FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE &
LITERARY DEVICES
POETRY!
O Poetry (from the Greek "ποίησις",
poiesis, a "making") is a form of
literary art in which language is used
for its aesthetic and evocative
qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its
apparent meaning. Poetry may be
written independently, as discrete
poems, or may occur in conjunction
with other arts, as in poetic drama,
hymns or lyrics.
WHAT IS FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE?
O Figurative language presents
ordinary things in fresh
ways, communicating ideas
that go beyond words’
ordinary meanings.
O HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES…
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
IT’S LIKE A SIMILE
– a comparison of two unlike things using the
words like or as.
Examples of simile:
O “Life is like a box of chocolates.”
O “The girl is as beautiful as a rose.”
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
IT IS A METAPHOR
– a comparison of two unlike things without
using the words like or as.
Examples of metaphor:
O “My father is a tall, sturdy oak.”
O “The hotel is a diamond in the sky.”
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
PERSONIFICATION
– the giving of human qualities to an animal,
object, or idea.
Examples of personification:
O “Hunger sat shivering on the road.”
O “The flowers danced on the lawn.”
O “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Smokey
the Bear” are personified characters.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:
HYPERBOLE
- an exaggerated statement used to make a
point.
Examples of hyperbole:
O “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
O “I could sleep for a year.”
O “This book weighs a ton.”
Symbolism
Symbolism combines a lot of the ideas presented in
metaphor and imagery. Essentially, a symbol is the
use of an object to represent a concept—it’s kind of
like a metaphor, except more concise!
Symbols are everywhere in the English language,
and we often use these common literary devices in
speech and design without realizing it. The following
are very common examples of symbolism:
A few very commonly used symbols include:
 “Peace” represented by a white dove
 “Love” represented by a red rose
 “Conformity” represented by sheep
 “Idea” represented by a light bulb switching on
IRONY
is when a statement is used to express an opposite
meaning that the one literally expressed by it.
 A fire station burns down.
This is unexpected because one would assume
the fire chief would keep his own building safe.
 A marriage counselor files for divorce.
This is ironic because the expectation is that a
professional who coaches couples through rough
patches would herself have a strong marriage.
 The police station gets robbed.
Again, the expectation is that professional crime
fighters would be able to help themselves; in this
case, by securing their own station.
Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a figure of speech which contains
words that seem contradictory to one another. This
incongruity can be accidental or deliberate, as in
cases of humor.
 I distinctly remember forgetting that. - Clara
Barton
 Always be sincere, even when you don’t mean it. Irene Peter
 We must believe in free will. We have no choice. Isaac B. Singer
Juxtaposition
-occurs when two things are placed side by side for
comparison, often to highlight the contrast between
the elements.
The simplest example would be the yin-yang symbol.
There, you have a circle where the black and white
elements stand in contrast to one another - positive
and negative - but also complement each other. In
the juxtaposition examples below, we'll explore
everyday scenarios, literary contrasts, and
juxtaposition in art.“Peace” represented by a white
dove
Juxtaposition
 Old with the new: If you've ever visited Rome, you might
have noticed that the ancient Colosseum still stands tall
and proud. But, not too far away, there are graffiti-ridden
buildings. The two stand in total contrast to one another.
 Happily or unhappily married: Have you ever gone out to
eat and noticed different couples at their tables?
Perhaps one couple is sitting side by side in a booth,
talking quietly and closely. Beside them might be a
couple sitting across from one another, with sour looks
on their faces and cell phones in hand. Married life isn't
always perfect.
Allusion
If you haven’t noticed, literary devices are often just
fancy words for simple concepts. A metaphor is
literally a comparison and hyperbole is just an overexaggeration. In this same style, allusion is just a
fancy word for a literary reference; when a writer
alludes to something, they are either directly or
indirectly referring to another, commonly-known
piece of art or literature.
The most frequently-alluded to work is probably the
Bible. Many colloquial phrases and ideas stem from
it, since many themes and images from the Bible
present themselves in popular works and Western
culture. Any of the following ideas, for example, are
Biblical allusions:
Allusion
 Referring to a kind stranger as a Good Samaritan
 Describing an ideal place as Edenic, or the
Garden of Eden
 Saying someone “turned the other cheek” when
they were passive in the face of adversity
 When something is described as lasting “40 days
and 40 nights,” in reference to the flood of Noah’s
Ark“Peace” represented by a white dove
Euphemism
A euphemism is a polite expression used in place of
words or phrases that might otherwise be considered
harsh or unpleasant.
 passed away instead of died
 letting someone go instead of firing an
employee
 economical instead of cheap
 well-fed instead of overweight
 golden years instead of old age\
 unique instead of odd or weird
 experienced instead of old
Epigraph
An epigraph can serve a number of different
purposes. Whether a literary work is fiction or
nonfiction, epigraphs serve to clue readers in to
some element of the work they are about to read.
Sometimes authors use epigraphic quotes to set up
larger themes they will explore later in their books.
Other epigraph set up expository information that will
help the reader understand the work.
4 Examples of Epigraphs in Literature
 There are many different epigraph examples in
literature. Some notable examples include:
 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: “Did I request thee,
Maker, from my clay / To mound me Man, did I
solicit thee / From darkness to promote me?” —
Paradise Lost
 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: “Lawyers, I
suppose, were children once.” —Charles Lamb
 The Godfather by Mario Puzo: “Behind every great
fortune, there is a crime.” —Balzac
 The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway: “You
are all a lost generation.” —Gertrude Stein
ALLITERATION
is a series of words or phrase that all start with the
same sound.
Ex. “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
Examples of Alliteration in Sentences





The boy was as busy as a bee.
The lazy lion licked his lips.
She sells seashells by the seashore.
“Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.”
“They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”