UNIVERSAL SCHOLASTIC ACADEME

Sinisian East, Lemery, Batangas

Creative Writing
MODULE 3 : LANGUAGE OF CREATIVE WRITING (Week 3)

I. INTRODUCTION

In creative writing, the writer must consider the language to be used which will make the creative work
different from other forms of writing. The language of creative writing is different if compared to technical
writing and academic writing. Words are flowery, expressive, and more interesting. This is to capture not just
the mind but also the heart of the audience and to make the audience feel a different reading experience.

II. OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

 Define figure of speech, imagery, and diction;

 Enumerate the different figures of speech
 Write a short creative piece which contains figures of speech, and diction.

III. DISCUSSION

IMAGERY

Imagery is the language used by poets, novelists, and other writes to create images in the mind of the
reader. It includes figurative and metaphorical language to improve the reader’s experience through their senses.

Types of Imagery

 Visual – describes what we see: colors, patterns, shapes, size

 Olfactory – describes what we smell: nice fragrances, bad odors
 Gustatory – describes what we taste: sour, sweet, bitter, salty, acidic
 Tactile – describes what we touch: texture, movement, temperature
 Auditory – describes what we hear: music, silence, noise

Example of Imagery

Imagery using visuals:

The night was black as ever, but bright stars lit up the sky in beautiful and varied constellations which
were sprinkled across the astronomical landscape.

Imagery using sounds:

Silence was broken by the peal of piano keys as Shanon began practicing her concerto.

Imagery using scent:

She smelled the scent of sweet hibiscus wafting through the air, its tropical smell a reminder that she
was on vacation in a beautiful place.

Imagery using taste:

The candy melted in her mouth and swirls of bittersweet chocolate and slightly sweet but salty caramel
blended together on her tongue.

Imagery using touch:

 After the long run, he collapsed in the grass with tired and burning muscles. The grass tickled his skin
and sweet cooled on his brow.
FIUGRE OF SPEECH

Writers use figures of speech and figurative language to create images that would deepen the reader’s
comprehension of a text. Figures of speech and figurative language create the so-called figurative images which
increase reading pleasure.

 Simile – two unlike things are explicitly compared. It is introduced by words such as like, so, as.
Examples:
Pliant like a bamboo
Lovely as a flower
Slept like a log
Blind as a bat
 Metaphor – an informal or implied simile in which words like, as, so are omitted.
Examples:
She is just a late bloomer
Time is money
I smell success in the building
A dream is a wish your heart makes.
 Personification – an idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were
human.
Examples:
My heart danced when he walked in the room
The birds are singing
The sun kissed my cheeks.
That door jumped in my way.
 Hyperbole – a literary device that creates heightened effect through deliberate exaggeration.
Examples:
I love you to the moon and back
I’m starving, I could eat a horse.
This suitcase weights a ton
She loves him more than life itself
 Alliteration – the repetition of the same letter or syllable at the beginning of two or more words.
Examples:
But a better butter makes a batter better.
She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
Best Buy
Coca-Cola
 Allusion – a figure of speech that references a person, place, thing, or something that happened in
history. This may come from many sources such as Bible, Greek or Roman mythology or Shakespeare.
Examples:
Don’t act like Romeo in front of her.
This place is like a Garden of Eden.
Stop acting like my ex-husband!
The rise in poverty will unlock the Pandora’s box of crimes.
 Onomatopoeia - is defined as a word which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. It creates a sound
effect that mimics the thing described, making the description more expressive and interesting.
Examples:
Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle.
The buzzing bee flew away
The sack fell into the river with a splash.
The rustling leaves kept me awake.

DICTION

Diction refers to language and word of choice of the writer. It shows the level of formality of a text which
helps in shaping the perception and view of the readers. There are three levels of diction. There are formal,
informal, and colloquial.

LEVELS CHARACTERISTICS
Formal Diction Academic/ Scholarly Language
Informal Diction Conversational Language
Colloquial Diction Slang Language; Captures regional dialect
Formal Diction
- Proper and polite
- Often filled with descriptive words
- Stick to grammatical rules

Informal Diction
- More conversational
- Often used in narrative literature
- How people communicate in real life
- Gives an author freedom more realistic character
Colloquial Diction
- Informal in nature and generally represent a certain region or time

Examples:

Formal Diction Informal Diction

acceptable okay/ok
opt pick-out
edify let know
Colloquial
- going to - gonna
- want to - wanna
- you - ya
- all of you - y’all

IV. REFERENCES

Buhisan, A. & Sayseng A. (2016). Creative Writing. Pasay City: JFS Publishing Services

Ellorimo, R. (December 12, 2020). Creative Writing. Retrieved from:

https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/rhinautan/creative-writing-76208225

Literary Devices. (January 11, 2021). Retrieved from: https://literarydevices.net/figure-of-speech/

Prepared by:

Mr. CHARLIEMAR S. AGUELO

SHS Instructor
 UNIVERSAL SCHOLASTIC ACADEME
Sinisian East, Lemery, Batangas

Name: Score:
Section:

Creative Writing
Activity Sheet
Module 3
Task 1
Write a sentence that corresponds to the figurative languages enumerated below. Please refrain from
searching your answer on the internet. Use your own words. (5 points)

Figurative Language Sentence

Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Hyperbole
Alliteration
Allusion
Onomatopoeia

Task 2
Think at least three words and write the words in formal, informal and slang diction. (5 points)
Formal Diction Informal Diction Colloquial/Slang Diction
money cash buck

Task 3
Write an essay employing the figurative languages discussed. Use informal diction in your essay.
Choose from the following subjects: (20 points)
1. Riding a jeepney
2. Going to church
3. Attending a party
4. Swimming on a beach
5. Watching your favorite
6. Reading your favorite novel
7. Eating your favorite dish
8. Listening to your favorite song

N.B. you may write your answer at the back. 