Figurative Language in Literature

Study Notes

A figure of speech that gives human-like qualities or characteristics to non-human entities, such as objects, animals, or ideas.
Examples:
- "The sun smiled down on us."
- "The wind howled in anger."
- "The city was sleeping."
Purpose: to create vivid and engaging descriptions, evoke emotions, and add depth to writing.

A figure of speech that addresses a person, place, or thing that is not present or cannot respond.
Examples:
- "Oh, freedom, how you are cherished!"
- "Death, where is thy sting?"
- "O, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"
Purpose: to express strong emotions, emphasize a point, or create a sense of intimacy.

A figure of speech that uses language to create vivid mental images or sensory experiences.
Examples:
- "The golden sun sank slowly below the horizon."
- "The aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air."
- "The rough, rocky cliffs towered above the crashing waves."
Types of imagery:
- Visual imagery: appealing to the sense of sight
- Auditory imagery: appealing to the sense of hearing
- Olfactory imagery: appealing to the sense of smell
- Tactile imagery: appealing to the sense of touch
- Gustatory imagery: appealing to the sense of taste
Purpose: to engage the reader's senses, create a more immersive experience, and enhance description.

Personification: gives human-like qualities to non-human entities, such as objects, animals, or ideas, to create vivid descriptions and evoke emotions.
- Examples: "The sun smiled down on us", "The wind howled in anger", "The city was sleeping"
Purpose: to create engaging descriptions, evoke emotions, and add depth to writing.

A figure of speech that addresses a person, place, or thing that is not present or cannot respond.
- Examples: "Oh, freedom, how you are cherished!", "Death, where is thy sting?", "O, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"
Purpose: to express strong emotions, emphasize a point, or create a sense of intimacy.

A figure of speech that uses language to create vivid mental images or sensory experiences.
- Examples: "The golden sun sank slowly below the horizon", "The aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air", "The rough, rocky cliffs towered above the crashing waves"

Visual imagery: appealing to the sense of sight
Auditory imagery: appealing to the sense of hearing
Olfactory imagery: appealing to the sense of smell
Tactile imagery: appealing to the sense of touch
Gustatory imagery: appealing to the sense of taste
Purpose: to engage the reader's senses, create a more immersive experience, and enhance description.

A figure of speech that addresses a person or entity not present
Used to express emotion, create intimacy, or add drama to a statement
Can be used to address a person, abstract idea, or inanimate object/animal
Examples include:
- Addressing a person not present ("Oh, God, why hast thou forsaken me?")
- Addressing an abstract idea ("O, Liberty, what crimes are committed in thy name!")
- Addressing an inanimate object/animal ("O, rose, thou art so beautiful!")
Examples from literature:
- "Oh, death, where is thy sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)
- "O, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" (Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2)

A figure of speech that gives human-like qualities to an inanimate object, animal, or idea
Used to create vivid imagery, evoke emotions, and add depth to a description
Examples include:
- Giving an inanimate object human-like qualities ("The sun smiled down on us")
- Giving an animal or idea human-like qualities ("The wind howled in anger", "The city was sleeping")
Can be used to:
- Create a sense of atmosphere or mood
- Emphasize a particular aspect of an object or idea
- Add humor or irony to a statement