Figurative Language

Figurative language is when writers use words in creative, non-literal ways to create vivid images, express feelings, or make their writing more interesting. In the GL 11+ exam, you need to recognise figurative language, explain what it means, and describe its effect on the reader.

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What Is Figurative Language?

Literal language means exactly what it says:

"The sun was hot." — This is a plain fact.

Figurative language goes beyond the literal meaning to create a picture or feeling:

"The sun was a blazing fireball in the sky." — The sun is not literally a fireball, but this description is much more vivid and powerful.

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Key Types of Figurative Language

1. Simile

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

Simile	What it means
She ran like the wind.	She ran very fast.
His eyes were as blue as the ocean.	His eyes were a deep, vivid blue.
The baby's skin was as soft as silk.	The skin was very smooth and gentle.
He ate like a horse.	He ate a lot.
The classroom was like a zoo.	The classroom was noisy and chaotic.

How to spot a simile: Look for "like" or "as" comparing two different things.

2. Metaphor

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

Metaphor	What it means
The moon was a silver coin in the sky.	The moon looked round and shiny.
Time is a thief.	Time takes things away from us without us noticing.
Her voice was music to his ears.	Her voice was beautiful and pleasant.
The classroom was a battlefield.	There was conflict and chaos in the classroom.
He has a heart of stone.	He is cold and uncaring.

How to spot a metaphor: One thing is described as being something it is not literally — without "like" or "as."

3. Personification

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

Personification	What it means
The wind howled through the trees.	The wind made a loud, eerie sound.
The sun smiled down on us.	The sun was warm and pleasant.
The flowers danced in the breeze.	The flowers swayed gently.
Time waits for no one.	Time does not stop, no matter what.
The old house groaned in the storm.	The house made creaking sounds.

How to spot personification: A non-human thing is described doing something only a human can do (smiling, dancing, howling, whispering, etc.).

4. Hyperbole

Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It is not meant to be taken literally.

Hyperbole	What it really means
I've told you a million times!	I've told you many times.
My bag weighs a ton.	My bag is very heavy.
I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.	I am very hungry.
She cried a river of tears.	She cried a lot.
It took forever to get there.	It took a very long time.

How to spot hyperbole: The statement is obviously exaggerated and cannot be literally true.

5. Onomatopoeia

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

Word	What it sounds like
buzz	The sound a bee makes
splash	The sound of water
crash	A loud, violent sound
whisper	A soft, quiet voice
sizzle	The sound of frying
crunch	The sound of biting something crispy
hiss	The sound a snake makes

How to spot onomatopoeia: Say the word aloud — if it imitates the sound it describes, it is onomatopoeia.

6. Alliteration

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