Why do poets use figurative language




















I was scared to death. You have nerves of steel. None of these statements are meant to be taken literally. Many literary devices, which are common in poetry, employ figurative language. Here are a few examples:. Personification: ascribing human qualities to nonhuman objects and animals.

My computer is lazy. Satire: criticism through humor, often using irony and overstatement. Simile: one thing is described as being like another thing. Symbolism: something that represents something else and is used to enhance a theme, evoke emotion, or establish mood in a narrative.

Synecdoche: A type of metaphor in which a term that refers to one element of something is used to refer to the whole thing or vice versa. Synecdoche is often used for personification. An example of synecdoche is referring to businesspeople as suits or to a car as wheels. One of the best ways to master figurative language in poetry is to study it. When you read poetry, look for figurative language. Use a highlighter, underlining, or make notes to identify figurative language that you find in the poems you read.

Personification is most often used in poetry to create an image or to help establish mood. It typically uses something physical to represent a broader, more abstract idea. Symbols typically illuminate the deeper message or theme in a work, and sometimes they access common archetypes to create a universal understanding of their meaning.

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. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads.

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