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what is the purpose of using figurative language

by Boyd Reynolds II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Figurative language is used to:

  • Compare two unlike ideas to increase understanding of one
  • Describe ideas sometimes difficult to understand
  • Show a deeper emotion or connection
  • Influence the audience
  • Help make connections
  • Make descriptions easier to visualize
  • Elicit an emotion

Figurative language compares things in order to give them more detail. We use figurative language to help the reader better understand what we are trying to describe.

Full Answer

What are the reasons writers use figurative language?

  • a set of images of a variety of symbols (peace symbol, dove with olive branch, U.S. ...
  • student copies of the Figurative Language Review ( L-7-4-1_Literary Devices Review.doc)
  • pictures of a variety of scenes, one for each group, that students will use as inspiration for writing descriptive paragraphs

How do you use figurative language in a sentence?

Figurative language refers to the use of words in a way that deviates from the conventional order and meaning in order to convey a complicated meaning, colorful writing, clarity, or evocative comparison. It uses an ordinary sentence to refer to something without directly stating it.

Which statements use figurative language?

Figurative language is used in literature like poetry, drama, prose and even speeches. Figures of speech are literary devices that are also used throughout our society and help relay important ideas in a meaningful way. Here are 10 common figures of speech and some examples of the same figurative language in use: 1. Simile.

How to teach kids figurative language?

  • Start teaching the easier forms of figurative language for kids and slowly progress.
  • Use relatable everyday examples – a lot of them!
  • Encourage kids to think of examples on their own.
  • Make connections between the different kinds of figurative language to highlight the differences that help us recognize them in texts. ...

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What are the 3 purposes of figurative language?

Figurative language also makes ideas and concepts easier to visualize. 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.

What is the purpose of using literary figurative devices?

Writers and poets use figurative language to build imagery and give words more power. Simile, metaphor and a host of other non-literal methods of expression help make foreign concepts familiar and graspable.

What is the purpose of figurative language for kids?

Learning figurative language will allow kids to effectively communicate an idea that's otherwise not easy to understand because of its abstract nature or complexity. It will also improve their writing skills and give them a better tool for expressing their emotions, which in turn aids emotional maturity.

How does figurative language effect the reader?

Figurative language is used to create layers of meaning which the reader accesses through the senses, symbolism, and sound devices. It brings the reader deeper into the theme of the work, without the author having to explicitly lay out the theme for the reader.

What is the main effect of the author's use of the figurative language?

Most authors try to appeal to the reader and elicit emotion in multiple ways. Authors use figurative language in their writing to help make the story more interesting, and more memorable, by giving it a deeper meaning than what is on the surface.

How does figurative language create mood?

Figurative Language Creates Mood Figurative language is used to draw the reader into the story quickly. For example, Edgar Allan Poe utilizes the simile "His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness" to construct a dreadful and eerie mood in his short story "The Tell-Tale Heart."

Why do writers use figurative language?

Fiction writers use figurative language to engage their audience using a more creative tone that provokes thinking and sometimes humor. It makes fiction writing more interesting and dramatic than the literal language that uses words to refer to statements of fact.

What is figurative language?

Figurative language refers to the use of words in a way that deviates from the conventional order and meaning in order to convey a complicated meaning, colorful writing, clarity, or evocative comparison. It uses an ordinary sentence to refer to something without directly stating it.

What is the figurative language that uses one part to refer to the whole?

5. Synecdoche. Synecdoche is a type of figurative language that uses one part to refer to the whole, or the whole to refer to the part. For example, a set of wheels can be used to refer to a vehicle and a suit to refer to a businessman. Financial Modeling For Business Owners And Entrepreneurs Financial modeling for business owners ...

What is the difference between hyperbole and public speaking?

It is often used in everyday conversations. Public Speaking Public speaking, also called oratory or oration, is the process of communicating information to a live audience.

How do similes work?

It can be done vocally (through verbal exchanges), through written media (books, websites, and magazines), visually (using graphs, charts, and maps) or non-verbally#N#. A simile is used with the aim of sparking an interesting connection in the reader’s mind.

What is the cat's sitting posture?

The cat’s sitting posture is compared to that of a king who relaxes in a special chair that is reserved for him and not any other person in the kingdom. Other examples of similes include: The boy was as brave as a lion in the jungle.

What is communication in writing?

Communication is defined as transferring information to produce greater understanding. It can be done vocally (through verbal exchanges), through written media (books, websites, and magazines), visually (using graphs, charts, and maps) or non-verbally. .

Why is it important to use figurative language?

Applying the right element in making specific points in writing is necessary to make figurative language work. Regardless of the tool, figurative language strengthens or makes a point more compelling and effective.

What is the use of descriptive, expressive language to give the reader a mental image?

Imagery is one of the simpler elements to understand. It is the use of descriptive, expressive language to give the reader a mental image. "The Sun beamed brightly down on the couple as they embraced" is an example. Rhyme is a figurative element commonly used in children's books. Dr.

What is personification in a narrative?

Personification is used to give human qualities to an object or animal. For example, "the clouds cried with empathy toward her loss" is a human-like way to describe rainfall. Allusion is simply referring to something outside the narrative, such as a reference to a historical event.

What is the purpose of figurative language?

What is figurative language? Figurative language is language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation (actual words used), often to describe something by comparing it to something else or to create mental pictures with words.

Why is it important to understand figurative language?

The ability to understand figurative language helps people play with abstract ideas. Example: “I’ve got you covered,” means something is protected or safe or that you don’t have to complete something because someone has done it for you. Also, humorous comparisons are only funny if the figurative language is understood.

What is figurative language?

Basically, figurative language is anytime you stretch the actual meaning of words for effect, whether to sound artistic, make a joke, or communicate more clearly and engagingly. Figurative language is a common technique in narrative writing, where the author strives to make emotional connections with the reader.

What is the purpose of figurative language?

Literal language serves its purpose in certain contexts, such as professional communication, academic papers, or legal documents. However, in other contexts, to put it bluntly, literal writing could be boring.

5 common types of figurative language with examples

A simile compares two different things, using the words “like” or “as” to draw attention to the comparison.

How to use figurative language in your own writing

Figurative language can improve any piece of writing, but only when used effectively. Here are four tips to keep in mind for using figurative language in your own writing:

Analogies make a comparison between two similar things, as a way to make a point

In other words, the purpose of an analogy is not the comparison in itself, but the point that it makes. You will therefore often see the point itself follow the analogy.

Metaphors are a comparison made without using as or like

In a metaphor, the author or writer makes a comparison by simply stating that something ‘is’ something else. For example:

Figures of speech that use sound to increase impact

There are several forms of figurative speech that use the sound of the words to increase their impact.

A Final Word

Whether in speech or on the page or screen, it helps to deepen descriptions, heighten the impact of words, and emphasise a point. Too much figurative language can indeed be too much—but using some is important to ensure that your writing or speech is memorable and unique.

Why is figurative language important?

Phrases like “cover your bases” or “stubborn as a mule” can be tricky for a non-native speaker, so regular practice with figurative language will improve students’ literacy and communication skills. Additionally, exposing second language learners to common English idioms widens their comprehension of the language significantly.

How many figures of speech are there in the English language?

Linguists estimate there are over 10,000 common figures of speech in the English language. That’s a huge number! Teaching idioms can be especially fun however, and most English language learners will master these expressions quickly. Here is a great list to start wit h.

Is teaching figurative language boring?

Teaching figurative language doesn’t have to be boring, and the results pay off for years to come. Most of the quality picture books and novels we use in the classroom are chock full of rich, complex language. But students often fall into the bad habit of reading quickly and superficially.

What is the impact of figurative language?

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.

Why do people use repetition?

Repetition is a favored tool among orators because it can help to emphasize a point and make a speech easier to follow. It also adds to the powers of persuasion—studies show that repetition of a phrase can convince people of its truth. Writers and speakers also use repetition to give words rhythm.

What is the effect of personification?

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.

What is figurative language example?

Writers favor a handful of common types of figurative language. Among these are: Simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two separate concepts through the use of a clear connecting word such as “like” or “as.” Examples of simile are phrases such as “He was wily as a fox,” or “I slept like a log.”

How do you understand personification?

Personification is when you give an animal or object qualities or abilities that only a human can have. This creative literary tool adds interest and fun to poems or stories. Personification is what writers use to bring non-human things to life.

Why is metaphor used?

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.

What is the summary of the Letter from Birmingham Jail?

Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” responds to criticism against him and outlines the ideology of nonviolent protest. Eight Birmingham clergymen had published a letter in a newspaper decrying the demonstrations of King and his followers.

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Figurative Elements

  • The use of multiple types of elements adds to the strength, depth and quality of figurative language through a literary work. Metaphors, similes, analogies, hyperbole, symbolism, personification, allusion, imagery and rhyme are all common figurative language elements. Applying the right element in making specific points in writing is necessary to make figurative la…
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Metaphors, Similes and Analogies

  • Metaphors, similes and analogies are often used in similar ways. Rather than simply making a statement about a person, place or thing, these tools allow you to make the point by comparing one thing to another. In the metaphor "Jill is the rock of her family," the character Jill is compared to a rock to emphasize her strength and fortitude. The author takes this approach as opposed t…
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Expanding Meaning

  • Some figurative language is used to expand beyond the literal narrative in the story. Hyperbole is a grossly exaggerated or excessive claim. Symbolism is used to present a moral lesson or broader point by having a noun in the story represent something beyond the story. Personification is used to give human qualities to an object or animal. For exam...
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Creative Additions

  • In creative works, some figurative language tools simply increase the creativity of the writing. Imagery is one of the simpler elements to understand. It is the use of descriptive, expressive language to give the reader a mental image. "The Sun beamed brightly down on the couple as they embraced" is an example. Rhyme is a figurative element commonly used in children's books. Dr. …
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