What is a simile? A simile (pronounced SIM-i-lee) isfigurative languagethat compares two things using the words “like” or “as.” It is also known as an indirect comparison. As a writer, similes give you the power to create vivid imagery and descriptions for your reader. ...
but while an archetype is a template for a story element, a trope is a plot point found across stories. The wordtropecan also refer to the figurative language used in a work
With this figurative imagery in mind, this line is better read as “my mistress’s eyes aren’t bright, warm, or happy.”Not only does figurative imagery help this line make more sense, it also clues readers into the message of the poem: that you can recognize someone’s faults and sti...
Explore more literary devices figurative language, includingmetaphor,juxtaposition, andsymbolism. If you're a writer and want to develop your craft fully, do yourself a favor and continue this exploration. The next article on literary devices is a gateway to many of these tools that help add sub...
What is an Allegory? Definition and Examples → Memorable Parable Examples in Literature Differentiating parables Like with many literary devices, parables are often confused with other kinds of figurative language. Let’s go through a few things that might be close to parables, but aren’t. Parab...
smell, taste and touch -- is called imagery. When a writer uses imagery, he or she creates a "mental picture" for the reader. That means the descriptions are so vivid the reader can almost imagine he or she is there. Many of the other figurative language devices can be examples of ima...
What Is a Rhetorical Question? A rhetorical question requires no reply. People typically use this kind of figurative language to highlight a point. It may already have an obvious answer, but the speaker asks anyway, using sarcasm for emphasis. It may be a broad inquiry to inspire thinking or...
Zeugma, on the other hand, is a clever twist where a word serves dual roles in a sentence, juggling literal and figurative meanings. The playful “Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana” uses “flies” and “like” in different ways across its two parts, crafting a witty...
What is a Figure of Speech? Emma told her best friend, "I'm falling in love with Jake!" But was Emma literally falling? No! She was using a figure of speech. A figure of speech is a word or phrase used in a non-literal (figurative) sense in order to create a certain ...
waterfall helps the reader to imagine herself experiencing the waterfall as she reads. This means drawing on a range of literary devices, or tools, designed to show the waterfall to the reader rather than tell her about it. But use a light hand: Overdoing figurative language can sound amateur...