Lesson 2 (Figurative Language and Imagery)

No copyright infringement intended. All right reserved.

1. Creative Writing
Figurative Language and Imagery
Presentation Prepared by
ERNA B. SAGNOY, LPT

2. Objectives
Attheendofthesession,thestudentswillbeableto:
•identifythedifferenttypesoffigurativelanguageandkindsofimagery
•usefigurativelanguageandimageryincreativewriting
•valuethesignificanceoffigurativelanguageandimageryincreative
writing

3. Bellwork
5 things
you can
see
4 things
you can
feel
3 things
you can
hear
2 things
you can
smell
1 good
thing
about
yourself
5
THINKING
HATS

4. What is
Figurative
Language?

5. Source: www.masterclass.com
Figurativelanguageisphrasingthat
goesbeyondtheliteralmeaningof
wordstogetamessageorpointacross.
Thisdefinitiondatesbacktothemid-
nineteenthcenturyandcomesfromthe
OldFrenchword“figuratif,”meaning
“metaphorical.”

7. Simile
•Asimileisafigureofspeechthatcomparestwoseparateconcepts
throughtheuseofaclearconnectingwordsuchas“like”or“as.”
Examplesofsimilearephrasessuchas“Hewaswilyasafox,”or“I
sleptlikealog.”

8. Metaphor
•Ametaphorislikeasimile,butwithoutconnectingwords.Itsimply
positsthattwoseparatethingsarethesame.Forexample,“Hewasawily
fox,”or“Shecriedariveroftears.”

9. Implied Metaphor
•Metaphor takes a few different forms. Sometimes the object of
comparison is purely implied rather than directly referenced, such as in
the phrase, “He barked commands at the team,” which implies
comparison to a dog.

10. Personification
•Personificationprojectshumanqualitiesontoinanimateobjects,or
perhapsanimalsornaturalelements.“Thewindhowled,”“Thewords
leaptoffthepage,”and“Timemarcheson”areallexamplesof
personification.

11. Hyperbole
•Hyperbole is extravagant, intentional exaggeration. “I have a million
things to do today” is a common example of hyperbole.

12. Allusion
•Allusioniswhenatextreferencesanotherexternaltext—ormaybea
person,placeorevent.Itcanbeeitherexplicitorimplicit.“We’ve
enteredaGardenofEden”isanallusiontothebiblicalplace,for
instance.

13. Idiom
•Idiomsarenon-literalturnsofphrasesocommonthatmostpeoplewho
speakthesamelanguageknowthem.Englishexamplesinclude,“He
stoleherthunder”and“We’llcrossthatbridgewhenwecometoit.”

14. Pun
•A pun is a play on words. It exploits the different meanings of a word or
its homonyms, usually to humorous effect.
Example:
•“Denial is a river in Egypt”
•“When my algebra teacher retired, he wasn’t ready for the aftermath.”

15. Onomatopoeia
•Inonomatopoeia,wordssoundlikethethingtheydescribe.Sound
effectslike“tick-tock”and“ding-dong”areeverydayexamples,aswellas
wordslike“zap”and“hiccup.”Sometimesindividualwordsarenot
onomatopoeic,buttheywillbecomesointhecontextofthewords
aroundthem,asinEdgarAllanPoe’s“suddenlytherecameatapping,as
ofsomeonegentlyrapping,rappingatmychamberdoor.”

16. Alliteration
•Manyexpertsalsoconsideralliterationanexampleoffigurativelanguage,
eventhoughitdoesnotinvolvefiguresofspeech.Rather,alliterationisa
sounddevicethatlayerssomeadditionalmeaningontopoftheliteral
languageofthetext.Itoccurswhenaseriesofwordsstartwiththesame
lettersound,suchas“wickedwitch”or“fromforththefatalloinsof
thesetwofoes.”Thiscanhelpbuildimageryormood,hencethe
connectiontofigurativelanguage.

17. •Thechieffunctionoffigurativelanguageistocommunicatethewriter’s
messageasclearlyaspossible.
•Thatmightbebyputtingaforeignconceptintofamiliartermsthata
readerorlistenercaneasilygrasp,oritmightbebycreatingimagery
that’svividandvisceral.
•Sometypesoffigurativelanguagealsohaveotherusesunrelatedtotheir
roleincreatingimagery.Forexample,writersusealliteration,consonance
andassonancealongsiderhymetogivewordsrhythmandmusicality.

18. Figurativelanguagecreatespictures
orfiguresinthemindofthereaders.
Theyareemployedincreativewriting
toaddcolorandinterest,andawaken
theimaginationofthereaders.
~ Peter Solis Nery (2017)

20. •ImageryandfigurativelanguagearerelatedconceptsinEnglishliterature,
buttheyarenotthesame.
•Writersusefigurativelanguagetocreateimagery,whichisastrong
mentalpictureorsensation.
•Itmighthelptothinkoffigurativelanguageasthetoolandimageryas
theproductitbuilds.

22. Imagery
•Imagerymeanstousefigurativelanguagetorepresentobjects,actions,
andideasinsuchawaythatitappealstoourphysicalsenses.
Source:https://literarydevices.net/imagery/

23. Examples of Imagery
•Usuallyitisthoughtthatimagery
makesuseofparticularwordsthat
createvisualrepresentationofideas
inourminds.Theword“imagery”is
associatedwithmentalpictures.
However,thisideaisbutpartially
correct.Imagery,toberealistic,
turnsouttobemorecomplexthan
justapicture.

24. Visual
•isapictureinwords;somethingthatisconcreteandcanbeseen
Example:
•Brokenhulahoops,hollowblocks,andtiresarecrowdedatopathatched
roof.

25. Auditory
•issomethingthatyoucanhearthroughyourmind’sears.
Example:
•Thepatteringoftherainisheardagainstthewindowpane.
•Thescreechingwheelsofrecklesstaxicabsandvehiclesplaguedmyears.

26. Olfactory
•issomethingthatyoucansmellthroughyourmind’snose
Example:
•Thearomaoffreshly-brewedColombiancoffeewaftedintotheentire
room.
•ThestenchofbodyodorinacrowdedLRTtrainseepedthroughthe
fabricofmyshirt.

27. Gustatory
•is something that you can taste through your mind’s tongue.
Example:
•Mouth-watering ripe mangoes, tender melons, and luscious cherries are
served on a tray.
•I endured the pungent taste of unripe bananas.

28. Tactile
•is something that you can touch through your mind’s skin.
Example:
•The soft velvety feel of silk and stain caressed my skin.
•His corned working hands were brought out by years of hard work and
toil.

29. Thermal
•issomethingthatdepictstemperature
Example:
•Thescorchingheatofamiddaytopicalsunmademyeyessquint.
•AsuddengushofDecemberwindbreezedagainstmyface,reminding
meofChristmas.

30. Erotic
•issomethingthatsuggestssensationandfeeling
Example:
•Hiseyesfollowherwherevershegoes,likeablindservantfollowinghis
omnipresentmaster.
•Ishudderedandfeltatinglingsensationashiswarmbreathheaved
throughmynape.

31. Name as many figurative languages as you can
What is the difference between figurative language and imagery?
Why do authors need to use figurative languages and imagery?

32. The Creative Writer’s Tools
“Words are the tools of a creative writer.
For you to succeed as a creative writer,
you must be able to use words and sentences
that engage, entertain or give pleasure,
and ultimately, satisfy your readers.”
~ Peter Solis Nery (2017)

33. THANK YOU!
BookSources:
•Aguila,AugustoAntonio,etal.WordingtheWorld:TheArtofCreativeWriting.C&E
Publishing,Inc.,Quezon,2017
•Nery,PeterS.CreativeWriting.DiwaLearningSystemsInc.,Makati,2017
InternetSource/s:
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-figurative-language-learn-
about-10-types-of-figurative-language-with-examples#what-is-the-difference-between-
figurative-language-and-imagery
PhotocreditstoGoogleImages