Poison Roald Dahl Analysis

In the story “Poison” by Roald Dahl, there are many examples of figurative language. Figurative language by definition is language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. Some examples of figurative language are similes, metaphors, analogies, and alliteration. In the story “Poison,” a man named Harry Pope has a krait, a poisonous snake, sleeping on his stomach, and an Indian doctor, Ganderbai, must help him. Roald Dahl’s use of figurative language in the short story “Poison” effectively creates a vivid description of the events that transpire. There are many different types of figurative language used in “Poison,” but the most obvious ones are similes. “The question came so sharply it was like a small explosion in my ear” (Dahl 84). This quotation is a simile comparing someone’s voice to an explosion. At this time in the story, the narrator, Timber Woods, is calling Ganderbai to take care of the krait on his roommate Harry Pope’s stomach. Ganderbai asks who had been bitten very quickly as soon as he heard the

The first example, comparing Ganderbai’s question to an explosion creates the visual of someone sharply talking into the phone, talking in a crisp, clean voice. The next example, comparing Ganderbai’s movements to the movements of a cat, creates a vivid description as well. It creates the image of a man moving carefully and quietly, not stomping around or running, but taking attentive steps to not disturb anything. Finally, the last synonym is effective as well. It compares Ganderbai with the serum to a man with fragile lace. It creates the visual of Ganderbai being very gentle and careful with the serum, just like how he was careful with his steps in the previous example. These three examples of figurative language in “Poison” by Roald Dahl are effective in that they describe events very vividly using