It can bring clarity to abstract ideas, concepts, and feelings. Devices like imagery and onomatopoeia form a clear picture in the mind. Comparisons through metaphors, similes, and symbolism make complex ideas easier to understand.
Using figurative language is an effective way of communicating an idea that is not easily understood because of its abstract nature or complexity. Writers of prose and poetry use figurative language to elicit emotion, help readers form mental images and draw readers into the work.
When writers use figurative language or a figure of speech , they are able to express a clearer picture with their words, creating more of an impact with their creative writing. Why is it important? Personification connects readers with the object that is personified. Personification can make descriptions of non-human entities more vivid, or can help readers understand, sympathize with, or react emotionally to non-human characters.
At their most basic, metaphors are used to make a direct comparison between two different things, in order to ascribe a particular quality to the first. But beyond simple comparison, metaphors have two clear purposes that will strengthen your writing: To paint a picture—fast.
It can also add an element of drama. Overused metaphors lose their intended effect as they no longer require the use of imagination. Metaphors can make your words come to life or in the case of the exam, to death. Often, you can use a metaphor to make your subject more relatable to the reader or to make a complex thought easier to understand. They can also be a tremendous help when you want to enhance your writing with imagery. Figurative language can transform ordinary descriptions into evocative events, enhance the emotional significance of passages, and turn prose into a form of poetry.
It can also help the reader to understand the underlying symbolism of a scene or more fully recognize a literary theme. Figurative language also is used to link two ideas with the goal of influencing an audience to see a connection even if one does not actually exist. A hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration or overstatement to make a point.
It is not meant to be taken seriously, and usually when explored, reveals a deeper meaning. Hyperboles occur most often in poetry, but they also appear in common cliches or sayings.
While the actual gunshot was not heard around the world, the implications of that gunshot changed world history. Imagery uses sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell descriptions to cue a reader in on mood, tone, and theme. Imagery is often created by other kinds of figurative language, including metaphors, similes, onomatopoeia, symbolism, and personification.
I had seen the damp lying on the outside of my little window, as if some goblin had been crying there all night, and using the window for a pocket-handkerchief. An oxymoron combines two contradictory words or ideas into one phrase to highlight an idea or a problematic connection for the reader.
In poetry, oxymorons are used for more of an artistic effect, to create powerful contradictory images in the mind of the reader. Shakespeare was well-known for such contradictions, especially in his play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.
Fiend angelical! A paradox is a statement containing two seemingly contradictory ideas, but is true nonetheless. It is a stronger version of an oxymoron in that it prompts the reader to see both sides of a truth at the same time. Onomatopoeias are words that imitate sounds. Onomatopoeias are primarily used in poetry, and are often used to create imagery, symbolism, or repetition, which often point to the theme or message of the poem.
What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells! In the startled ear of night How they scream out their affright! Too much horrified to speak, They can only shriek, shriek, Out of tune… How they clang, and clash, and roar! An apostrophe, in figurative language, is the direct address to an absent person, object, or abstract idea. An apostrophe is often used to begin a poem to establish the primary subject or mood. It is also a way for the author to use personification to clarify a complex idea, or to bring any character into the work.
Come, let me clutch thee! Identifying figurative language is an important skill students must acquire and use in order to understand and appreciate the layers of meaning an author will set out for a short story, novel, or poem. Using a template like the ones below, have students locate as many figurative language elements as possible in the work being analyzed, and have them create a visual depiction of that figurative language being used.
You can also create figurative language worksheets for students to use digitally or offline. They can visually organize information, which can be perfect as a way to prepare for a short essay or paper.
You can easily tailor the worksheets to the activity or project. Schedule a free Guided Session with us to become a Storyboard That pro! Each version of Storyboard That has a different privacy and security model that is tailored for the expected usage. All storyboards are public and can be viewed and copied by anyone. My heart's a stereo and it beats for you! She is happy as a clam. Why do writers use figurative language? Asked by: Maximus Breitenberg. Is poetry a figurative language?
Why do writers use personification in their writing? How do you identify figurative language in a poem? Find Connecting Words. What is figurative language example? How does the use of figurative language enhance writing? How do you understand figurative language? How do you identify a metaphor in a sentence? What are 5 examples of figurative language? What are the 8 figures of speech? What is personification example? How do you identify personification?
What is personification effect? What are the 7 figurative language? How does figurative language affect the beauty of poetry? How does figurative language contribute in poetry? What is a metaphor in figurative language? How do you create figurative language?
Writers create figurative language through figures of speech such as:. How does figurative language create mood? What are some good metaphors?
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