Literal &

Figurative
Language
Submitted by:

M Abdullah Kamran (L1S09BBAM0028)

Irfan Javed (L1F09BBAM2223)
Aun M Shirazi (L1F09BBAM2209)

Submitted to:

Prof. Jahanzaib Tahir

Dated: Nov 16,09.
Literal language refers to words that do not deviate from their defined
meaning. Literal language says what it means directly without any
euphemisms or figurative language, so an example would be to say "The dog
died" instead of "The dog went to the big farm in the sky." While, a type of
language that varies from the norms of literal language is called figurative
language, in which words mean exactly what they say. Also known as the
“ornaments of language”, figurative language does not mean exactly what it
says, but instead forces the reader to make an imaginative leap in order to
comprehend an author’s point. It usually involves a comparison between two
things that may not, at first, seem to relate to one another. In a simile, for
example, an author may compare a person to an animal; “He ran like a hare
down the street” is the figurative way to describe the man running and ‘He
ran very quickly down the street” is the literal way to describe him.
Figurative language facilitates understanding because it relates something
familiar to something unfamiliar. Figuratively speaking means when you say
something metaphorically. Some popular examples of figurative language
include a simile and metaphor.

Examples of Figurative Language:

A woman is admired for her strength and beauty, like a silken tent.
The planting of seed in the garden, in springtime is like making love.
The passive but ever-changing shore and the persistent energetic ocean are
like a devoted couple.
The stages of love are like stepping stones to death.
A view of a geode crystal is like the mind probing the universe.
He worships the ground she walks on.
My belly is screaming for food.
You just had a burst of brilliance.
School is a prison every student must attend.
The stages of love are like stepping stones to death.
The dog went to the big farm in the sky.
He ran like a hare down the street.

Examples of Literal Language:

He loves her.
I am hungry.
You have a good idea.
The dog died.
It is raining very hard.
She loved him deeply.
He is eating fast.
That was a narrow passage.
He owns a computer.
She did make-up.