Figurative Language

Creative Writing
Figurative languages

Introduction

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work
of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government
agency or office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for the exploitation of
such work for a profit. Such agency or office may, among other things, impose as a
condition the payment of royalties. Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems,
pictures, photos, brand names, trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by
their respective copyright holders. Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek
permission to use these materials from their respective copyright owners. The publisher
and authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.

Learning Outcomes

One of the traits of creative writing is word choice. Creative writers and/or literary
artists take special care in choosing what words to use in their works or pieces that
would best reinforce its theme or subject. Just by reading a work of creative working,
you can already distinguish it from other forms of writing because of the special style in
language authors, poets and playwrights use. This is largely because of the presence of
figures of speech. This module is made for you to understand some of the most
common figures of speech and it provides you with a world view of subjects, topics, and
content that adds to your knowledge. In this module, you are expected to:

 Identify the different kinds of figurative language; and

 Be able to use it in a sentence. HUMSS_CW/MP11/12-Iab-3

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Lesson 1
Creative writing is identified with literature because it uses language to elevate
what is common into a special reading experience. It uses a unique style of writing to
convey meaning through a unique use of words. In either prose or poetry, these words
are arranged in an artistic way to create images in the mind of the reader or to highlight
a detail through description. Though common in literary pieces, figures of speech –
specifically metaphors, are required in a poem. On the other hand, works that deal with
historical events such autobiographies and creative nonfiction would least likely use it. A
figure of speech is a deviation from the ordinary use of words in order to increase their
effectiveness. Basically, it may consist of a single word or phrase. We have now defined
figures of speech as an element of creative writing. There are hundreds of figures of
speech, the succeeding section identifies some of the most common with examples for
easy recognition.

What’s In?
Direction: Below is a poem Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare. Read it and identify
which line used figurative languages.

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Simile:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Metaphor:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Personification:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Hyperbole:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

What Is It
Figurative language refers to the use of words in a way that deviates from the
conventional order and meaning in order to convey a complicated meaning, colorful
writing, clarity, or evocative comparison. It uses an ordinary sentence to refer to
something without directly stating it.

There are hundreds of types of figures of speech/ Figurative languages. Here are
some of the most common ones.

1. Simile. In simile two unlike things are explicitly compared. For example,
“Mary is like a fairy”. A simile is introduced by words such as like, so, as etc.
Example: “Me and my brother fight like dog and cat.”
2. Metaphor. It is an informal or implied simile in which words like, as, so are
omitted. For example, “He is like a lion (Simile) “and “He is a lion (metaphor)”.
Example: “Though adopted, their daughter proved to be the star of their
family.”
3. Personification. In personification, human-like attributes are used to
describe inanimate objects or abstract notions.

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Example: “The sun smiles at me.”

4. Synecdoche. Synecdoche is a in which a part of something is used to signify
the whole, or vice-versa.
Example: “I have the Viceroy, love the man.”, and “All hands (crew) at work.”

5. Hyperbole. A hyperbole is a figurative language that uses exaggeration to

emphasize comparison in a sentence.

Example: “That plane ride took forever.”

6. Oxymoron. It is a figurative language which combines two opposing or

incongruous words in one phrase/sentence for emphasis.

An example of this is “wise fool” or “deafening silence.”

7. Onomatopoeia. This figurative language uses sounds from nature or the

environment, usually animal sounds, as regular words in a sentence.

Examples: “The pigs oink as they flop in the mud.”

8. Alliteration. The repetition of the same letter or syllable at the beginning of

two or more words is called alliteration.

Assessment:

A. Directions: Identify what figurative language used in the sentences.

1. My trip to Bali was very much a working holiday.
2. I’ve told you a million times not to do it!
3. She sang like Sha Sha the super star.
4. The school approved for the face-to-face classes next school year.
5. The angry clouds marched across the sky.
6. The Tick Tack of the clock breaks the silence.
7. The bees buzz on the flowers.
8. You could have knocked me over with a feather.
9. She is the thorns of the roses.
10. You are like the black sheep in our family.

B. Give two (2) examples for each figurative languages we discussed.

Enrichment Activities

A. Make a free verse poem using the figurative languages. Put it in a short-sized
bond paper

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B. Form a group of four. Each group will be assigned for two (2) figurative language
that each leader picked. And the leader will be picked a task. Each task should
use each figurative language that the group assigned.

Tasks:
 Compose a rap.
 Make a poem. (2 stanzas with 4 lines)
 Create an advertisement.
 Make a short dialogue.

Criteria Fair Satisfactory Very Satisfactory Excellent

(17) (18) (19) (20)

Content
Presentation
Creativity
Originality
Timeliness

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Resources:
https://znnhs.zdnorte.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ENG11-12CW_Q3_M2.pdf

Module: A Journey through Anglo-American Literature, First Edition, 2014, pp. 312.
Book: Hernandez, Clarissa R. et. al. MSA Comprehensive English Handbook, 2007,
MSA Publishing House, pp. 241-243,
https://www.google.com.ph/search?
q=figures+of+speech+pdf&biw=1024&bih=677&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0a
hUKEwiOuLPui-jKAhUk6aYKHXpmA6cQ_AUIBygC

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