Title: Figurative Language in Poetry | Writing Forward
Headings: Figurative Language in Poetry Writing
Figurative Language in Poetry Writing
Figurative Language
Literary Devices That Embody Figurative Language
Using Figurative Language in Poetry
Questions and Discussion

Content: We can often express an idea in a single sentence using figurative language, but it would take a full paragraph to communicate that same idea in literal terms. We often use figurative language in imagery (sensory details), making our language more sensuous and visceral. Figurative language engages our emotions. “ He’s very old” simply doesn’t inspire the same emotional response as “He’s as old as the hills.” Figurative language allows us stronger or more intense expressions; this is commonly seen in the use of vulgarity, which is often used figuratively and to add intensity to an expression. Literary Devices That Embody Figurative Language
Many literary devices, which are common in poetry, employ figurative language. Here are a few examples: Metaphor: presenting one thing as something else, usually for demonstrative purposes: