Lessons From English Class | Figurative Language

Poetry or Novels, because it is emotional tries to produce sharp and strong sensations or pictures. This the poet or writer tries to do by taking the literal language with its every day meaning and twisting it around, putting a word with another one that it does not usually go with or by giving things characteristics that they do not normally have.

Three terms which are used to capture the ways in which the poet uses the language are:

1. Simile
2. Metaphor
3. Personification

Simile

The simile is the comparison of one thing with another in which the word "as" or "like" is used.
Example: My brother is as tall as a ladder
Note: Tall and Ladder are the comparisons. "As" makes the statement a simile.

Metaphor

Metaphor is a comparison which does NOT use the words "as" or "like", and in fact makes it seem as if one thing is another.
Example: The boy is a pig.
Note: Boy and Pig are the comparison

Personification

Personification is a specific kind of metaphor which gives human qualities to things which in reality do not have such qualities.
Examples:
The ocean roar.
The moon smiled.
The chime sang as the wind blew.
The branches bowed to greet me.

- Lesson Done on 24th February 2005 :) Extracted from my English class note book. :)