Figurative Language
An Eagle and a Fox formed an intimate friendship and decided to
live near each other. The Eagle built her nest in the branches of a
tall tree, while the Fox crept into the underwood and there
produced her young. Not long after they had agreed upon this plan,
the Eagle, being in want of provision for her young ones, swooped
down while the Fox was out, seized upon one of the little cubs, and
feasted herself and her brood. The Fox on her return, discovered
what had happened, but was less grieved for the death of her young
than for her inability to avenge them. A just retribution, however,
quickly fell upon the Eagle. While hovering near an altar, on which
some villagers were sacrificing a goat, she suddenly seized a piece
of the flesh, and carried it, along with a burning cinder, to her
nest. A strong breeze soon fanned the spark into a flame, and the
eaglets, as yet unfledged and helpless, were roasted in their nest
and dropped down dead at the bottom of the tree. There, in the
sight of the Eagle, the Fox gobbled them up. Figurative
LanguageFictional ElementsWhenever you describe something by
comparing it with something else, you are using figurative
language. Any language that goes beyond the literal meaning of
words in order to furnish new effects or fresh insights into an
idea or a subject is also consider figurative. The most common (and
therefore the ones you should really know) are simile, metaphor,
and alliteration. ImageryLanguage that appeals to the senses.
Descriptions of people or objects stated in terms of our senses. It
often paints a picture in your mind when you read those words.
Basically describing something in so much detail that it forms an
image in your head For example, Though I was on the sheer face of a
mountain, the feeling of swinging through the air was euphoric,
almost like flying without wings. simileA figure of speech which
involves a direct comparison between two unlike things, usually
with the words like or as.For example, Life is like a box of
chocolates. You never know what youre going to get.MetaphorA figure
of speech which involves an implied comparison between two
relatively unlike things using a form of be. The comparison is not
announced by like or as.For example, All the world's a stage, and
all the men and women merely players.alliterationRepeated consonant
sounds occurring at the beginning of words or within words.
Alliteration is used to create melody, establish mood, call
attention to important words, and point out similarities and
contrasts. For example, Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled
PeppersPersonificationA figure of speech which gives the qualities
of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea.For example, Fear
knocked on the door. Faith answered. There was no one
there.onomatopoeiaThe use of words that mimic sounds.They appeal to
our sense of hearing and they help bring a description to life.A
string of syllables the author has made up to represent the way a
sound really sounds.For Example, Knock-knock OR Baa Baa Black
SheephyperboleAn exaggerated statement used to heighten effect.It
is not used to mislead the read, but to emphasize a point.
For Example, She is so dumb, she thinks Taco Bell is a Mexican
phone company
