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Significance of figurative language in literary writing
AP english Literature Figurative Language termsvocab
An essay about figurative language
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Poetry is a unique form of literature. Poetry uses the aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language. To evoke meaning, poets use various forms word manipulation; phonaesthetic, sound symbolism, and metre are often used. The word “phonaesthetics” derives from two Greek words, phone which means, “voice-sound” and aesthetics. Sound symbolism is the partial representation of the sense of a word by its sounds.
“To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.” These were historic words from author Herman Melville. The novel Speak contains the powerful theme of communicating to others even when it may be hard, making Speak a mighty book. In Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel Speak, she describes the life of a freshman in highschool, Melinda Sordino, who has been raped the summer before the school year. She refused to tell her friends that she was raped at the party they were attending, so all of her friends saw her as a whistle blower.
“My Favorite Chaperone” by Jean Davies Okimoto and The Latehomecomer, by Kao Kalia Yang both incorporate use of figurative language. Figurative language helps to create a visual image in the reader’s mind. Authors also incorporate figurative language in order to enhance and explain a variety of literary elements throughout a piece of literature. Firstly, “My Favorite Chaperone” by Okimoto, incorporates a variety of figurative language throughout the story.
Question 1: The three examples of figurative language that I am going to analyze are, rhetorical questions, personification, and similes . Rhetorical question: “Here or elsewhere, what did it matter? Die today, or tomorrow, or later.” (Wiesel 98) This example of a Rhetorical question really adds to the text by almost forcing the reader to think to themselves, and actually try to answer the question that is being asked. It involves the reader and therefore can make the story more appealing to them.
By utilizing figurative language, and including strange, bland, but powerful/smart word choices, it really can relate to the structure of our book; even if it is much much shorter. So far throughout the story (figurative language wise), the poem had 3 different figurative languages; anaphora, simile(s), and metaphor(s). The anaphora was specifically noticeable because of the consistent use of the word "tear(s)". It happens around every new phrase or continuation of a phrase, so it appears around every 1-3 lines. Another time figurative language is showing is when our author used similes and metaphors to really show the power of tears.
How does it communicate an idea or feeling better than it could written in plain literal language? Answer - One example of figurative language in the novel is when Melinda says,”Mr. Freeman is ugly. Big old grasshopper body,like a stilt-walking
Poetry is an important part of literature which conveys an author 's ideas across to the reader through the use of descriptive language. Poetry helps an author to express their inner emotions and often incorporates various poetic devices which enriches the text. Poetry gives the reader a different perspective and when read closely, can give the audience a look into the authors imagination. Likewise, poetic devices enhance the writing and can drastically change the mood of the poem, as well as, how the reader interprets the poem. Poetic devices are important in literature because they help to convey a message, add spontaneity to a poem, and give the reader a strong visual.
In T.S. Eliot’s work “The LoveSong of J. Alfred Prufrock”, he uses diction to give an underlying meaning and tone to his poem in order to express the downfall of a man. The author uses his diction to give this poem Its tone as if he regrets what he did in life. He also shows great tone changes in this work, giving this poem a dramatic, almost tragic outlook. Many of his word choices also give his work an underlying meaning and adds to his theme and messages. A large part of his poem is also using metaphors to add to this underlying meaning and give more force to this tone he is trying to create.
To produce a specific effect or emotion in writing, authors use literacy devices. Some literacy devices include diction, which depicts, emphasizes, and dramatizes an idea, and repetition which reinforces, emphasizes, and magnifies an idea. In Sophie Black’s poem “Landfall” she utilizes diction to emphasize Dorothy Bradford’s feelings of emptiness which parallels to the structural repetition that symbolizes Bradford’s tedious cycle towards overcoming hardships. Black uses diction to emphasize Dorothy Bradford’s feeling of emptiness which derives from her feelings of physical and spiritual exhaustion.
The speakers of both poems reflect on their mornings with similar types of figurative language, but implement those types using different techniques. “Five A.M.” uses flowing syntax, peaceful diction and positive imagery, while “Five Flights Up” uses choppy syntax, bland diction and negative imagery. The different uses of figurative language in the two poems creates opposing ideas. The speaker in “Five A.M.” suggests that with a new day comes a refreshed, inherently good humanity. In contrast, “Five Flights Up” focuses on how humans have generally missed the mark of perfection.
This allows the audience to feel what the poet is feeling when writing the poem. A poet should be able to create a story that not only states what happens but also provides a deeper meaning that unfolds an underlying storyline. Poetry is a form of art rather than a form of journalism or history. Instead of simply relaying information, a poet uses language and imagery to make the poem feel real. The poem should stimulate readers to think about different ways to interpret the text, instead of everything being
Words alone may not be enough to get a point across. Poets use symbolism to portray their emotions. An electronic poem allows an author to use ways other than words to symbolize his or her feelings. To Erin Smith, author of “For the Moon”, the moon and its phases represent her ever-changing life as she waits to achieve an unclear goal. An electric poem allows her to make connections to the reader through colors, pictures, and movement.
Figurative language is the glue to all poetry writing. It is what holds poetry together and without it, poetry would be plain and boring. Figurative language adds depth and creates a whole new dimension full of possibilities that readers can enjoy. It is the most powerful tool that an author can use because it can be used in a way no other piece of literature can. It makes poems unique and the utilization of figurative language amplifies the meaning of the main message of the author.
Some poems may have a strict structural form while others may not. The writer can incorporate one of many poetic devices into his work to relay his message to the reader. Examples analyzed today include poetic sound, onomatopoeia, alliteration, rhyme, meter, and verse. An example of poetic sound, onomatopoeia, and alliteration can be found in Helen Chasin’s short poem “The Word Plum”.
A prime example of the use of figurative language is the line “Snow On The Beach” that is repeated multiple times in this song. This line is used as a metaphor to symbolize the relationship between the narrator and their partner. In addition the song uses imagery to help convey the story. A line that is an example of imagery is “But it’s coming down, no sound, it’s all around.” This use of imagery not only tells the listeners about the sounds and how the snow looks, it also represents how the narrator feels about their love.
