Lesson 10 — Activity 1: Figurative Language
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Lesson 10 — Activity 1:
Figurative Language
Language is sometimes categorized as figurative language or as literal language.
When we say we are "taking something literally," we mean that we are taking it exactly as it is said or written. This is often the way we talk, and most nonfiction writing uses literal language.
Writers use language carefully to
When we say we are "taking something literally," we mean that we are taking it exactly as it is said or written. This is often the way we talk, and most nonfiction writing uses literal language.
Writers use language carefully to
- interest the reader
- paint a picture
- create a feeling or tone
Figurative language, on the other hand, is language that has more than a
surface meaning. The words being used are chosen to have an effect on
how we feel about the idea at hand.
When we read, we need to be aware that the writer may be using figurative language, or we may have trouble making sense of what we are reading.
When we read, we need to be aware that the writer may be using figurative language, or we may have trouble making sense of what we are reading.
For example, consider
this statement: "There were so many people at the party the house was
bursting at the seams."
If we take this literally, there is a serious construction problem! However, if we take it figuratively, we know that the sentence means that it was very crowded at the party.
If we take this literally, there is a serious construction problem! However, if we take it figuratively, we know that the sentence means that it was very crowded at the party.
Here’s
a few more examples:
"Sam is the apple of my eye!" If we took this literally, we might think Sam was a piece of fruit in her eye. Taking this figuratively, we can figure out she means she likes Sam very much.
"Josh will finish cleaning his room when pigs fly!" Not really, Josh's dad was just expressing figuratively that Josh will probably never get around to cleaning up his room!
"Sam is the apple of my eye!" If we took this literally, we might think Sam was a piece of fruit in her eye. Taking this figuratively, we can figure out she means she likes Sam very much.
"Josh will finish cleaning his room when pigs fly!" Not really, Josh's dad was just expressing figuratively that Josh will probably never get around to cleaning up his room!
Here's one more example:
“It’s been raining cats and dogs” does not mean there are actual cats and dogs coming down from the sky! It means figuratively that it is raining quite hard!
“It’s been raining cats and dogs” does not mean there are actual cats and dogs coming down from the sky! It means figuratively that it is raining quite hard!
