Figurative Language (For the Aspiring Poets group)

This is a contest around figuartive language.


One way to create beauty in a poem is to use figurative language, rather than literal or rheteroical language. Pictures can show the intensity of thought you want in the poem, and with which way the reader should read. Otherwise, it might be hard to discern true intention and interpretation of a poem. Pictures contain not only ideas, but also help the reader connect with the poem through their senses, and experience.

To write figuratively, the poem must be created in your head first, not on paper. You want the reader to actually envision your poem, not just read it.

Some examples of figurative language are metaphor and simile, which can be simple to create a visual effect. Ie "The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold" (Byron, "Destruction of Sennacherib"). This not only creates a visual effect, but all the characteristics of wolves are instantly applied to the Assyrians. You could have taken a whole entire poem to describe Assyrians- this does it in one phrase, and is much more effective- because now you can go beyond this one idea, and write more.

Another way to bring out the force of an image is to give it human qualities (Personifcation). For example, mischevious revenge.

An excellent example in figurative language is Robert Frost's "Stopping by the Woods." This can be read as literal, but as you read it as literal, you experience the deepest emotions you could ever feel? Why? Because it is also a figurative poem. He describes the beauty of the outside world, in order that we can feel it's deep symbolic meaning. We experience this every day of our lives, but we do not call what we experience as figurative. When we are young we think everyone experiences the world as we ourselves do, but as we grow older, we realize they don't. It is this unique interpretation that we place on the outside world that turns the outside object into a figurative object. Of course in poetry we want figurative language that is universal- that can touch all hearts. The cross is a figure that does this- so is the heart. We can bring the world into sharper focus by writing about our experience figuratively in poetry, and it can have vast implications. We can bring a greater transcendence to the way people experience life with well written poetry. Our experience of the physical world is our arena. Our interpretation of the physical world, or each object of the physical world through our experience is what turns the physcial world into figurative language. Do you see how much more powerful this in not just writing poetry, but also in connecting to our own feelings. Most of us write about our feelings. But the trick is to now visualize those feelings.

So, next time you write a poem, instead of just reducing it to your feelings, bring it alive with the outside objects you interacted with to make you feel those things, or convey those feelings in a universally recognized image- use figurative language to add impact - one element in the beauty of a poem.


Write whatever this discussion has inspired you to write.