Interpreting Figures of Speech

• “She’s as busy as a bee.”

• “Hard work is the key to success.”

• “Fate tempted him.”

• “I died of embarrassment.”

• “After he lost the election, there was no fight

left in him.”

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Definition of Figures of Speech

Figures of speech are non-literal ways of saying things; that is, the words have to be interpreted in order to understand the author’s intended meaning.

Literal = the basic meaning of the words without any further interpretation

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In this chapter, you will learn about five very common figures of speech:

Simile Metaphor Personification Hyperbole Metonymy

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Simile

A simile is a comparison between two things which, in most respects, are totally unlike, but which actually are alike in some significant way.

Similes often use the words “like” and “as.”

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Examples of Simile

“The construction worker’s hands were as rough as sandpaper.”

--Hands and sandpaper are being compared. --How they are alike: they are both rough. --Interpretation: The construction worker’s hands are very rough.

“Marie’s eyes are like diamonds. --Eyes and diamonds are compared.

--How they are alike: Both sparkle; both are bright. --Interpretation: Marie’s eyes sparkle. Marie has bright eyes.

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Metaphor

A metaphor implies a comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things by saying that one of them is the other.

Although the two things seem dissimilar, they are alike in some significant way.

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Examples of Metaphor Aunt Sophie is a pack rat.

--Aunt Sophie is being compared to a pack rat.

--How they are alike: Both collect things and never discard any of them. --Interpretation: Aunt Sophie accumulates things and never gets rid of any of them.

My Great Dane is a bottomless pit. --My Great Dane (dog) and a bottomless pit are being compared. --How they are alike: Neither can be filled up. --Interpretation: My Great Dane eats an enormous amount of food.

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Hyperbole

A hyperbole is a figure of speech in which the author makes an obvious exaggeration for emphasis or in order to create some other specific effect (such as humor, emphasis, or surprise).

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Examples of Hyperbole

Tiger Woods hit the golf ball into the next county! --The exaggeration: into the next county

--Interpretation: Tiger Woods hit the ball very far.

When I received my college diploma I told everyone I

knew or had ever met!

--The exaggeration: I told everyone I knew or had ever met.

--Interpretation: I was very excited and proud when I received my college diploma.

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Personification

Personification is speaking about nonhuman or nonliving things as if they were human. In other words, it is giving human characteristics or qualities to nonliving things.

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Examples of Personification The vacuum cleaner ate my socks. --What is being personified: vacuum cleaner --Way in which it is like a person: It “ate” something. --Interpretation: The vacuum cleaner sucked up my socks. (My socks were sucked up by the vacuum cleaner.)

The TV remote control managed to hide

from us for an entire week. --What is being personified: the TV remote control --Way in which it is like a person: It “hid” from us. --Interpretation: We couldn’t find the TV remote control for a week.

(The TV remote control was lost for a week.)

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Metonymy

In metonymy, a closely related term or symbol is substituted for what it represents, or some concrete term is used for a more abstract idea.

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Examples of Metonymy Jack Frost came to town earlier than usual this year. --Metonymy: Jack Frost

--What is represents: winter; cold weather

--Interpretation: Winter came earlier than usual this year.

Cold weather came earlier than usual this year.

Could you please give me a hand? --Metonymy: hand

--What it represents: help; assistance

--Interpretation: Could you please help me?

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The Edge: Pointers from the Coach

“Figures of speech” and “figurative language” are different names for the same thing. Figures of speech must be interpreted; they do not literally mean what they say. Understanding the meaning of a figure of speech is more important than identifying the type of figure of speech. There are more than 250 types of figures of speech.