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READING WORKSHOP

As you may have read in Chapter 2, figurative language refers to nonliteral uses of language, such as when your teachers say they have told your class to pay attention “a million times.” They probably have not really said so one million times but are using figurative language (hyperbole, in this case) to communicate just how frustrated they are.

Some of the most common figures of speech are:

Figurative language is one tool among many that writers use to convey their ideas—some writers employ figurative language regularly; others rarely do. In your study of literature, or on standardized tests, you sometimes will be asked to identify examples of figurative language. That’s an essential place to start, but you can’t stop there. Analyzing figurative language is not a treasure hunt to find as many literary devices as possible, nor is it a contest to see how many fancy terms you can memorize. It is much more important to be able to describe how an author uses figurative language to create meaning, to add emotion, to give a piece power. Analyzing figurative language is about effect.

In this Workshop, you will begin by identifying examples of figurative language from texts in this chapter. You will then have an opportunity to practice creating your own figures of speech before looking at how the choices of figurative language affect meaning in this chapter’s Central Text, Macbeth. Finally, you will apply this knowledge to an analysis of another piece from the chapter.