Lesson 13 - Using Figurative Language

LESSON 13 - USING FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Figurative language is a way of describing something by comparing it to something else, that is, by using a figure of speech. It goes beyond the literal meaning of the words. Here are some common figures of speech:


1. Simile

Instead of saying: He runs very fast.

You could say: He runs as fast as lightning.

A simile makes the image more vivid.


2. Metaphor

Instead of saying: He is fat and lazy.

You could say: He is a pig.

A metaphor makes the idea more concrete for the reader.


3. Personification

Instead of saying: He was dying.

You could say: Death was waiting at his door.

Personification makes the description more striking.


4. Idioms/Proverbs

Instead of saying: He said something that made his wife angry.

You could say: He put his foot in his mouth.

Idioms and proverbs make your writing more interesting to read.

All in all, figurative language makes your story more vivid and easier to understand.


HOMEWORK 13

Try to use figurative language to describe the following (one of the above for each of the below):


1. He is always angry.

2. They are very poor.

3. He was very confused.

4. She is very tall.