Figurative Language and Argument

Giving style to your substance

Figurative Language

First Strength:

Aids in understanding by likening something unknown to something known.

Ex: Watson and Crick

Figurative Language

Aids your argument by making it extremely memorable.

Ex: Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes“Harlem-A Dream Deferred”What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry upLike a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore-And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over-

Like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just sagsLike a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

What do you remember?

Images:

Message:

Two Main Classifications

Tropes

Involve a change in the ordinary signification, or meaning, of a word or phrase

Schemes

A special arrangement of

words

Tropes

Metaphor

Offers an IMPLIED comparison between two things and thereby clarifies and enlivens many arguments.

See page 289

Tropes

Simile

A DIRECT comparison between two things

Easy to spot… “like” and “as”p. 289-290

Tropes

Analogy

Compare two different or dissimilar things for special effect

p. 290

Tropes

Hyperbole

The use of overstatement for special effect. Often used in comedy, but definitely has a place in serious writing.

ex: page 292

Tropes

Understatement

Requires a muted, quiet message to make its point. Can be used well in humor or serious writing.

p. 293

Tropes

Rhetorical Questions

These questions don’t require answers. They are used to assert or deny something about an argument.

ex: p. 294

Tropes

Antonomasia

Shorthand substitutions of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name.

p. 294

Tropes

Irony

EDUCATION Princeton Cuts Number of A'sGiven to Students Down to 41%

Hopes lower grades will produce a future president.

Source: Ironic Times

irony

Wal-Mart Accused in Court of Denying Workers Lunch Breaks

“They can't afford lunch on what we're paying them,” explains company lawyer.

Source: Ironic Times

Schemes

Schemes are figures that depend on word order…SYNTAX

Here are a few you are likely to see

Schemes

Parallelism

Uses grammatically similar words, phrases, or clauses for special effect.

p. 296

Schemes

Antithesis

Use of parallel structures to mark contrast or opposition

p. 296

Schemes

Inverted word order

Parts of a sentence or clause are not in the usual subject-verb-object order.

p. 296

Schemes

Anaphora

Effective repetition for emphasis

p. 297

Schemes

Reversed Structures

Changing the structure of a sentence for special effect, or to make it more memorable

p. 297

Caution:

While these techniques are extremely effective, if you over use them you will not achieve your goals. (“stacking the deck”)

Watch the connotations of words

Caution

The AP exam is not a “scavenger hunt” for language.

AP essays are weakened by mere listing of fancy terms

Always mark off style, but comment on how it relates to the substance!!!