Figurative Language

Figurative language is when words are used in creative, non-literal ways to paint vivid pictures, create strong feelings, or make writing more interesting. In the FSCE 11+ exam, you will need to identify figurative language in passages, name the technique being used, and explain its effect on the reader. This lesson covers all the key types you need to know.

What Is Figurative Language?

Literal language means exactly what it says: "It is raining." Figurative language means something beyond the literal words: "It is raining cats and dogs."

Nobody believes cats and dogs are actually falling from the sky. The phrase is figurative — it means it is raining very heavily. Figurative language makes writing more vivid, memorable, and powerful.

The Eight Key Types of Figurative Language

1. Simile

A simile compares two things using the words "like" or "as."

Examples:

• Her eyes sparkled like diamonds.
• The boy ran as fast as a cheetah.
• The classroom was as quiet as a graveyard.

Effect: Similes help the reader picture something clearly by comparing it to something familiar. They make descriptions more vivid and engaging.

2. Metaphor

A metaphor says something is something else (without using "like" or "as"). It is a direct comparison.

Examples:

• The world is a stage. (The world is not literally a stage — it means life is like a performance.)
• She has a heart of gold. (Her heart is not actually gold — it means she is very kind.)
• Time is a thief. (Time does not literally steal — it means time takes things away from us.)

Effect: Metaphors create strong, powerful images. They are more direct and forceful than similes because they state that something IS the other thing.

3. Personification

Personification gives human qualities to something that is not human (an object, animal, or idea).

Examples:

• The wind whispered through the trees. (Wind cannot whisper — only humans can.)
• The sun smiled down on the village. (The sun cannot smile.)
• Fear gripped his heart. (Fear does not have hands to grip.)

Effect: Personification makes descriptions come alive. It helps readers connect emotionally with non-human things by giving them human feelings and actions.

4. Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is when a word sounds like the thing it describes.

Examples:

• The fire crackled in the hearth.
• The bee buzzed around the flower.
• The balloon went pop.

Effect: Onomatopoeia brings writing to life by appealing to the reader's sense of hearing. It makes scenes feel more real and immediate.

5. Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of nearby words.

Examples:

• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
• The silent snow settled softly.
• The dark, damp dungeon was dreadful.

Effect: Alliteration creates rhythm and makes phrases memorable. It can also create a specific mood — soft sounds (s, l, m) feel calm; hard sounds (d, b, k) feel harsh or dramatic.

6. Hyperbole

Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or humour. It is not meant to be taken literally.

Examples:

• I have told you a million times!
• My bag weighs a tonne.
• I am so hungry I could eat a horse.

Effect: Hyperbole emphasises a point and often adds humour or drama. It shows the strength of a feeling or the extremeness of a situation.

7. Oxymoron

An oxymoron puts two contradictory words together to create a striking phrase.

Examples:

• A deafening silence filled the room.
• It was an open secret that everyone knew.
• The joke was seriously funny.

Effect: Oxymorons create surprise and make the reader think more deeply. They highlight complexity or contradiction in a situation.

8. Idiom

An idiom is a common phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words. You just have to learn what each idiom means.

Examples:

• It is raining cats and dogs. (It is raining heavily.)
• She let the cat out of the bag. (She revealed a secret.)
• He was over the moon. (He was very happy.)

Effect: Idioms make language colourful and lively. They are common in everyday speech and informal writing.

How to Identify Figurative Language in Passages

graph TD
    A["Read the sentence carefully"] --> B{"Does it compare two<br/>different things?"}
    B -- "Yes, using 'like' or 'as'" --> C["SIMILE"]
    B -- "Yes, saying one thing IS another" --> D["METAPHOR"]
    B -- "No" --> E{"Does it give human<br/>qualities to non-human things?"}
    E -- "Yes" --> F["PERSONIFICATION"]
    E -- "No" --> G{"Does any word sound<br/>like what it describes?"}
    G -- "Yes" --> H["ONOMATOPOEIA"]
    G -- "No" --> I{"Do nearby words start<br/>with the same sound?"}
    I -- "Yes" --> J["ALLITERATION"]
    I -- "No" --> K{"Is there extreme<br/>exaggeration?"}
    K -- "Yes" --> L["HYPERBOLE"]
    K -- "No" --> M{"Are two contradictory<br/>words together?"}
    M -- "Yes" --> N["OXYMORON"]
    M -- "No" --> O{"Is it a well-known<br/>phrase with a non-literal meaning?"}
    O -- "Yes" --> P["IDIOM"]
    O -- "No" --> Q["Likely LITERAL language"]

How to Explain the Effect of Figurative Language

In the FSCE exam, you will often be asked: "What is the effect of this technique on the reader?" Use this three-step method:

Step 1: Name the technique — "The author uses a simile..." Step 2: Explain what it means — "...comparing the snow to a white blanket, which suggests..." Step 3: Explain the effect on the reader — "...this creates a peaceful, cosy image in the reader's mind and helps them visualise the scene."

Always use phrases like:

• This suggests...
• This creates the impression that...
• This makes the reader feel...
• This emphasises...
• This helps the reader to picture/imagine...

Worked Examples

Worked Example 1

Passage: "The thunder growled like an angry beast, and the trees shivered in the wind."