Preview

Literal Meaning: Definition and Examples

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2844 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Literal Meaning: Definition and Examples
Literal meaning means straightforward or factual which is the dictionary meaning of a word. Hence, it refers to words that do not deviate from the defined meaning. Therefore, it maintains a consistent meaning of the word regardless of the context of the words used in a sentence. Figurative use of language is the use of words or phrases in a manner where the literal meaning of the words is not true or does not make sense. Figurative meaning is far more interesting when it is used in a sentence. It encourages us to use our imaginations. There are different ways to use figurative language in our daily life such as simile, personification, alliteration, paradox and etc.

Niklaus runs like a duck. (it’s a simile, as Niklaus is explicitly compared to a duck with the use of the words “like” or “as”)
Love is a ruthless game (it’s a metaphor, as one thing is compared to another without the use of the words “like” and “as”)
What is the meaning? It is up to the person of reads the sentence to interpret. That love has its winners and losers? Or it has rules to be followed? Again it is up to your judgement.
The literal language, it would be “is awkward and he waddles when he runs”

Literal meaning does not need interpretation while figurative meaning requires the reader to interpret the meaning of the sentence
Literal meaning means straightforward or factual which is the dictionary meaning of a word. Hence, it refers to words that do not deviate from the defined meaning. Therefore, it maintains a consistent meaning of the word regardless of the context of the words used in a sentence. Figurative use of language is the use of words or phrases in a manner where the literal meaning of the words is not true or does not make sense. Figurative meaning is far more interesting when it is used in a sentence. It encourages us to use our imaginations. There are different ways to use figurative language in our daily life such as simile, personification, alliteration, paradox and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Two-track Mind

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A metaphor is the use of something familiar to understand something less familiar. For instance, if a news report says "unemployment went down this month," the familiar feeling of "going down" helps everyone to understand that the number of people looking for work has reduced.…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I walked outside and it was hot vs. I took a leap outside into the sun that blazed down on me it felt like I was wearing millions of winter coats. Which one help you visualize which is happening better? The book I'm reading which is "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld used a lot of figurative language throughout this story. For an example on page 238 it states, "it just felt flat, like a song she'd heard to many time." By using a simile it helped me understand what she meant by flat. If that simile wasn't there I could of though it meant deflated or flat like a pancake. To add on, using figurative language makes the book more clear and it allows the book to continue with a flow. As you can see, the book I chose to read "Uglies" contains figurative…

    • 156 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    First type of figurative language, “Yellow shoes the color of a pat of butter” (40). is a metaphor that stuck out the most to me. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Eddie thinks that a guys shoes are the color of butter. He points this out in the story because he says “Mr. yellow shoes seemed like a dude who could ice someone, stick a knife into a chest and step back quickly…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Symbolic symbolism means the practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships.…

    • 267 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbols are used throughout literature to further explain a major theme. For instance, Ernest Hemingway uses many symbols in “Hills Like White Elephants”. In Hemingway’s short story, the main characters are a man referred to as “the American,” and a women referred to as just “the girl” and sometimes the nickname jig, both the American and the girl are discussing something important but as the readers we do not know exactly what the two characters are communicating about. The symbols used in the short story, such as the landscape, white elephants, the train, and the beaded curtain, gives the readers an…

    • 156 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    assignment 2.04A

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages

    4. Figurative language is language that cannot be taken literally since it was written to produce a certain effect. Edwards makes effective use of figurative language as he speaks of God' s wrath. Find three examples of his use of figurative language and explain why they are effective.…

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    2.04A Edwards

    • 691 Words
    • 2 Pages

    4. Figurative language is language that cannot be taken literally since it was written to produce a certain effect. Edwards makes effective use of figurative language as he speaks of God’s wrath. Find three examples of his use of figurative language and explain why they are effective.…

    • 691 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Allusions In Frankenstein

    • 658 Words
    • 3 Pages

    6. Figurative Language- Uses words in some way other than for their literal meanings to make a comparison, add emphasis, or say something in a fresh and creative way. (Ex: “King of kings”- Ozymandias)…

    • 658 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    ancient mayan essay

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages

    for example in the story "Dream from my father" on page 69 paragraph 1, are talking about figurative…

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Symbolism is a figure of speech that is used when an author wants to create a certain emotion in his literal work. It usually is an object, person, and situation to refer a bigger picture and idea other than just an object.…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Two-track Mind

    • 404 Words
    • 2 Pages

    A metaphor is the use of something familiar to understand something less familiar. For instance, if a news report says "unemployment went down this month," the familiar feeling of "going down" helps everyone to understand that the number of people looking for work has reduced.…

    • 404 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Metaphors Of A Counselor

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A metaphor is a tool that allows individuals to relate a feeling, concept, or thought to a concrete illustration that could be understood by most listeners. According to Burns (2007) a metaphor is a form of language or communication that is creative, expressive, powerful, and at times challenging. Metaphors are a common aspect of our spoken language and are used often every day. By employing metaphors in every day conversations, it allows individuals to add imagery, emotion, and spice to stories and conversations. As humans, we are drawn to stories, as evident by our love of film, and metaphors add to stories (Burns, 2007).…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gospel of Mark

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The best and most discernible example of use of metaphor is in chapter 4 of the Gospel According to Mark. As Jesus Christ teaches by the sea side to a vast number of people, he taught them in parables with common usage of metaphors. When Jesus says "Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side…But when the sun was up, it was scorched…and it withered away", he later explains to the confused people that the sower is sowing the message of God, but when they hear it, Satan will come and take away the message that lies in their hearts. By usage of metaphors, Jesus is teaching the people about the message of god, by using a sower and his seeds as an example. This is one of the best examples of figurative language in the Gospel According to Mark. Later, when Jesus continues on and says "is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not to be set on a candlestick?", he is speaking of the message of god and how it should be told and spread among the people, instead of being kept to themselves and hidden away. Lastly, when Jesus says "Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison shall we compare it," his usage of figurative language as a simile by saying in response "it is like a grain of mustard seed, which when sown in the earth…it growth up, and becometh greater that all herbs…" proves to be another instance of the apparent usage of figurative language in the Gospel According to Mark.…

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    poetry device

    • 470 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Metaphor - A comparison between two objects with the intent of giving clearer meaning to one of them. Often forms of the "to be" verb are used, such as "is" or "was", to make the comparison.…

    • 470 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Metaphor- When you use a metaphor, you make a statement that doesn’t make sense literally, like “time is a thief.” It only makes sense when the similarities between the two things become apparent or someone understands the connection.…

    • 1584 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays