Figurative Language in Literature

Personification

• 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.

Apostrophe

• 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.

Imagery

• 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.

Figurative Language

• 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.

Apostrophe

• 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.

Imagery

• 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.

Figures of Speech

Apostrophe

• 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)

Personification

• 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