Figurative Device of Comparison

Introduction

A figurative device of comparison is a literary device used to convey meaning beyond the literal interpretation of words through comparisons between things/ideas/places/figures. Such a device involves using language in a non-literal way to create imagery, evoke emotions, and add depth to the writing. There are several types of figurative devices. For example, metaphor and similes are two important ones. They are, in fact, powerful tools that show a comparison to building an image in the minds of the readers.

Figurative Devices of Comparison

Figurative devices of comparison are literary devices. They use comparison to create clear imagery and convey deep meanings. For example, metaphor, a figurative device of comparison, makes direct comparisons between unrelated things, while simile, another device, uses “like” or “as” to draw similarities. Analogy, on the other hand, explains one thing by showing its similarity to another. Also, it extends metaphors to represent abstract ideas through narratives. Parables, however, are simple stories illustrating moral lessons. This is another type of figurative device of comparison used to add depth, emotion, and creativity to literary works. Thus, they engage readers and convey complex ideas in imaginative ways.

As far as the role of a figurative device of comparison is concerned, they play a vital role in English studies. They enrich language and enhance literary analysis. Students explore various figurative devices to understand their impact on communication. Analyzing figurative devices of comparison improves critical thinking skills. English studies benefit from the creative and expressive aspects of figurative devices.

 Here is a full list of figurative devices of comparisons with examples and functions.

Type	Short Definition	Example
Metaphor	This figurative device of comparison shows a comparison between two unrelated things, stating that one thing is another.	“Time is a thief.”
Simile	This device of comparison shows a comparison between two unrelated things using “like” or “as” to draw similarities.	“Her smile was as bright as the sun.”
Analogy	This device of comparison shows a comparison between two things or situations to explain one by showing their similarity.	“Understanding this concept is like solving a complex puzzle.”
Allegory	This figurative device of comparison is an extended metaphor that represents abstract ideas or moral principles through a narrative.	“Animal Farm” by George Orwell, where animals represent different social and political groups.
Parable	This device of comparison is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.	“The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”
Metonymy	This figurative device of comparison is a figure of speech where a word or phrase is substituted with something closely associated with it.	“The White House issued a statement” (referring to the U.S. government).
Synecdoche	This device shows a part of something is used to represent the whole or vice versa.	“All hands on deck” (referring to all crew members on a ship).
Conceit	This figurative device is an extended and elaborate metaphor that draws a clever and surprising comparison between two dissimilar things.	“Love is an ever-fixed mark” (from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116).
Homeric Simile	This device of comparison  is an extended and elaborate simile often found in epic poetry, like those in Homer’s “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.”	–
Anthropomorphism	This figurative device of comparison means attributing human characteristics to animals or non-human entities.	“The trees whispered secrets to one another.”
Zoomorphism	This device of comparison means attributing animal characteristics to humans or inanimate objects.	“The fierce determination of a lion.”
Personification	This figurative device of comparison means attributing human qualities to non-human entities.	“The stars danced in the sky.”

Figurative Devices and Comparison

1. Metaphor: This figurative device of comparison shows direct comparison.
2. Simile: This device of comparison also directly compares two unrelated things using “like” or “as” to draw similarities.
3. Analogy: This device shows two things or situations to explain one by showing how they are similar.
4. Allegory: This figurative device of comparison represents abstract ideas or moral principles or it is an extended comparison.
5. Parable: This device shows a narrative comparison.
6. Metonymy: This figurative device of comparison substitutes a word or phrase with something closely associated with it, showing associative comparison.
7. Synecdoche: This device shows a whole-part comparison.
8. Conceit: This figurative device of comparison draws a clever and surprising comparison that is an elaborate one.
9. Homeric Simile: This device presents an extended and elaborate simile comparison.
10. Anthropomorphism: This figurative device of comparison shows humanization comparison.
11. Zoomorphism: This device shows animalization comparison.
12. Personification: This figurative device of comparison also shows humanization Comparison but with non-human entities.

Figurative Language and Figurative Devices

	Figurative Devices	Figurative Language	Common Points
Definition	Figurative devices are specific literary devices used to create vivid imagery, convey complex ideas, and add emotional depth to writing.	Broader concept encompassing various linguistic tools to convey meaning beyond the literal interpretation.	Both involve the use of non-literal or non-straightforward language.
Examples	Metaphor, simile, personification, allegory, etc.	Metaphor, simile, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, repetition, etc.	Both aim to create vivid imagery and make the writing more engaging.
Purpose	Figurative devices make comparisons, evoke emotions, and add layers of meaning.	To add depth, complexity, and creativity to writing.	Both enhance the quality of the writing.
Application	Used at specific instances in the text.	Found throughout the entire text.	Both showcase the writer’s creativity and artistic expression.
Function	Figurative devices create powerful imagery, establish thematic connections, and engage the reader’s imagination.	Enhance the reader’s experience, evoke emotions, and encourage critical thinking.	Both make the literature more expressive and memorable.

Suggested Readings

1. Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Wadsworth Publishing, 2004.
2. Baldick, Chris. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Oxford University Press, 2004.
3. Cuddon, J. A. The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory. Penguin Books, 2013.
4. Kennedy, X. J., and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Pearson, 2019.
5. Lanham, Richard A. A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms. University of California Press, 1991.
6. Leech, Geoffrey N., and Jan Svartvik. A Communicative Grammar of English. Routledge, 2002.
7. Meyer, Michael. The Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2019.
8. Perrine, Laurence, and Thomas R. Arp. Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry. Harcourt Brace, 2001.
9. Roberts, Edgar V., and Henry E. Jacobs. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Pearson, 2019.