What is a figurative language?

There are many different types of figurative language that is often used in various pieces of literature. Most often, you would see figurative language in poetry. Figurative language is the use of words that usually do not mean what their words mean. In other words, it is a phrase or expression that has a different meaning.

Sometimes, you can figure out the definitions of these phrases based on your prior knowledge or the context clues in the line. Personification is giving human qualities to nonhuman things. Imagery is using visual elements to allow the reader to actually “see” what is going on in that situation. Hyperbole is an exaggeration of the case. Onomatopoeia is sound words like Boom, pow and bam.