Figurative Language | March 20, 2006
Figurative Language (Figure of Speech) Figurative VS Literal
Literal means what you're saying is actually true. Something that is figurative or a figure of speech is not literal; you're just saying it a certain way to achieve an effect.
Our book says it is a word or phrase that describes one thing in terms of another and is not meant to be understood on a literal level, so it's describing or comparing things in a non-literal way.
Literal means true, real, actual, so figurative means not really, but this isn't the same as lying or verbal irony (sarcasm). Figures of speech are creative, imaginative was to describe something (by comparison) in a lively and more vivid fashion to make it easier for your audience to picture what you are talking about.
1. Figurative or Literal? I'm so hungry, I need a snack now.
2. Figurative or Literal? I'm so hungry, I could eat two Whoppers.
3. Figurative or Literal? I'm so hungry, I could eat 10 pizzas.
4. Figurative or Literal? I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse.
The third and fourth statements are examples of hyperbole - a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to make some point; in this case, I'm very hungry.
Q: What if the third one is true (literal)?
A: Then it's not a figure of speech.
5. Figurative or Literal? I was lost in the woods for two weeks and almost died.
6. Figurative or Literal? I was so embarrassed, I almost died.
7. Figurative or Literal? He's as tall as my Uncle Bob.
8. Figurative or Literal? He's as tall as a tree.
9. Figurative or Literal? She's as pretty as Jennifer Aniston.
10. Figurative or Literal? She's a fox.
In addition to hyperbole, we have metaphor.
A metaphor is a figure speech that compares two things and actually includes simile and personification.
Working backwards, personification is when you give human qualities to an inanimate object. In essence, you're comparing the inanimate object to a human.
A Traveling Flake of Snow
Across a Barn or through a Rut
Debates if it will go-
Simile is a direct comparison that uses like, as, than,or resembles to show the comparison. But remember, it has to be a figurative comparison, not a literal one. From 7, 8, 9, and 10 above, only #8 is a simile.
The simple definition of metaphor is that it's a figurative comparison that does NOT use like, as, than, or resembles. Number 10 is a metaphor. She is being compared to a fox without the use of like, as, than or resembles.
We need to understand direct metaphor and implied metaphor.
A direct metaphor uses a "be" verb (is, am, was, were, be, being, been...) to show the comparison: He is a mountain of a man. In this metaphor, the literal item (He or man) is being compared to a mountain. To be more specific, his size is being compared to the size of a mountain.
With an implied metpahor the comparison is suggested rather than stated directly.
Consider the following:
11. My love is like a red, red rose.
12. My love is a red, red rose.
13. My love blossoms in the springtime.
#11 is a simile comparing his love (the person he loves) to a rose using the word like.
#12 is a direct metaphor showing the same comparison but using the "be" verb is.
#13 is an implied metaphor. It does not directly say his love is a rose; it implies (suggests) it by using the word blossoms.