English Lit 101: Poetic Devices - Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Personification Apostrophe Hyperbole Understatement Irony Paradox Oxymoron Metonymy Synecdoche Pun Double Entendre

Figurative Language

What It Is

Figurative language is a literary device that uses words or phrases to create vivid and evocative descriptions, convey complex ideas, or evoke emotions. It differs from literal language by using comparisons, substitutions, or other techniques to create a richer meaning. For example, in Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" is a simile that compares the beloved to a summer's day, highlighting the beauty and fleeting nature of the beloved. Understanding figurative language is crucial for literary analysis as it helps readers decode the author's intended meaning and appreciate the richness of language.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as." Example: "He ran like a cheetah."
• Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as." Example: "He is a lion on the battlefield."
• Personification: Attributing human qualities to non-human entities, such as objects or animals. Example: "The sun smiled down on us."
• Apostrophe: Addressing a person or entity that is not present. Example: "Oh, cruel fate, why dost thou torment me?"
• Hyperbole: An exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. Example: "I'm so hungry I could eat a whole elephant."
• Understatement: A statement that minimizes the importance or severity of something. Example: "It was a bit chilly outside."
• Irony: A contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs. Example: "The fire station caught on fire."
• Paradox: A statement that contradicts itself or appears to be contradictory. Example: "Jumbo shrimp."
• Oxymoron: A combination of two words that seem to be contradictory. Example: "bitter sweet."
• Metonymy: A substitution of one word for another that is closely associated with it. Example: "The White House announced a new policy."
• Synecdoche: A substitution of a part for the whole or vice versa. Example: "I got a new set of wheels."
• Pun: A play on words that exploits multiple meanings or sounds. Example: "Why was the math book sad? Because it had too many problems."
• Double Entendre: A phrase or expression that has two meanings, one of which is often risqué or humorous. Example: "Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side... and to get away from the farmer's constant 'fowl' jokes."
• Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close together. Example: "She sells seashells by the seashore."
• Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together. Example: "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain."

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: A simile is always used to compare two things.
• Correction: A simile uses "like" or "as" to compare two things, but a metaphor does not. Example: "He ran like a cheetah" (simile) vs. "He is a lion on the battlefield" (metaphor).
• Misunderstanding: Personification is always used to describe human emotions.
• Correction: Personification can be used to describe any human-like quality attributed to a non-human entity, such as an object or animal. Example: "The sun smiled down on us" (personification) vs. "The sun is shining brightly" (literal description).
• Misunderstanding: Irony is always used to describe a situation that is opposite of what is expected.
• Correction: Irony can be used to describe a situation that is opposite of what is expected, but it can also be used to describe a situation that is unexpected or surprising. Example: "The fire station caught on fire" (irony) vs. "I won the lottery" (unexpected but not necessarily ironic).

Quick Application / Identification

1. Identify the figurative language device used in the following sentence: "The city was a beast that swallowed us whole." Answer: Metaphor. Reason: The city is compared to a beast without using "like" or "as."
2. Identify the figurative language device used in the following sentence: "The sun was smiling down on us." Answer: Personification. Reason: The sun is given a human-like quality (smiling).
3. Identify the figurative language device used in the following sentence: "I'm so hungry I could eat a whole elephant." Answer: Hyperbole. Reason: The statement is an exaggeration used for emphasis.

Last-Minute Revision

• Figurative language is used to create vivid and evocative descriptions.
• Similes use "like" or "as" to compare two things.
• Metaphors compare two things without using "like" or "as."
• Personification attributes human qualities to non-human entities.
• Apostrophe addresses a person or entity that is not present.
• Hyperbole is an exaggeration used for emphasis.
• Understatement minimizes the importance or severity of something.
• Irony is a contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs.
• Paradox is a statement that contradicts itself or appears to be contradictory.
• Oxymoron is a combination of two words that seem to be contradictory.
• Metonymy is a substitution of one word for another that is closely associated with it.
• Synecdoche is a substitution of a part for the whole or vice versa.
• Pun is a play on words that exploits multiple meanings or sounds.
• Double Entendre is a phrase or expression that has two meanings, one of which is often risqué or humorous.
• Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close together.
• Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together.
• Figurative language is used in many literary works, including Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 and Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven."