Figurative Language - Newport Independent Schools

Imagery & Figurative Language
An “image” is “a word or sequence of
words that refers to any sensory
experience”
Imagery
What are your five senses? Sight,
Hearing, Touch, Taste, and Smell
 An image conveys a sense
perception , i.e., a visual picture, a
sound, a feeling of touch, a taste, or
an odor
Figures of Speech
Figurative language uses figures of speech to
convey unique images and create some sort of
special effect or impression.
A “figure of speech” is an intentional difference
from the ordinary usage of language.
Poetry works by comparison
 Poets often create images or enhance
meaning by comparing one thing to
another for special effect.
Simile
 A simile is a type of metaphor, a figure in which
an clear comparison is made using the
comparative words like, as, resembles, than.
Similes are easy to spot.
(X is like Y: X is compared to Y in order to illustrate X
more fancifully, poetically, or effectively. But Y is not a
literal representation of X, not actual.)
 The team’s center looked like a skyscraper.
 My love is like a red, red rose.
 We were as quiet as frightened mice.
More similes
 Dumb as a door knob
 As good as gold
 Like a bat out of hell
 Tough as nails
 Working like a dog
 Larger than life
Metaphor
 A metaphor also compares, but a metaphor is a bit
more sophisticated than a simile.
 For one thing, in a metaphor, the words
like or as are missing. So readers have to
recognize the comparison on their own without
those easy words which help us to spot a simile so
quickly.
Metaphor (continued)
In a metaphor, a poet writes that X is Y. Readers
understand that we are not to take the comparison
literally, but that the metaphor helps us to see X in
a new way.
My brother is a prince.
Paul Brown Stadium was a slaughterhouse.
More metaphors
Jimmy was a lion in the fight.
Her eyes are dark emeralds.
Her teeth are pearls.
There are plenty of fish in the sea
Personification
Another kind of comparison is
called personification. Here,
animals, elements of nature, and
objects are given human qualities.
-The full moon smiled down at me
– An angry wind slashed its way
across the island.
More on Figurative Language
 The three main uses of figurative language
needed to read poetry are the previous:
– Simile
– Metaphor
– Personification
– But there are many other poetic devices
used. The more you recognize, the richer
your reading experience can be.
Hyperbole
 Hyperbole is intentional exaggeration
or overstating, often for dramatic or
humorous effect:
Your predicament saddens me so
much that I feel a actual flood of
tears coming on:
Symbol
A symbol is a person, place, an
object, or an action that stands for
something beyond itself.
A dove is a symbol for peace.
In slave code songs, a drinking
gourd is a symbol for the big
dipper.
The End………

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