Figurative Language

Figurative Language
Figurative Language
• Figurative language is writing or speech that is
not mean to be taken literally. Used by
authors to express ideas in vivid and
imaginative ways.
• Irony
• Idioms
• Satire
• Imagery
Irony
• Irony is a literary or dramatic device in which
something that is the opposite of what is
expected occurs.
• Verbal irony – Someone says something but
means another (sarcasm). “I just love liver.”
• Dramatic irony – The reader (audience) knows
something character does not. Across 5 Aprils, Eb
deserts thinking North will lose - is hopeless
• Situational irony – When what happens is the
opposite of what is expected. “I went to the bank
to deposit my check, but left it at home!”
Irony in “A Retrieved Reformation”
• P. 43 – “Me?” said Jimmy… “Why, warden, I
never was in Springfield in my life?” Verbal
• P. 45 – “She’s Annabel Adams. Her pa owns
the bank.” Situational – bank robber falls for
girls whose father owns the bank.
• P. 46 – The clerk was impressed with the
manner and clothes of Jimmy. Dramatic irony
Irony in Story
• P. 47 – From a good look across the street
from Spencer’s shoe store, he got a good look
at Ralph D. Spencer. Situational – detective
catches up with Jimmy after he goes straight.
• P. 48 – Jimmy takes suitcase with burglary
equipment into bank even though doesn’t
plan to use it. Situational.
• P. 48 – When Annabel picks it up - dramatic
Irony in Story
• P. 49 – Decides to save child, but doing so
exposes himself. Situational/dramatic
because others have no idea of the danger
• P. 48 & 49 – Ben Price watches Jimmy –
Dramatic because Jimmy does not know he’s
being watched.
• P. 50 – “Guess you’re mistaken Mr. Spencer.
Don’t believe I recognize you.” Verbal
Idioms
• Idioms are expressions that develop over time
that cannot be taken literally. Often they are
regional and people outside the region may
not understand them.
• “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
• “Come out of your shell.”
• “Save for a rainy day.”
• “Up a creek without a paddle.”
Satire
• Satire is a literary devise meant to make fun of
and show the weaknesses of human nature or
a particular person using wit, scorn, ridicule,
or sarcasm.
• Often focuses on politics, society, weaknesses,
wrongdoings with a moral voice.
• It often exaggerates the situation to show
extreme foolishness.
• Often dramatic or verbal irony is used.
Techniques of Satire
• Hyperbole/exaggeration - To enlarge,, or
represent something beyond normal bounds
so that it becomes ridiculous and its faults can
be seen
• Incongruity - To present things that are out of
place or are absurd in relation to its
surroundings
More Techniques of Satire
• Reversal - To present the opposite of the
normal order (e.g., the order of events,
hierarchical order).
• Parody - To imitate the techniques and/or
style of some person, place, or thing.
Some Examples of Satire
Subject of the satire
Comment or criticism
SNL Weekend Update
Television news
Flaws and vices related to politics,
entertainment and current events
Scary Movie
Horror Movies
Exaggerates techniques used to
scare audiences
Austin Powers
1960 Spy Movies
Ridicules behavior of the spy and
stupidity of the evil figure
Political Cartoons
Politicians and Political Issues
Policy decisions and personality
traits of elected officials can be
flawed
Family Guy
The American Family
There is no such thing as the
perfect family
South Park
Families and Social and
Political Issues
Foolish issues impact families and
children
Imagery
• Imagery is the use of words or phrases that
appeal to the senses.
• Writers use imagery to describe how their
subjects look, sound, taste, feel, and smell.
• “Then a skeleton came out from among the trees.
It was the skeleton of a Union soldier… The
sunken cheeks were covered with a thin
scattering of fuzz; the hair was lank and matted”
(Across Five Aprils, p. 134)
Other Forms of Figurative Language
• Metaphor – A type of comparison used in
literature when one thing is said to be another,
“She is the sunshine on a rainy day.”
• Simile – A comparison using like or as, “She is like
the sun.”
• Alliteration – A literary device in which the first
letter of words in a sentence are the same,
“Happily Harry hurriedly hopped home!”
• Oxymoron – figure of speech using contradictory
words such as “large shrimp” “bitter sweet”
“alone together”
Other Forms of Figurative Language
• Hyperbole – An exaggeration not meant to be
taken seriously, “If I’ve told you once I’ve told
you a thousand times!”
• Personification – when something non-human
is given human characteristics, “The dark and
sinister windows of the abandoned house
watched me as I passed by.”
Onomatopoeia
The word sounds like the sound it represents:
Buzz
Whoosh
Shhhhh
Bam
Crash

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