Figurative language is what an author uses to express themselves and their ideas openly and creatively, yet in such a subtle way that the reader may not even recognize the use of figurative language as a building point for those ideas. There are, in fact, so many types of figurative language that one could go on for days at a time in an attempt to explain them all. It is because of that reason that this essay does not contain all aspects figurative language, lest you wish this essay to be miles long. Though the feats of figurative language are great, there are a few certain types that are often used to express themes, and among those are the use of similes, personification, and metaphors.
Metaphors are perhaps one of the more intriguing forms of figurative language used in literary writings. They require a reader to look deeper into a poem, and in that senses discover a deeper meaning and acquire a greater sense of perspective. A reader might not notice these interpretations of a poem at first glance, and sometimes, no one will ever learn the true meaning of a poem, save the poet. Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is an amazing metaphor about life. He uses an experience one might have, such as coming to a fork in the road while hiking through the woods, and uses it to portray a greater picture which is that of decision making, and where one ends up because of them. “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” Frost wrote this, some believe, as if he had taken the “less traveled” road, or had not followed the crowd, eventually shaping his life until it was the way was. One may read remarks such as these for the essence of the thought rather than for literal meaning. One may interpret an unspoken, and yet feel an implied meaning.
Similes are similar to metaphors, however, one is usually able to notice them instantly when read, for they always are comparing two things using only the simple words “like” or “as”. Similes often clarify...