Figurative language is when writers use comparisons, exaggerations, or contradictions to suggest meaning indirectly.
Tip
It’s the difference between saying, “She was sad" and “She carried silence like a wound.”
Why Figurative Language Matters
Writers don’t use figurative language to sound fancy.
They use it because it does three powerful things:
Compressing big ideas into small phrases: A single metaphor can hint at emotion, history, and power all at once.
Create emotional resonance: It’s often the image you remember, not the plot point.
Shaping interpretation: Figurative language subtly directs how we see a character or event, without stating it outright.
Simile: Comparison Made Clear
Definition
Simile
A comparison using like or as.
Writer's use similes to:
Create vivid imagery
Reveal emotional undercurrents
Shape mood through indirect comparison
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Questions
Recap questions
1 of 5
Question 1
Recap question
A writer wants to set a tense, ominous mood as a character approaches a gathering crowd. Which simile would most effectively achieve this?
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