All writing makes use of figurative language. Yet, the language of poetry focuses specifically on discovering meaning based on the way that certain combinations of words sound, as well as the way that groups of words appear on the page. Poetic language is fundamentally figurative; figurative language is language used in a nonliteral manner, as in words or phrases that convey meaning beyond or in addition to the dictionary definition of those words. For example, the statement “The town judge is intelligent” is a direct description. However, the sentence “The town judge holds the keys to the kingdom of knowledge” offers a similar description yet with added layers of creative images and associative meaning that connects with other symbols of power (keys, kingdom); it also uses alliteration (repetition of consonants) to create rhythm and pattern .
Below are the types of figurative language and a full description of common forms of poetic language.
Apostrophe — A direct address to a person or object not literally listening; ex: “Oh, Great Mother Nature how you test our spirit…”
Allusion — Reference to a well-known object, character, or event, sometimes from another literary work.
Hyperbole — Exaggeration used for emphasis.
Imagery — Words and phrases that appeal to the senses, particularly sight.
Metaphor — A direct comparison of two seemingly dissimilar items (does not use the words like or as ).
Onomatopoeia — A word that imitates the sound of the object the word represents.
Personification — The attribution of human characteristics to nonhuman places or things.
Simile — A comparison of two seemingly dissimilar items using like or as.