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Definition and Function of Figurative Language

The document explores eight types of figurative language: metaphor, personification, allusion, pun, alliteration, antithesis, climax, and assonance. For each device, it provides the definition, function, and an example to illustrate how it works.

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sarahfatimakhan04
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11 views

Definition and Function of Figurative Language

The document explores eight types of figurative language: metaphor, personification, allusion, pun, alliteration, antithesis, climax, and assonance. For each device, it provides the definition, function, and an example to illustrate how it works.

Uploaded by

sarahfatimakhan04
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Certainly! Let’s delve into the fascinating world of figurative language.

Each of these literary


devices adds depth, vividness, and layers of meaning to our communication. Here’s a detailed
exploration:

1. Metaphor:
o Definition: A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unrelated
things by stating that one thing is another. It creates a vivid image or analogy.
o Function: Metaphors enhance understanding, evoke emotions, and convey
complex ideas. They allow us to see familiar things in new ways.
o Example: “Time is a thief” (implies that time passes quickly and takes moments
away, like a thief) 1.
2. Personification:
o Definition: Personification attributes human qualities or actions to non-human
entities (objects, animals, or abstract concepts).
o Function: It makes descriptions more relatable and engaging.
o Example: “The wind whispered secrets through the ancient trees” (attributing the
ability to whisper and have secrets to the wind) 2.
3. Allusion:
o Definition: An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or
work of literature.
o Function: It adds depth by connecting the current context to something broader.
o Example: “She had the patience of Job” (referring to the biblical character known
for enduring suffering) 3.
4. Pun:
o Definition: A pun is a play on words that exploits multiple meanings or similar
sounds.
o Function: Puns create humor, wordplay, or clever associations.
o Example: “I’m reading a book on anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down!” 3.
5. Alliteration:
o Definition: Alliteration involves repeating the same initial consonant sound in
neighboring words.
o Function: It adds rhythm, emphasis, and memorability.
o Example: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” 3.
6. Antithesis:
o Definition: Antithesis juxtaposes contrasting ideas or words within a sentence.
o Function: It highlights opposition or emphasizes differences.
o Example: “To be or not to be” (from Shakespeare’s Hamlet) 3.
7. Climax:
o Definition: Climax arranges words, phrases, or clauses in ascending order of
importance.
o Function: It builds tension and emphasizes the most significant point.
o Example: “I came, I saw, I conquered” (Julius Caesar) 3.
8. Assonance:
o Definition: Assonance repeats vowel sounds within nearby words.
o Function: It creates musicality and reinforces mood.
o Example: “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain” 3.

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