Should Figurative Language Be Taken Literally?

Literal language means exactly what it says, while figurative language uses similes, metaphors, hyperbole, and personification to describe something often through comparison with something different.

Is figurative language meant to be taken literally?

Writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally. but has an intended meaning behind it. Figurative language is used to state ideas in vivid and imaginative ways.

Is figurative language not literal?

Figurative language is phrasing that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to get a message or point across. This definition dates back to the mid-nineteenth century and comes from the Old French word “figuratif,” meaning “metaphorical.” Writers create figurative language through figures of speech such as: Simile.