Title: What is the difference between literal language & figurative language, and why is poetry often figurative? - eNotes.com
Headings: What is the difference between literal language & figurative language, and why is poetry often figurative?
Poetry
What is the difference between literal language & figurative language, and why is poetry often figurative?
Expert Answers
We’ll help your grades soar

Content: In a literal sense, it would mean that the ground covering one area consistently seems to have a better color or hue than the other. Figuratively, it means that other lives or situations always seem better than your own. The use of figurative language in poetry is to convey meanings beyond the ordinary. Poets tend to use figures of speech such as similes, metaphors, personification, and others, to indicate a sentiment or mood and to enhance their writing. The purpose is to provide a better sense of the writer's intention and to convey this to the reader. By using figurative language, the poet can create emphasis and provide common words with symbolic meanings. The technique essentially compels the reader to infer the writer's purpose. Also, the use of figurative language adds color and a deeper dimension to the poet's writing and enhances the enjoyment of his or her work. Approved by eNotes Editorial Team
Isabell Schimmel
Educator since 2012
35,401 answers
| Certified Educator
Page Citation
Share Link
Literal language means exactly what it says. If some word is written, it means exactly that.