Figurative language
Introduction
Figurative language is the lifeblood of poetry. It’s the pulse that gives writing energy, emotion, and memorable meaning. A single image can linger long after you’ve closed the book, and a surprising metaphor can make you see something familiar in a new way.
Even though we often associate these devices with poetry, they matter just as much in prose. Writers use figurative language to reveal character, create mood, and develop theme. Mastering figurative language is key to both analyzing and appreciating any literary work.
Types of figurative language
This isn’t a comprehensive list, but it covers the types of figurative language most commonly tested in the Multiple Choice section and gives you plenty to work with in the Free Response section. You’ll want to know two things:
- The definition of each device
- How to recognize it in a passage (and how to use it in your own writing)
Understanding the function of figurative language
On this exam, it’s not enough to spot a metaphor, simile, or understatement and label it correctly. The real skill is explaining why the writer used that device in that specific moment.
Figurative language isn’t decorative fluff; it’s purposeful. When a poet compares grief to a storm, or when a narrator downplays tragedy through understatement, the effect isn’t just “style.” It shapes the reader’s emotional experience and deepens the work’s meaning.
A metaphor might point to a character’s internal struggle. Irony might expose the author’s cynicism. Over-the-top hyperbole might satirize an idea the writer disagrees with. In other words, figurative language is less about “finding the right term” and more about interpretation: making a claim and supporting it with evidence from the text.
Memorizing terms won’t earn a high score. Explaining the author’s intent-and how language choices build meaning-is what sets strong essays apart.
Figurative language in practice
Try some analysis with the opening stanza of “To Autumn” by John Keats. Read it at least twice:
- First, read to absorb the scene and notice what stands out.
- Second, read with an eye for figurative language, using the questions above to guide your thinking.
On a piece of paper, write down three examples of figurative language from the excerpt. For each one, explain its function by answering the questions as clearly as you can.
Read below to see a sample analysis of three figurative devices:
Solution.
Metaphor - “Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun”
The poem is titled “To Autumn,” and, thus, autumn is both personified and metaphorically represented as the “close friend” of the sun. This suggests an intimate partnership between the season and the natural world, which deepens the mood of harmony and abundance. Summer and autumn are thought of as times of growth and harvest, and, by depicting autumn as a co-creator of ripeness and beauty, Keats elevates the season to an active participant in the life cycle and characterizes it as generous, nurturing, and warm. His use of imagery later in the poem (“swelled gourds” and “plump shells”) furthers this idea of ripe, bountiful life.
Personification - “To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells”
This line, of course, deserves its own analysis. The verbs used—swell, plump—are physical actions that imply intentionality and care. Keats attributes human-like agency to autumn itself, making the season seem like a careful gardener or provider. The effect is one of lushness and abundance. By personifying the season, Keats invites the reader to view nature not as mechanical, but as alive and emotional.
Irony - “Until they think warm days will never cease”
This is an example of very subtle situational irony. The bees, tricked by the prolonged warmth, assume summer will never end. However, the poem is about autumn, the season that precedes the end. This depicts a moment of mistaken assumption and reflects the larger theme of impermanence. It foreshadows the inevitable end, and the irony behind the bees’ mistaken thought adds a bittersweet undertone. Even in abundance, there’s the shadow of decline-and that, overall, adds an edge to autumn and its promise.
If you had trouble analyzing the figurative language in this poem, that’s fine. Your responses don’t have to match the sample exactly—they just need to be supported by the text.
Use everything the passage gives you: the time period, the title, common associations with the topic or theme, later lines in the text, and details about the author. We’ll return to analysis in later chapters with more chances to practice. For now, keep identifying figurative language in what you read, and regularly write a paragraph explaining what each device contributes to meaning.