Figurative Language Essay Example

As someone who grew up struggling to comprehend figurative language, and infrequently finds myself to do so, reading can occasionally be a task for me. Not the reading alone, but understanding the writing itself. I tend to take things too literally, especially when I was a young child. The idiom “it’s raining cats and dogs,” for example, left me believing it was truly raining cats and dogs outside. Undoubtedly now I know better as an adult, however, that made reading difficult for me then.

One particular story that comes to mind would be one that I had read in the fourth grade titled, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” For clarification, the one I had read was more kid-friendly than the original piece by Hans Christian Andersen. This story was what caused me to realize the difference between the actual meaning and the figurative one, but not initially. There was a difference that my peers understood, but I didn't thoroughly grasp it. Even after I had asked my teacher to explain it, I still couldn’t wrap my head around it, so I decided to ask my friend for assistance instead. He had told me the words didn’t always mean what was said literally, and that it carried a different meaning when written in a specific way. To this day, I’m not absolutely certain why his explanation made more sense to me than my own teachers, but I think fondly of it. That interaction sparked my interest in figurative language and writing as a whole, and it also made me feel more comfortable when I needed to seek help.

Whenever I happen upon any type of figurative language, like a simile or an oxymoron, I recall what my friend said that day. Looking back now, it’s absurd to think about. Nearly eight years ago now, a friend explained figurative language to me, and I still hold onto that interaction today. Regardless of that, it’s what helped me understand nearly everything I’ve read up until this point. Figurative language spices up writing, providing it “life.” Writing wouldn’t be the same if everything was so literal. Without figurative language, there wouldn’t be stories like Winnie the Pooh or Dr. Suess. I’m content that I understand now, and can enjoy reading a good book without wondering what the author truly meant.