Figurative Language: Meaning, Types, and Examples… in Cartoons!

The Meaning of “Figurative Language”

This friendly English teacher welcomes you to one of the most important lessons in ELA and life! Now for the definition you’ve been waiting for… The term “figurative language” refers to a kind of language which conveys meaning in an exciting way that isn’t literal. Huh? What is this “literal” business?

Literal vs. Figurative Language: What’s the Difference?

“Literal language” refers to plain, “what you see is what you get” ways of writing or speaking: language that means exactly what it says. For example: “Ms. Marshall is six feet tall” is a literal statement because I am mathematically exactly six feet tall. (Yes, I’m shockingly large for a lady.)

In contrast, a figurative statement about my height would be something like, “Ms. Marshall is as tall as a tree!” Now, anyone with an ounce of logic in their noggin would know that I’m not LITERALLY as tall as a tree (unless it’s a short, stubby one that’s just six feet tall), but this figurative language — a simile to be exact — is delightful because it helps the reader get an image of my towering height in a creative way.

What Are Types of Figurative Language?

The exact number of types of figurative language is up for debate (a deliciously dorky ELA debate), but for today, let’s focus on five of the most common and useful kinds. Once you learn them, you can leverage each to spice up your own writing, and to better understand what others are saying. We’ll start with the most commonly known types: similes and metaphors.

1. Simile:

The definition of a simile is a phrase that compares two very different things using “like” or “as.” The purpose is to give the reader or listener an interesting new way to visualize the thing that’s being compared. (The key is that the two things have to be very different, and the sentence needs to not be literal. For example, “Zuzu is as tall as Mimi” is NOT a simile because it’s just a literal statement of fact if the girls are both 5’4″ tall.)

Correct Example of a Simile:

Her hair is as soft as a cloud, and when I hug her, her curls press softly against my cheek, making me smile.

• This is an example of the figurative language called a simile because this woman’s hair is not literally as soft as a cloud (the two things are actually quite different — clouds are just water droplets), but the description gives a vivid image of how fluffy those curls must be.

2. Metaphor:

The definition of a metaphor is a phrase that compares two very different things WITHOUT using “like” or “as,” in order to give a deeper and more poetic understanding of the thing being compared. (Again, the two things have to be very different, and the sentence needs to not be literal. For example, the sentence “Ms. Marshall is a travel photographer” is NOT a metaphor because it’s just a literal, documented statement of the fact that I travel and take photographs around the world — and enjoy it, too!)

Correct Example of a Metaphor:

After weightlifting five times a day for a year, my muscles are now bulging boulders.

• This is an example of the figurative language called a metaphor because my muscles are not literally now made of rock (my biceps would puncture if you poked them with a sharp stick, whereas a boulder would not), however the description provides a powerful message about the effects of weightlifting on my strength and physique.

3. Hyperbole:

The definition of a hyperbole is a phrase that exaggerates the truth. It states something in such an extreme way that it’s often comically over-the-top. It’s important to be able to spot that this is figurative language, because if you took hyperbole literally, it would be shocking and inaccurate!

Correct Example of a Hyperbole:

“I’m so hungry, I could eat everything in this entire supermarket!”

• This is an example of the figurative language called hyperbole because if you literally ate everything in a supermarket, you would burst. This is an exaggeration meant to over-dramatically convey how ravenous this person is — to comical effect.

Click the following link for more about hyperbole’s opposite: understatement and verbal irony.

4. Personification:

The definition of personification is a phrase in which something that is not human is described with human-like characteristics. This type of figurative language can help create a vivid scene, but again should not be taken literally because, well, non-human things can’t actually do the things personification has them do. It would be creepy if they did.

Correct Example of Personification:

The rain ripped the leaves off the trees, thundering with wild laughter as it destroyed the forest.

• This is an example of the figurative language called personification because the rain is not a human — it doesn’t literally have hands to rip leaves, and it doesn’t have emotions, or a mouth to laugh maniacally! However, this poetic description helps the reader visualize the dramatically destructive scene.

See more examples of personification in my article “Drawing the Wind,” in which I illustrate a personification of the wind itself, as well as the cloud blowing it, and the tree being tossed around in the gusts of air.

5. Onomatopoeia:

The definition of onomatopoeia is… sound effect words! This type of figurative language encompasses the written-out version of sounds, such as animal or machine noises. It’s extremely fun to use and to say!

Correct Examples of Onomatopoeia:

POP! CRASH! WOOF! BANG! ZAP! AWW! ARGH! POOF!

• Enjoying these samples of the figurative language type called onomatopoeia? I actually have an entire article dedicated to understanding this fabulous word better (including spelling tips and pronunciation), so pop on over to “Onomatopoeia Examples and Word List!”

Shop Literal vs. Figurative Posters:

When to Use Figurative Language

Getting the hang of the wonderful world of figurative language? Good! Now the question is: when should you use it? Well, the purpose of literary devices like figurative language is to make your writing or speech more intriguing and artful, so use similes, metaphors, and so on whenever you want to add some pizzazz and pop to your prose or poetry. Figurative language can help add depth and emphasize a point, all while being beautiful.

When should you NOT use figurative language? Use these literary devices sparingly if you’re speaking with someone who needs a clear, direct answer — aka, a lover of the literal — or a person who is still in the process of learning English, who may therefore misunderstand figures of speech. In other words, do not use the hyperbole, “I’m so hungry that I could eat a horse!” with someone who might then go out and cook you a horse to consume.

So what about you? What’s YOUR take on figurative language? Which is your favorite type, and how do you like to use it? Do share!