What Is Figurative Language?
Clear examples, simple explanations, and practice questions.
Tip: Teachers and students can copy any section into MS Word to edit, print out, and use in lessons or at home.
Browse more free GCSE English lessons
What Is Figurative Language?
Figurative language is when writers use words in non-literal ways.
Instead of meaning exactly what the words say, the language creates deeper ideas, pictures, or feelings.
Figurative language helps make writing more vivid and meaningful.
This page explains what figurative language means and how to write about it in exams.
- Figurative language uses imaginative meanings rather than literal meanings.
- Writers use techniques such as similes or metaphors.
- It helps create imagery, emotion, and deeper meaning.
1) What does “figurative language” mean?
Figurative language is language that is not meant to be understood literally.
The writer uses comparisons, descriptions, or imaginative ideas to create meaning.
In short, figurative language says something in a creative way to help the reader imagine or understand it more clearly.
2) What does “literal” mean?
Literal means the exact and direct meaning of words.
“The classroom was noisy” is literal.
Figurative language is different because the words are used imaginatively.
For example, “the classroom was a zoo” does not literally mean animals are inside the classroom, so it is figurative.
3) How do these ideas work together?
Writers often combine literal description with figurative language.
Figurative language adds extra meaning, emotion, or imagery to a description.
This means the language shapes both meaning and reader interpretation.
4) A simple example
“The sun smiled down on the playground.”
This uses figurative language because the sun cannot literally smile.
“The sun shining” would be literal because the sun can shine.
“The sun smiled” is figurative.
The figurative language “smiled” helps describe the sun as bright and warm.
5) How figurative language can appear in texts
Figurative language can appear in several ways.
- through similes (“as cold as ice”)
- through metaphors (“the air smelled of danger”)
- through exaggeration (“I’ve told you a million times”)
Writers use different figurative techniques to shape meaning and mood.
6) How writers use figurative language
Writers use figurative language to:
- create vivid imagery
- develop mood or atmosphere
- express emotions or ideas more clearly
- make descriptions more memorable
Figurative language helps bring writing to life for the reader.
7) What to look for
When analysing figurative language, look for:
- language that is not meant literally
- the ideas or emotions created
- how the figurative language shapes meaning
Ask: what deeper idea or feeling does this language create?
8) Why figurative language matters
Figurative language matters because it helps the reader understand ideas in more vivid and memorable ways.
It can influence:
- the mood or atmosphere
- the emotional impact of the writing
- how characters or settings are understood
- how meaning is interpreted
Figurative language creates stronger and more imaginative reader responses.
9) A useful comparison
| Type of language | What it does | Effect on the reader |
|---|---|---|
| Literal language | Means exactly what it says | Clear understanding |
| Figurative language | Creates imaginative meaning | Stronger imagery and emotion |
Different types of language create different effects for the reader.
10) A common mistake to avoid
A common mistake is to only identify the figurative language.
For higher marks, you should also:
- use a short quotation
- explain why it is figurative
- explain how this shapes meaning
- explain the effect on the reader
11) In one sentence
Figurative language is not literal, it uses imaginative language to create deeper ideas, imagery, and emotion.
12) How to write about figurative language
1. Identify the figurative language and use a short quotation from the text (evidence).
2. Explain why it is figurative.
3. Explain how this shapes meaning.
4. Explain the effect on the reader.
13) An example of how to structure an answer
Example answer structure.
The writer presents the figurative language ____ . This is figurative because ____. This shapes meaning ____. This makes the reader think or feel ____.
How the steps in section 12 match the example answer structure:
1. Identify the figurative language and use a short quotation from the text (evidence).→ The writer presents the figurative language ____
2. Explain why it is figurative. → This is figurative because ____.
3. Explain how this shapes meaning. → This shapes meaning ____
4. Explain the effect on the reader. → This makes the reader think or feel ____
Question: How does the writer use figurative language in the following extract?
The playground was a furnace in the midday heat.
Both example answers below are correct and follow the example answer structure above.
In Example 1 below, the example answer structure words are bold so you can see them more clearly.
Example simple answer 1:
The writer presents the figurative language “playground was a furnace”. This is figurative because it says the playground is a furnace. This shapes meaning by showing the heat is intense. This makes the reader feel uncomfortable.
Example developed answer 2:
The writer presents the figurative language “the playground was a furnace”. This is figurative because the playground is not literally a furnace, but it is compared to one to emphasise the extreme heat. This shapes meaning by showing that the playground feels unbearably hot and uncomfortable in the midday sun. This makes the reader feel the intensity of the heat and imagine how exhausting and unpleasant the conditions are.
Practice task: Try questions 14 and 15 yourself
14) How does the writer use figurative language in the following extract?
The playground was a freezer in the icy winter wind.
15) How does the writer use figurative language in the following extract?
The classroom was a volcano of noise as loud voices boomed around the room while books and papers flew across the desks like birds in a storm.
This page is designed as a guide for students studying GCSE English (England), National 5 (Scotland), and equivalent qualifications internationally. It may be used in classrooms or for independent revision.