Home / Courses / Literature / Unit 3

Literature Unit 3: Figurative language and imagery

Figurative language says one thing in terms of another. It creates images, emotions and layers of meaning.

Covers: Simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, symbol, imagery, allusion

Study guide

Figurative language uses words beyond their literal meanings to create vivid images and deeper meaning. A simile compares two unlike things using "like" or "as" ("her smile was like sunshine"). A metaphor makes a direct comparison without them ("time is a thief"), and an extended metaphor continues the comparison through several lines or a whole work. Personification gives human qualities to animals, objects or ideas ("the wind whispered"). Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or humor ("I've told you a million times"). Understatement does the opposite.

A symbol is a concrete object, character or event that also represents an abstract idea, like a dove for peace or a journey for growth. Symbols in literature often gather meaning through repetition and context, so track where they appear and how they change.

Imagery is descriptive language that appeals to the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. It helps readers experience a scene and often builds mood and theme.

An allusion is a brief reference to a well-known person, place, event or work, often from mythology, history, religion or other literature. Calling someone "a real Romeo" alludes to Shakespeare. Allusions add layers of meaning for readers who recognize them.

When analyzing figurative language, go beyond identifying it. Ask what is being compared and why, what connotations the comparison brings, and how the device contributes to the characterization, mood or theme of the work.

Apostrophe is when a speaker directly addresses someone absent or dead, or a thing or idea, as if it could hear: "O Death, where is thy sting?" It often reveals intense emotion and lets the speaker think out loud. A cliché is a figure of speech so overused it has lost its force ("cold as ice"). A euphemism is a mild word substituted for a harsh one ("passed away" for "died"). Unlike a fresh metaphor, neither creates a new comparison.

A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory but reveals a truth ("the child is father of the man"). An oxymoron joins two opposites ("sweet sorrow"). Metonymy names something by a closely related thing ("the crown" for the monarch), and synecdoche uses a part for the whole ("all hands on deck").

Key ideas

• Simile compares using like or as; metaphor compares directly.
• Personification gives human traits to nonhuman things.
• Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration.
• A symbol is an object that stands for a bigger idea.
• Imagery appeals to the five senses.

Formulas and rules

Common mistakes

• Calling every comparison a simile. Without like/as it's a metaphor.
• Identifying a device without saying what it adds.

Words to know

Simile

A comparison using like or as.

Metaphor

A direct comparison without like or as.

Personification

Giving human qualities to nonhuman things.

Symbol

Something concrete that represents an abstract idea.

Allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event or work.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration.

Understatement

Presenting something as less important than it is.

Extended metaphor

A comparison continued through several lines or a whole work.

Imagery

Language that appeals to the five senses.

Allegory

A story where characters and events stand for abstract ideas.

Figurative language

Words used beyond their literal meanings.

Connotation

The emotional associations of a word.

Sample practice questions

5 more questions like these, from level 1 to 5, are in the practice set.