Figurative language in poetry

Literal and Figurative Language

Literal language is when we say what we mean. Like “The news van is parked outside,” or “Meeting new people makes me nervous.”

Figurative language can be anything that doesn't mean what it says literally.

Daisy and Rachel are chatting over dinner.

Daisy admits she was nervous about meeting Rachel. Rachel tells Daisy that she also has a few butterflies in her stomach.

“What an odd thing to say,” Daisy thinks.

“Did she eat some butterflies?”

Unfortunately, Daisy doesn't realise Rachel is speaking figuratively, not literally.

After dinner, Rachel offers Daisy a lift back because the weather forecast says it's going to rain cats and dogs.

Obviously, Rachel is not going to physically lift Daisy all the way home, nor does she mean pets are going to fall from the sky.

She's speaking figuratively.

“Aha, I think I've finally got the hang of figurative language,” says Daisy, “Though it literally does look like it's rained cats.”

Rachel laughs because she thinks Daisy is making a joke.

She hasn't spotted the tiger.

Now they literally have a big problem.

That tiger looks hungry.

ROAR!

To avoid a cat-astrophe, just remember:

Literal language is when we say what we mean.

Figurative language can be anything that doesn't mean what it says literally.

What's the matter, Daisy?

Cat got your tongue?

Joseph Coelho:

Writing a poem is like taking a photo with words.

When you take a photo, you find something that looks interesting, find the best angle, frame it up in the viewfinder, hold your breath and… Click.

It's the same with a poem.

You see or hear something of interest—like this statue.

You think about the best way to approach this statue, which angle to take.

Do I imagine the statue is alive?

Do I write a poem from the point of view of the sculptor?

Or a child passing by?

Or a drop of rain falling on its surface?

You frame up your angle and start making notes.

Let’s imagine the statue is alive.

What is it thinking?

How is it feeling?

What does it want to do?

Where does it want to go?

Carved out of molten rocks, it's cold to the touch, but he feels warm inside.

Every day, I sit and stare at the people passing me by.

The cold wind wants to erode me, the rain wants to rust me, children climb up on me.

I want to be left alone where the elements can't get me.

Take me away from the cold, cold, cold, wet outdoors.

Now that the statue is alive with thoughts and feelings, we can underline the bits we like:

Carved out of molten rock and cold to the touch.

Warm inside.

I sit and stare.

People pass.

The cold wind wants to erode, the rain wants to rust.

Children climb up on me.

I want to be left alone, where the elements can't get me.

Take me away from the cold, cold, cold, wet outdoors.

Some descriptive words can help make the meaning of a poem clear. Words that will help those listening to my poem know exactly what I mean.

I am carved out of molten rock, frostbitten to the touch, but toast-warm inside. I sit and stare. People pass me by. The wind is desperate to erode me, the rain excited to rust me. Children clamber up me with sticky fingers and muddy shoes. I want to be left alone where the weather can't get me. Take me away from the cold, cold, cold, wet outdoors.

Using frostbitten instead of cold gets across the idea that the statue is very, very cold to the touch—so cold you may get frostbite.

We could have used other words, like: "as cold as ice." That's a simile, because we're comparing the statue's temperature to ice. Or we could have said "snowman frosty."

Adding more detail to how the children clamber up the statue gives a sense as to why the statue might not like that. I wouldn't want anyone climbing up me with muddy shoes or sticky fingers.

Every time I write a poem, I imagine I'm taking a photo with words.

What words will best put the image that's in my head into the head of the person reading or hearing my poem?

How can I take a photo with words?