived from
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/49493/i-carry-your-heart-
with-mei-carry-it-in
8. Hilton, James. (1934). Goodbye, Mr. Chips. United Kingdom : Hodder and
Stoughton
9. Dickinson, Emily. (1890). Have You Got a Brook in Your Little Heart.
derived from https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/have-you-got-a-brook-in-your-
little-heart/
10. W. H. Auden. (1937). As I Walked Out One Evening. derived from
https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/i-walked-out-one-evening
11. Marlowe, Christopher. (1592). Doctor Faustus.
12. Shakespeare, William. (1600). As You Like It.