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Figurative Language

The document defines and provides examples of various types of figurative language including simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, hyperbole, litotes, idiom, synecdoche, alliteration, allusion, symbolism, pun, implied metaphor, anaphora, and assonance. Each technique uses creative language to convey meaning through comparisons, descriptions, or representations beyond the literal meaning of words.

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Rushaan
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116 views

Figurative Language

The document defines and provides examples of various types of figurative language including simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, hyperbole, litotes, idiom, synecdoche, alliteration, allusion, symbolism, pun, implied metaphor, anaphora, and assonance. Each technique uses creative language to convey meaning through comparisons, descriptions, or representations beyond the literal meaning of words.

Uploaded by

Rushaan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Figurative Language

Simile
A simile is a comparison between two unlike things using the words "like," "as" or
"than." Often used to highlight a characteristic of one of the items, similes rely on the
audience's ability to create connections and make inferences about the two objects,
people, actions, or concepts being discussed. Examples of similes include:

• My mother is as busy as a bee.


• They fought like cats and dogs.
• My dog barks as loud as thunder.
• Her love for her children is as constant as the passing of time.

Metaphor
A metaphor is a direct comparison without using the comparative words "like" or "as."
Metaphors equate the two things being compared to elicit a stronger connection and
deepen the meaning of the comparison. If a metaphor continues for several lines or
an entire piece of writing, it is called an extended metaphor. Here are some examples
of metaphors:

• She is my moon, guiding me through the dark.


• The tall trees served as curtains during our picnic.
• Your son was a shining star in my classroom.
• The hero possesses a heart of gold.
Personification
Personification is attributing human characteristics to nonhuman things. This can help
make objects, places, or animals more relatable. Consider these examples:

• The chair squealed in pain as the hammer smashed into it.


• The computer argued with me and refused to cooperate.
• When lightning struck the tree, its limbs groaned and complained.
• As we hiked upward, the peak of the mountain smiled at us.

Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is the use of descriptive words that sound or mimic the noise they are
describing. This type of figurative language can help your readers to imagine noises
while they read. Here are some examples of how to use onomatopoeia in your
writing:

• The fire crackled and roared as it grew.


• She whacked her alarm clock to silence its buzzing.
• My heart thumped in my ears.
• The doorbell ding-donged to announce her arrival.

Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a description using two opposite ideas to create an effective
description. The format is often an adjective followed by a noun, such as in these
examples:

• The loud silence of the night keeps him awake.


• Our customers love jumbo shrimp.
• My father's thoughtless idea landed him in the middle of the lake without a life
jacket.
• The cracked plate was painfully beautiful.
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an over-exaggeration used to emphasize an emotion or description.
Sometimes hyperbole also uses simile and comparative words. Consider these
examples:

• I am so hungry I would eat dirt right now.


• She had told him a million times to calm down.
• My brother is taller than a skyscraper.
• The concert was so loud that the drums echoed in outer space.

Litotes
Litotes are the opposite of hyperbole. This type of figurative language uses
understatements to make a point. It is often sarcastic in tone. When a writer uses
litotes, they use negation to convey the opposite meaning of their statement. Litotes
often contain double negatives, such as "not wrong" or "not bad." Here are some
examples of litotes:

• I cannot say that I disagree with him.


• His house was not cheap.
• It was not the worst decision he had ever made.
• You are hardly annoying.

Idiom
An idiom is a commonly used expression that has acquired a meaning different from
its literal meaning. Idiomatic phrases vary by culture and language. They are often
difficult for language learners to grasp because their true meaning is so different from
the words being used. Examples of idioms include:

• He is the apple of her eye.


• The delicious meal was the positive aspect to her day.
• Now that he has replied, the ball's in your court.
• Minutes before the show, she told me to break a leg.
Synecdoche
Synecdoche is a type of figurative language where a part of something represents its
entirety. With synecdoche, writers can easily give multiple meanings to the same
phrase. Here are some examples of synecdoche:

• I have decided to ask for his hand.


• She lived behind bars for six months.
• You can help us mow lawns as one of our hired hands.
• Who is bringing the bubbly to the party?

Alliteration
Alliteration means the repetition of consonant sounds at the start of multiple words or
phrases. Consonants are letters that are not vowels, such as B, R, K and P. Consider
these examples to use alliteration in your writing:

• She sells seashells by the seashore.


• I pick and prod at my pockets.
• Bouncy babies bring him joy.
• The cobblestones clatter with the chatter of their boots.

Allusion
Allusions make references to well-known people, places, things, or events. Many
writers use allusions to refer to other books, plays, poems, or pieces of writing. To
understand an allusion, readers or audience members typically must have the
background or cultural knowledge of the specific reference. Here are some examples
of allusion:

• If you try to turn back, you will become a pillar of salt.


• She would search for this elusive holy grail her entire life.
• He fought as valiantly as Achilles.
• I dance happily to the king's rock-and-roll music.

Symbolism
Symbolism uses an object or word to represent an idea, emotion, or belief. A symbol
can be a physical object, color, word, place, action, or person. Symbolism often helps
people make connections between tangible entities and more abstract feelings,
ideas, or relationships. These are examples of symbolism:

• He gazed up at his nation's flag with admiration.


• My dog barks happily when I declare my loyalty to her.
• The young girl wore a spotless white dress.
• Despite her excitement, the brewing storm made her nervous.

Pun
Puns use words that have similar sounds but different meanings. Also known as a play
on words, a pun usually aims to make a joke involving the distinction in meanings
between two or more words. Examples of puns include:

• With my new graph paper, I can make a great plot.


• I never had to develop my photographic memory.
• The cat sits by his computer to track the mouse.
• It rains constantly in England because so many kings and queens have reigned.

Implied metaphor
An implied or implicit metaphor is one of several types of metaphors. With an implied
metaphor, the author indicates a similarity between two entities without making a
direct comparison. To use an implied metaphor in your writing, think about these
examples:

• The ants soldiered forward to steal our lunch.


• She barked at him to say where he was.
• The children happily orbited the new puppy.
• I gallop towards my new apartment.

Anaphora
Anaphora involves the repetition of a word or phrase through multiple clauses or
sentences. Using anaphora can help writers emphasize a literal or emotional
meaning. Here are several examples of anaphora:

• Be happy, be free, and be loved.


• I wish I could; I wish I may; I wish I might.
• She tried to say thank you, tried to smile, tried to hug him, but could not.
• Stay here, stay there, or stay anywhere.

Assonance
Assonance is like allusion, in that both rely on the repetition of similar sounds.
However, assonance uses the repetition of vowels, such as A, E, I, O and U. Consider
the following assonance examples:

• The sight of the firelight heightens her joy.


• In the shadows of my home, I feel alone.
• She confesses she feels distressed about her dress.
• He hears the bird stirring in the branches.

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