Figurative Language that ComparesGrade EightPrepared by Ms. Maha KaterjiLiteral and Figurative LanguageLiteral means straightforward or fatual! the ditionary meaning of a word. "hen someone says #$ mean that literally%& they mean #e'atly& (( just the fats)* fgurative meaning onveys not just the fats but an idea. $t enourages us to use our imaginations. +ere is an e'ample,Mervin runs li-e a du-."e.re using /gurative language 0 in this ase a /gure of speeh alled a simile. 1y omparing the way Mervin runs to the way a du- runs. $f we wanted to be literal% we would say% #Mervin is aw-ward and he waddles when he runs.&"riters often reate images or enhane meaning by omparing one thing to another for speial e2et.3he four main uses of /gurative language are,4imileMetaphorPersoni/ation+yperbole4imile* simile is a /gure of speeh in whih an explicit omparison is made using the omparative words like% as, resembles, than. 4imiles are easy to spot.My heart beats li-e a drum."e were as 5uiet as frightened mie.Metaphor* metaphor also ompares% but a metaphor is a bit more sophistiated than a simile.For one thing% in a metaphor% the words like or as are missing.4o readers have to reogni6e the omparison on their own without those easy words whih help us to spot a simile so 5ui-ly.Metaphor 7ontinued89$n a metaphor% a poet writes that : is ;.