Did you ever wonder how other authors make stories so interesting? Sure, they vary the structure of the sentences, use interesting verbs and adjectives, and incorporate exciting events within the storyline. But is that what keeps you from putting the book down? Definitively, the answer is no. Last month, we talked about imagery, but what methods do they use to create that vivid imagery that evokes the emotional connection with the reader? What makes a story more relatable to a reader?
Figurative language is one way to help readers visualize what is happening in the story. It encompasses several types of literary devices.
Common Types of Figurative Language
- Similes
A simile is used to compare two unlike things. The words “like” or “as” are often used to show the connection. This adds meaning and interest to make the story more vivid for the reader.
- Metaphors
An object or action can be described in a way that is not literally true but rather makes a comparison. It helps the author to explain an idea. Unlike similes, metaphors do not use words such as “like” or “as” to demonstrate the comparison. Think of it is as “showing” versus “telling.”
- Hyperbole
When you use an exaggerated statement to overemphasize the meaning, that is hyperbole. Essentially you are stating an untruth, but it gives the statement much more emphasis. Understatements tend to add humor to the situation, whereas overexaggeration creates more of a dramatic effect.
- Personification
A fun tool to use is personification. You can make abstract concepts or nonhuman items come to life by giving them human characteristics. This can be done by assigning human actions, physical attributes, or even emotions.
- Onomatopoeia
This is another fun literary device to use, particularly in children’s books. When you use a word that imitates or resembles the sound an object makes, that is onomatopoeia. It gives the reader a much more vivid picture of what is happening, and in turn, causes the reader to be drawn in and more likely to continue reading.
- Oxymoron
If you want to catch the reader by surprise, try using an oxymoron. Putting two contradictory terms together causes the reader to pause and consider the deeper meaning.
- Idioms
These are sayings that mean something different than what is actually being said. They are commonly used in everyday speaking situations. Idioms come from various cultural contexts, so they can be difficult for non-native speakers to understand.
- Symbolism
Symbolism is when you incorporate an object or element into a story that represents a concept or concern. Symbols often recur throughout a story to continually remind the reader or add context to what is happening. It often adds deeper meaning due to cultural significance or sometimes emotional or thematic significance.
- Irony
Irony contrasts how things are and how they seem. This could apply to a situation or to what is being said. The irony of a situation is when the outcome expected is not what actually occurs. Verbal irony is when you say one thing, but you actually mean the opposite.
- Allusion
Referring back to something outside the current text, such as a well-known character, event, or piece of work is called allusion. It is often not mentioned explicitly but rather as an indirect or passing reference. This is used to add depth or context to a work.
- Alliteration
As with onomatopoeia, alliteration is more commonly used in children’s picture books. Repetition of beginning consonant sounds within a series of words is not only fun for the person reading the book, but if it is being read out loud the audience is also going to enjoy hearing the rhythm that it creates. Alliteration is also useful for catchy titles or takeways that you want your reader to remember.
To sum up, figurative language is used to add variation to your work.
It adds depth and provides a richer picture for the reader through elements of language rather than through structural pieces of the work. These elements enrich the experience for the reader and help to captivate and encourage further reading.
As with our other discussions on word choice, be sure to know the tone of your work. Using the wrong tone or overdoing figurative language can confuse your readers or even alienate them.
We use figurative language every day, but when you are writing you may not think about anything other than laying out your plot and making sure your sentences are readable. Sprinkle some figurative language into your next work, and you’re sure to have more captivated readers!
Heather Malone writes children’s books that focus mainly on Montessori education, special education, and nonfiction. She also dabbles in fiction. Her nonfiction book, Montessori from A to Z, was published in 2023, and her blog on homeschooling students with disabilities using the Montessori method can be viewed at spedmontessorisolutions.com. Her passion is education, which is evidenced by spending over twenty-five years in the field before leaving the classroom to now provide technical assistance to school districts. She lives with her husband and son in Ohio and enjoys traveling to new places in her free time.
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