Topic Eight (1.8): Analysing Language – Metaphorical Devices

Introduction Icon.png Introduction

This topic is concerned with metaphorical language. (This is also sometimes referred to as ‘figurative language’ but this phrase refers to other devices too, such as phonological devices, which we will consider separately in the next topic.) Again, some of this terminology will be familiar to you from (I)GCSE, but you should begin building on this and be prepared to go into greater detail in your responses at AS and A Level.

You should have the glossary from Mastering English Literature to hand as you study this topic and make a note of any additional terms as they come up in your reading. You will also find the list of Useful Terminology for Analysing Prose Texts from Topic 1.1 provides a helpful checklist.

Glossary Icon.png Terminology

From (I)GCSE you are likely to know the following terms:

  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Personification
  • Pathetic Fallacy
  • Symbol
  • Imagery
  • Oxymoron
  • Connotation

Some possible new terms at AS and A Level include:

  • Euphemism
  • Anthropomorphism
  • Zoomorphism
  • Hypostatization
  • Metonymy
  • Synecdoche
  • Motif

N.B. This is not an exhaustive list, but it gives you some sense of terminology which you may encounter as you read around your texts.

Skills Icon.png Tasks

  • Review the definitions of the terms above using the glossary in Mastering English Literature on pages 501 to 512 and the online glossaries of literary terminology from General Resources:

EXPLORE – Literary Devices and Terms (LitCharts) Links to an external site.

EXPLORE – Literary Devices and Terms (Literary Devices) Links to an external site.

  • You don’t need to learn every single term now, but it’s helpful to be aware of some of the new terminology that you could be bringing into your essays.

Top Tip Icon.png Top Tip

You should seek to expand your critical vocabulary as the course progresses but please remember that any terminology you use should be accurately applied and used to advance the critical discussion. You should not ‘feature spot’ to try and impress the examiner. Only ever use terms you understand where they help you to develop your analysis.

Consolidate Icon.png Consolidate

  • The following extract is taken from The Bell Jar (1963), a semi-autobiographical novel by Sylvia Plath. Read it and answer the questions that follow.

READ – Extract from The Bell Jar (1963) by Sylvia Plath (Novel)

  1. How does Plath convey the narrator’s state of mind through her choices of metaphorical devices?
  2. Which images do you find the most striking in the passage and why?
  3. What kind of semantic field(s) does Plath use and what are the effects of this?
  4. Comment on Plath’s use of adjectives and verbs in this passage.

Glossary Icon.png Terminology

Make sure you understand any new literary terminology covered in this topic. You may like to make flashcards of key terms now, to help you with revision later on.