4. The Figurative Languages in Creative
Nonfiction
Introduction
1. Imagery: It is the use of figurative language to create
visual representations of actions, objects and ideas in our
mind in such a way that they appeal to our physical
senses. For example:
• The room was dark and gloomy. -The words “dark” and
“gloomy” are visual images.
• The river was roaring in the mountains. – The word
“roaring” appeals to our sense of hearing.
6. Sensory Experiences
“Sensory details include sight,
sound, touch, smell, and taste.
Writers employ the five senses to
engage a reader's interest.
7. 5 Types of Imagery
Different types of imagery correspond to
different senses.
Essentially, there are five types of imagery, each
corresponding to one of our senses: visual (sight),
auditory (hear), olfactory (smell), and gustatory
(taste), kinesthetic (touch).
14. 2. Simile and Metaphor:
Both compare two distinct objects and draws similarity
between them. The difference is that Simile uses “as” or
“like” and Metaphor does not. For example:
• “MY LOVE IS LIKE A RED RED ROSE” (SIMILE)
• HE IS AN OLD FOX VERY CUNNING. (METAPHOR)
15. • Your bag weighs a ton!
• I have got a million issues to look
after!
3. Hyperbole: It is deliberate exaggeration of
actions and ideas for the sake of emphasis. For
example
16. 5. Alliteration: It refers to the same consonant
sounds in words coming together. For example:
•Better butter always makes the batter better.
•She sells seashells at seashore.
4. Personification: It gives a thing, an idea or
an animal human qualities. For example:
• The Flowers are dancing beside the lake.
• Have you see my new car? She is a real beauty!
17. 6. Allegory: It is a literary technique in which an
abstract idea is given a form of characters, actions
or events. For example:
• “Animal Farm”, written by George Orwell, is an
example allegory using the actions of animals on a
farm to represent the overthrow of the last of the
Russian Tsar Nicholas II and the Communist
Revolution of Russia before WW II. In addition,
the actions of the animals on the farm are used to
expose the greed and corruption of the Revolution.
18. 8. Apostrophe- addressing a person who is either dead or
absent when the utterance is made.
Example: Mabini, Bonifacio, Rizal, let your guiding spirits
influence our leaders in this time of great crisis.
7. Irony: It is use of the words in such a way in which
the intended meaning is completely opposite to their
literal meaning. For example:
• The bread is soft as a stone.
• So nice of you to break my new PSP!
19. 10. Rhetorical question- a question that is not meant to be
answered because he answer is obvious
Example: Has information technology advanced slowly or
by leaps and bounds?
9. Metonymy- substitution of a word or phrase for an
idea to which it is closely related(say an author for
his/her works)
Example: I cannot help crying when I read Carlos
Bulosan ( a Filipino expatriate writer)
20. OTHER LITERARY ELEMENTS
11. Allusion-A literary device that refers to external
people, events, or things. These are people who are
not part of the story itself.
Example: “Don't act like a Romeo in front of her.” –
“Romeo” is a reference to Shakespeare's Romeo, a
passionate lover of Juliet, in “Romeo and Juliet”.
21. 12. Anaphora- Anaphora is a repetition of the same word or phrase at
the beginning of successive sentences.
Example: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times during
the times of chal-lenges like this pandemic time.
13. Diction -The specific choice of words used helps determine the
style in which the person is speaking or writing. It can be a formal,
informal, colloqui-al, slang or poetic.
Example: Anes ganap? It’s the bong-gacious fiesta ditetshiwa in the
Philippines. Filipino People are united and the whole nation is into it.
There are so many anech-anech like the colorful decorations and
there are variety of foods. Anes pa? Let’s find more-more ga-nap.
22. 14. Euphemism- a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for
one considered to be too harsh or blunt when refer-ring to
something unpleas-ant or embarrassing.
Example: No one wants to be with him because his attitude is
unattractive and sub-standard to women’s choice.
15. Epistrophe- The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of a
sentence.
Example: I want the best, and we need the best, and we deserve the
best.
23. 16. Flashback- It is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back
in time from the current point in the story.
Example : In a story about a girl who is afraid of heights, there is a
flashback to a time when she fell off of the top of a playground as
a young child.
17. Foreshadowing -A clue at what will happen next, or at some point,
in the story.
Example: It was a cold stormy night that would introduce her to
eternal darkness, forever changing the course of her life.
24. FUNCTION OF LITERARY DEVICES
In general, the literary devices are a collection of universal artistic
structures that are so typical of all works of literature frequently
employed by the writers to give meanings and a logical framework to
their works through language. When such works are read by readers,
they ultimately recognize and appreciate them. Because of their
universality, they also allow the readers to compare a work of one
writer to that of the other to determine its worth. They not only
beautify the piece of literature but also give deeper meanings to it,
testing the very understanding of the readers along with providing
them enjoyment of reading. Besides, they help motivating readers’
imagination to visualize the characters and scenes more clearly.
25. Common literary devices
The most common literary devices used in literature, art and
everyday language are similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole,
and symbolism.
Numerous individuals do not have the foggiest idea about genuine
names of abstract gadgets, so they do not understand these
components when they experience them in regular circumstances.
While these abstract components are most regularly utilized, there
are various different gadgets that are alive and utilized by essayists.
26. Reasons to Use Literary Elements in Writing
The number one rule to writing is to “show, don’t tell”.
You have to illustrate the story to your readers. Using literary
elements will clearly help the readers to establish the scenarios of
the stories. Utilizing these elements will help you to have vivid
illustrations. Readers do not want a story to be told but rather to see
the storyline by showing it to them. Readers want to know what
the characters perceptions, emotions, and what the characters
see in the story and how would they react on these. This is
where the use of literary elements come into play. By utilizing
literary element techniques in your literary outputs, you will
form an interesting and unforgettable experience to your
reader.
