Figurative Language and Sound Devices

Overview

This lecture covers the definitions and examples of figurative language and sound devices commonly used in poetry and prose to create vivid imagery and emphasize meaning.

Figurative Language

• Figurative language is using words or expressions with meanings different from their literal interpretation.
• It helps paint vivid pictures and express complex ideas creatively and effectively.

Examples of Figurative Language

• Simile compares two unlike things using "like" or "as" (e.g., "as brave as a lion").
• Metaphor directly states that one thing is another (e.g., "time is a thief").
• Hyperbole uses extreme exaggeration for emphasis (e.g., "I've told you a million times").
• Personification gives human traits to non-human things (e.g., "the wind whispered").
• Symbolism uses objects or elements to represent larger ideas or concepts (e.g., a dove symbolizes peace).

Sound Devices

• Sound devices are techniques that use the sound of words to enhance a poem or text's mood and tone.
• Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely placed words (e.g., "Peter Piper picked").
• Repetition is intentionally using the same word or phrase multiple times for emphasis.
• Onomatopoeia (noted as "automono" in the transcript) is using words that imitate natural sounds (e.g., "buzz," "crash").

Key Terms & Definitions

• Figurative Language — Language that goes beyond the literal meaning to achieve a special effect.
• Simile — A comparison using "like" or "as."
• Metaphor — A direct comparison saying one thing is another.
• Hyperbole — Exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.
• Personification — Assigning human qualities to objects, animals, or ideas.
• Symbolism — Using symbols to represent ideas or concepts.
• Alliteration — Repetition of initial consonant sounds.
• Repetition — Reusing the same word or phrase for impact.
• Onomatopoeia — Words that imitate the sounds they describe.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review and identify examples of figurative language and sound devices in assigned readings.
• Practice writing your own sentences or lines using simile, metaphor, and sound devices.

Here are some thoughtful answers to the guide questions based on the concepts of figurative language and sound devices:

1. Which figure of speech do you think best represents the Filipino culture or how Filipinos express themselves—and why?

Personification might best represent Filipino culture because Filipinos often express deep respect and emotional connection to nature, family, and traditions by attributing human qualities to them. For example, Filipinos might describe the "gentle wind" as "whispering stories of the past," showing a close relationship with their environment and heritage. This figure of speech reflects the warmth, empathy, and storytelling nature of Filipino expression.

2. Strong emotions consist of love, anger, fear, joy. Choose one to three figures of speech that you may use to express these kinds of emotions.

• Love:

  • Simile ("My love is like the endless ocean") to show the vastness and depth of love.
  • Metaphor ("You are the light of my life") to express how love illuminates and gives meaning.

• Anger:

  • Hyperbole ("I'm so angry I could burn the whole world") to emphasize the intensity of anger.
  • Personification ("Rage stormed through my veins") to give anger a powerful, human-like force.

• Joy:

  • Symbolism (e.g., a bright sun symbolizing happiness) to represent joy in a vivid way.
  • Alliteration ("Joyful jingles jump jubilantly") to create a lively, musical feeling of happiness.

3. Imagine a world where people only speak in figures of speech. What would a typical day sound like?

In a world where everyone speaks only in figures of speech, conversations would be colorful, imaginative, and poetic. Instead of saying "I'm tired," someone might say, "My energy has flown away like a bird at dawn." Greetings might sound like, "May your day bloom like a thousand flowers," and complaints could be, "The weight of the world sits heavy on my shoulders." People would communicate emotions and ideas through vivid comparisons, exaggerations, and symbolic language, making everyday speech feel like storytelling or poetry. It would be a world rich in creativity but might also require careful interpretation to understand the true meaning behind the expressions.

If you'd like, I can help you expand these answers or create examples for your notebook!