Figurative language is when you use words or a phrase that do not have a regular, everyday literal meaning and is used by almost all authors in their writings. Authors use figurative language to make their works more interesting and more dramatic. Examples of figurative language include metaphors, similes, personification and hyperbole. Helena Maria Viramontes uses figurative language all throughout her novel Under the Feet of Jesus. In the opening paragraphs of the novel Viramontes uses imagery to set the scene for her readers, she really makes us feel as if we are riding along in the station wagon with Estrella and her 6 other family members. In this scene she describes to her readers reflects on the hardships that this family, and people …show more content…
Imagery is very prominently used in Under the Feet of Jesus. One part where imagery is used is when Estrella describes her experience with school. On page 24, the scene of Estrella in school is describe and we are given insight on how she was treated at school. They scrubbed her fingernails until they were so sore she couldn’t hold a pencil, they inspected her head for lice by separating her hair with ice cream sticks. Her and all the other migrant children were placed in the back of the class (Viramontes 24). This imagery in this passage allowed me to put myself in Estrella’s shoes and how she felt in school. Appearance was more cared about by Estrella’s teachers than education. One of Estrella’s teachers constantly told her she was dirty and would wipe her face with a wet towel every morning and using imagery once again, we learn how “Estrella realized that words could become as excruciating as rusted nails piercing the heels of her brave feet” (Viramontes 25). The use of these words allow me to perfectly imagine how Estrella felt. Imagery can be seen in the scene of Estrella remembering her real father. She describes the peach trees that surrounded them. She said they “hung like ornament above their heads.” She describes to us how her father peels the orange from stem to navel in one big spiral without breaking it (Viramontes
The author of Red Umbrella and the author of A Band-Aid For 800 Children both use figurative language, such as in Red Umbrella the use a hyperbole ‘’My head spun. Leave Cuba? Tomorrow?’’ this shows that Lucy is confused or overwhelmed about having to leave her parents. As well in A Band-Aid For 800 Children the author used a metaphor ‘’Every child is also a job” to show that Sandigo has a task that that she
In this short, but charming story, Amy Tan uses imagery to bring the story to life. With figurative language, the reader is immersed into the Chinese culture and can better relate to the characters. Tan main use of imagery is to better explain each character. Often instead of a simple explanation, Tan uses metaphors, similes, or hyperboles to describe the person, this way they are more relatable and their feelings better understood.
In the United States, the hierarchical system that dominates the social landscape has created a pool of power for those who sit at the top of the social ladder. This system has power trickling down from the top to those at the bottom: those who work hard and get recognized the least. This creates a conflict between the oppressed and the oppressor, and eventually those who are oppressed use those drops of power to fight for their basic human rights. In an excerpt from Gloria Anzaldúa’s book Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza, Anzaldúa explains the complications of oppressed people developing counterstances with their oppressors. In Helena Maria Viramontes novel Under the Feet of Jesus, Viramontes develops a female character named Estrella
Tripod Inc. "Figurative Language, Symbols, Themes." Figurative Language, Symbols, Themes. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. .
Imagery is one of the components that were used by Edwards to make his story more persuasive. As the short story begins, the first sentence was an example of imagery. Edwards wrote when men are on Gods hands and they could fall to hell. natural men are held in the hands of God, over the pit of hell Knowing that you might fall into hell at any moment should scare you. God decided to save you until he wants to let you fall into an eternity of burning flames. Another example of imagery is when he talks abo...
Imagery is when the author presents a mental image through descriptive words. One prime example of imagery that the author uses is in paragraph 3; where she tells of a moment between a man and a woman. In this narration she states the time, year, outfit of each character described, and what the female character was doing. These details might come across as irrelevant, or unnecessary, but this is Didions way of showing what the blueprint of notebook it. Using imagery reinforces the foundation of the essay, and what the essay’s mission was.
Symbolism, something that figuratively represents something else, is prominent in many literary works. One piece of literature that stands out as a perfect example of symbolism is Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown." This story is completely symbolic, and provides a good example of an allegory, or a story in which concrete items or characters represent abstract ideas. Hawthorne uses both objects and people as symbols to better support the allegorical tones throughout "Young Goodman Brown."
In the book Metaphors We Live By, authors George Lakoff and Mark Johnson address the traditional philosophic view denouncing metaphor's influence on our world and our selves (ix). Using linguistic and sociological evidence, Lakoff and Johnson claim that figurative language performs essential functions beyond those found in poetry, cliché, and elaborate turns of phrase. Metaphor permeates our daily experiences - not only through systems of language, but also in terms of the way we think and act. The key to understanding a metaphor's effect on behavior, relationships, and how we make sense of our environment, can be found in the way humans use metaphorical language. To appreciate the affects of figurative language over even the most mundane details of our daily activity, it is necessary to define the term, "metaphor" and explain its role in defining the thoughts and actions that structure our conceptual system.
In the excerpt from the novel Under the Feet of Jesus by Helena Viramontes, the story of a girl named Estrella is described. Throughout the story, Estrella learns a valuable lesson from a box of tools. Viramontes’s use of the literary elements such as selection of detail, figurative language, and tone are implicated to display the development of Estrella’s character. Estrella, a very timid girl at first, eventually becomes confident and capable of succeeding in school after she learns a lesson from a box of tools.
Imagery is used by many authors as a crucial element of character development. These authors draw parallels between the imagery in their stories and the main characters' thoughts and feelings. Through intense imagery, non-human elements such as the natural environment, animals, and inanimate objects are brought to life with characteristics that match those of the characters involved.
A Good Man is Hard to Find and Revelation, both have incredible usage of imagery and describes the characters very well. For example, in A Good Man is Hard to Find Flannery writes “ the grandmother had on a navy blue straw sailor at with a bunch of print. Her collars and cuffs were white organdy trimmed with lace and at her neckline she had pinned purple spray of cloth violets containing a sachet. In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady” (O'Connor, 421). This excerpt from the book shows just how important painting a picture of the characters are to O'Connor. The story also uses a great use of imagery when it states, “ Stone Mountain: the blue granite that in some place came up to both sides of the highway; the brilliant red clay banks slightly streaked with purple; and the various crops that made rows of green lace-work on the ground. The trees were full of silver-white sunlight and the meanest of them sparkled” (O'Connor, 421) to describe what the grand...
Imagery is the use of symbols to convey an idea or to create a specific atmosphere for the audience. Shakespeare uses imagery in Macbeth often, the most prevalent one, is blood. I believe he uses this as a way to convey guilt, murder, betrayal, treachery and evil, and to symbolize forewarning of events.
Metaphor is a literary device which is often used in poems to give us a better understanding of how the author is feeling. Metaphor is a figure of speech which is often given to a object or action that cannot literally be done. When Maya Angelou says “ You may cut me with your eyes” this was a example of a type of metaphor because you cannot literally cut someone with your eyes. She is using this device
Symbolism is when an author uses a symbol or an object to relate it to another meaning other than its literal meaning. It is normally used
Philosophers tend to think literal speech is the default; however, common speech is littered with metaphors and other figurative elements. Within metaphors, the two things often differ categorically, yet the sentence is not only intelligible it may even be illuminating and express an important truth. But how do we understand metaphorical meaning as readily as we do?