Literary Devices in Figurative Language ✍️

Introduction

Figurative language is a key literary device that writers use to add color and depth to their writing. It involves the use of words or expressions that deviate from their literal interpretation to achieve a more complex, interesting, or poetic effect. This includes devices like metaphors, similes, personification, and hyperbole, among others. Rather than stating facts directly, figurative language invites the reader to make imaginative connections, painting pictures in the mind’s eye and evoking emotions that literal words might not capture. Its use enriches text, making the language more engaging and impactful.

Contents

Pronunciation of Figurative Language: Fig-yuh-ruh-tiv Lang-gwij

When Do Writers Use Figurative Language?

Writers employ figurative language to add flair and resonance to their prose or poetry. It’s particularly useful in creating vivid imagery and expressing feelings or thoughts in a way that plain language may not suffice. By using figurative language, writers can:

Evoke emotions: It helps convey deeper emotional responses that resonate with the reader.
Amplify impact: Comparisons and exaggerations can make descriptions more potent and memorable.
Build imagery: It crafts a visual picture in the reader’s mind, enhancing their imaginative and interpretive experience.
Establish mood: The choice of figurative language can set the tone of the text, from whimsical or somber to foreboding or joyful.
Convey themes: Figurative language can subtly reinforce the themes of a work, making abstract concepts tangible.

Rules for Using Figurative Language

When using figurative language, it’s important to adhere to a few guidelines to ensure it enhances rather than detracts from your writing:

Be appropriate to the context: Ensure that the figurative language fits the tone and purpose of your text. Overusing or inappropriately placing figurative expressions can confuse readers or cloud your message.
Maintain clarity: While figurative language adds depth, it should not make your message ambiguous or overly complicated. Aim for vividness that complements, not overshadows, your ideas.
Avoid clichés: Fresh, original figurative expressions tend to have a stronger impact than overused clichés. Try to invent new ways of seeing and describing.
Balance with literal language: While figurative language is powerful, a balance with straightforward language can help maintain clarity and readability.
Match the audience and purpose: Tailor your use of figurative language to your audience’s expectations and the piece’s overall intent. What works in poetry may not suit technical writing.

These guidelines can help ensure that your use of figurative language is both effective and appreciated by your readers.

Types of Figurative Language

Figurative language comes in several distinct types, each serving different purposes in text and speech. Here are some of the most common forms:

Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unrelated subjects without using “like” or “as,” e.g., “Time is a thief.”
Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as,” e.g., “Her smile is like sunshine.”
Personification: Giving human characteristics to non-human objects or abstract ideas, e.g., “The wind whispered through the trees.”
Hyperbole: Deliberate and obvious exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, e.g., “I’ve told you a million times.”
Understatement: The presentation of something as being smaller or less important than it actually is, often for ironic effect.
Idiom: A phrase or expression that has a figurative, sometimes non-literal, meaning, e.g., “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
Allusion: A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.
Oxymoron: A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction, e.g., “deafening silence.”
Onomatopoeia: A word that imitates the natural sounds of a thing, e.g., “buzz,” “whisper,” or “clang.”
Pun: A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.

Figurative Language in Literature

Famous examples of figurative language abound in classic and modern literature, demonstrating its power to convey deep truths and add layers of meaning. Here are some notable instances:

William Shakespeare uses extended metaphors in his sonnets, such as comparing a beloved to a summer’s day in “Sonnet 18.”
Charles Dickens opens “A Tale of Two Cities” with an oxymoron: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Harper Lee uses metaphor in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” describing the quiet town life with, “People moved slowly then.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald employs hyperbole in “The Great Gatsby” to illustrate Gatsby’s extravagant parties: “The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside.”

Figurative Language in Children’s Books

Children’s books frequently employ figurative language to engage young readers’ imaginations and help them understand complex emotions and situations. Some famous examples include:

Dr. Seuss often used rhyme and onomatopoeia, as seen in “Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?” where sounds are vividly recreated with words.
Shel Silverstein in “Where the Sidewalk Ends” uses playful metaphors and imagery to capture children’s imagination.
J.K. Rowling in the “Harry Potter” series uses similes and metaphors abundantly, such as describing Harry’s first experience with magic as “jumping suddenly into ice-cold water.”

Figurative Language in Poetry

Poetry is perhaps the literary form that most intensively uses figurative language. Here are a few famous examples:

Robert Frost in “The Road Not Taken” uses a path as a metaphor for life choices.
Emily Dickinson uses personification extensively, such as describing hope as “the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul.”
Langston Hughes uses simile in “Dream Deferred,” asking if a postponed dream dries up “like a raisin in the sun.”
Sylvia Plath employs metaphor in “Lady Lazarus” to compare herself to a phoenix rising from the ashes.

These examples illustrate how figurative language can enhance emotional expression and add a layer of richness to literary works.

Figurative Language in Songs

Songs frequently use figurative language to convey emotions and experiences in a relatable and impactful way. Here are ten famous examples:

The Beatles – “Blackbird”: “Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly.” (Metaphor for overcoming challenges)
Bob Dylan – “Blowin’ in the Wind”: “The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.” (Metaphor for elusive answers to deep questions)
Katy Perry – “Firework”: “Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?” (Simile describing feelings of worthlessness)
Taylor Swift – “Red”: “Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street.” (Simile for a doomed, reckless romance)
Adele – “Rolling in the Deep”: “There’s a fire starting in my heart, reaching a fever pitch, and it’s bringing me out the dark.” (Metaphor for intense emotions)
Pink Floyd – “Wish You Were Here”: “We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year.” (Metaphor for feeling trapped and repetitive)
Eminem – “Lose Yourself”: “His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy.” (Vivid imagery describing nervousness)
Bruce Springsteen – “Dancing in the Dark”: “You can’t start a fire without a spark.” (Metaphor for needing inspiration or a catalyst for change)
Sia – “Chandelier”: “I’m gonna swing from the chandelier.” (Metaphor for living recklessly)
John Legend – “All of Me”: “Love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections.” (Metaphor and paradox to describe unconditional love)

Figurative Language in Movies

Movies utilize figurative language both in their dialogue and visual storytelling to enhance the narrative. Here are some notable examples:

“The Godfather” (1972): “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” (Metaphor for an irresistible proposal, typically with dire consequences)
“Forrest Gump” (1994): “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” (Simile comparing life’s unpredictability to a box of assorted chocolates)
“The Dark Knight” (2008): “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” (Antithesis highlighting the dual possibilities faced by those in power)
“Casablanca” (1942): “Here’s looking at you, kid.” (Idiom for giving a toast or saying farewell)
“Inception” (2010): “Dreams feel real while we’re in them. It’s only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.” (Metaphor for the deception of perceptions)

Famous Movie Line Highlighting Figurative Language

One of the most famous lines that employ figurative language in movies comes from “The Wizard of Oz” (1939):

“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” (Metaphor for experiencing a drastic change in environment or situation)

YouTube Link Demonstrating Figurative Language

Search for the “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” scene from “The Godfather” to see a classic example of figurative language in film.

Figurative Language in Advertising

Advertising heavily relies on figurative language to persuade and engage consumers. Some famous examples include:

Nike’s “Just Do It”: An imperative that suggests endurance and pushing limits.
Apple’s “Think Different”: An imperative that uses paradox to encourage innovation.
Red Bull’s “Gives You Wings”: A metaphor suggesting the drink provides extraordinary energy.
L’Oréal’s “Because You’re Worth It”: An affirmation that uses causality to enhance consumer self-esteem.
McDonald’s “I’m lovin’ it”: A colloquial idiom that suggests enjoyment and satisfaction.

Figurative Language Related Literary Devices

Related literary devices enhance or rely on the use of figurative language to achieve their effect:

Symbolism: Where objects or events represent ideas or concepts, lending deeper meanings to the narratives.
Allegory: A device where characters and events symbolize deeper truths or generalizations about human existence; it’s figurative language extended into a narrative framework.
Paradox: A statement that contradicts itself but holds a latent truth, often revealing complex realities.
Metonymy: A type of metaphor where an object or concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept.

These devices often overlap with the types of figurative language to enrich text, making it more engaging and meaningful.