Isabel Allende Figurative Language

When the term “metaphor” is used, one solely thinks of the typical definition; a figure of speech that compares two objects without using the words like or as. However, in Sonia Nazario’s literary work, Enrique’s Journey, word “metaphor” is transformed entirely into a profound and heart wrenching meaning. Throughout this novel the main character, Enrique, stands as a metaphor and a worldwide symbol to show the ongoing problems in the world regarding abandonment, immigration, and drug cartels. Abandoned children long to find their place in the world, and as they try to overcome the barriers they are faced with such as confusion as a result of a failure to be noticed.

In “La Bamba” by Gary Soto, the symbols in the text point to the theme which is that worrying can cause things to not go as planned but things can take a turn for the better. One of the symbols in this text is how people view Manuel. This is a symbol because throughout the story Manuel constantly worries about how people view him and what people think of him. In the story Manuel worried about not messing up and making sure everything went as planned because he wants to impress people and make people think he is cool. When people used words such as “funny,” “crazy,” and “hilarious” to describe his performance and when people enjoyed it everything took a turn for the better. Even though Manuel thought his performance was bad at first but when other people told him that they liked his performance, he liked it too.

Have you ever read a book, with such a captivating and eye opening message that makes you open up to a world that you’ve never permitted your attention to? “Before we were Free” home to the Pura Belpré Award for Writing by Julia Alvarez has the power to do just that. Anne de la Torre is a 12 year old girl who lives in the Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic, everyone struggles to have freedom and the only escape possible is fleeing to the United states which her cousins achieved. Many twists and turns happen when Anita becomes more aware about the problems around her.

One often hears the saying, “Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in their shoes.” The way an author uses similes can help the reader better understand how the character feel and what they're going through like Sylvia Plath in The Bell Jar. Esther Greenwood, a college student, working at a month long job as a guest editor for a fashion magazine feels like an outcast from the rest of the girls; she doesn't seem to fit in. When she arrives back home, she receives several bad news leads her into thinking suicide is the best thing to do. After multiple failed attempts, she is put into a mental hospital where she will gain hope in life and finally discover who she really is. In Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, there are several instances in which the author uses similes to illustrate a more detailed image/description to better portray how the main character felt during her New York job, her suicide attempts, and at her stay at the mental institution.

Using figurative language helps create imagery and enhances the imagination of the readers. The use of personification allows the author to give human like characteristics to non-living things. An example within the story that displayed intense emotion was included this quote,“This set formula, spoken in a kind of lilt, would awaken loud echoes in Tzili’s soul, and their reverberations spread throughout her body” (Appelfeld, p. 275). By adding in this literary device the readers can foreshadow Tzili’s growth throughout the story and how she realizes who she is as an individual and matures into a strong and independent

In the story “The Contender” the author uses figurative language to relate to the mood and the setting. In the story the author uses a simile to describe Aunt Pearl’s voice by saying “...Aunt Pearl’s pure, sweet voice rose above the others, filling the little room like a sound like golden honey.” Based on this Simile the reader can Infer that Aunt Pearl had a sweet and bright voice and that everyone liked to listen to. The author said ¨...like golden honey.” The author also sets the mood just a little bit by using this phrase. The mood in this phrase the reader can infer is very joyful and peaceful. Also, the author uses personification to describe how Donatelli was looking at Alfred by saying “Donatelli circled slowly around him, his hand on his square chin, as if he were inspecting a slab of meat in a butcher store.” Based on this personification the reader can infer that Donatelli was really inspecting Alfred and checking him out to see if he was a good fighter. The readers can also infer that Donatelli didn’t just want anybody be working out in his gym for no good reason and he was really serious about boxing. Lastly, the author used another simile to describe the mood and how big the bag was hanging on the ceiling by saying “A gray, Canvas bag, as large as a loaded army duffel bag, hung from the ceiling from the long chain. The readers can infer that the bag that hung from the ceiling was massive and was a really large

Right near the beginning the author writes “Gusts of wind made bits of paper dance between the parked cars” which is an example of personification. This use of figurative language helps develop a gloomy mood and the fact neighborhood might be poor. Next the author writes “Father’s words like the distant thunder that now echoed through the streets of Harlem” which is an example of a simile. By comparing “Father’s” words to a distant thunder it makes the reader think his father is a big, strict, loud, and that the character and his father are probably in an argument. Finally, the author describes Lemon Brown’s voice as “high and brittle like twigs being broken” which is an example of a simile. By describing the voice as high and brittle it makes the reader think the voice may be from an older person who is potentially a woman. Walter Dean Myers makes great use of figurative language in the story Treasure of Lemon Brown.

In a story of insanity, revenge, and murder, how can a flawless mood be forged by an author? Edgar Allen Poe has the answer to this question buried deep within many of his writings, one of which is “The Cask of Amontillado”. In this story the main character, who is also the narrator, pursues revenge upon his unknowing former friend Fortunato. Montresor, takes his unsuspecting friend down into the catacombs of the ancestors that the living Montresor family once knew. With the expectation of fine wine, Fortunato falls into the trap awaiting him in the dark despair of the catacombs. In “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe, the mood of the story is set by the authors use of symbols, setting, and figurative language.

Similes and metaphors can attract the attention of the reader and helps them understand the text better with the comparison, they also show the reader the seriousness of a situation, which is clearly portrayed throughout the book in multiple spots. On page 17 the deportation of the Jews begins, during this Elie uses a simile to describe this process; "It was like a page torn from a book, a historical novel, perhaps, dealing with the captivity in Babylon or the Spanish Inquisition." This quote relates the process to another time in Jewish history when Jews were held captive. On page 98 a further example is of when the Jews were laying in the cattle cars he uses a simile to describe what he saw when he awoke; "When at last a grayish light appeared

Oscar Casares creates believable main character in the story “Mrs. Perez” and use figurative language gives the reader visual images. He uses the main character flashbacks of her life and it help the reader understand about Mrs. Perez. Bowling ball became very important in her life and she has many joyful moment during her bowling. Before she become this joyful person, her family has an effect on her life. Oscar Casares embedded Spanish help the reader learn about Mrs. Perez and it helps develop the story.

Not only are the similes potentially overlooked, they also create a bigger problem in deterring readers from finding the more interesting themes, such as truth and loyalty, in the novel. If they skim over the similes, they will most likely skim over some of these important, and interesting, themes. His interactions with

Walker used many literary devices to strengthen her story, so that it would come to life for all her readers. Three (3) of those literary devices are simile, onomatopoeia, and hyperbole. A simile is a figure of speech that compares one thing to another using like or as. In the colour purple, Alice Walker used simile on page fourteen (14) to describe Shug Avery’s hair “Her hair like somethin tail.” She also used it to describe Shug Avery’s complexion, “Shug Avery black as my shoe.” Simile was also used to paint a picture of the condition that Shug Avery was in during her sickness. She stated, “She weak as a kitten” and “skinny as a bean.” The simile provided vivid descriptions of Shug Avery. Anyone reading Walker’s book would not find it hard to create an image of Shug Avery.

All around, authors use figurative language to describe the subjects in their writing. Similes, metaphors, hyperboles, personification, etc. can be found in many different varieties of media and writing. Specifically, Lorna Dee Cervantes, author of the poem “Starfish,” and Barbara Hurd, author of “Sea Stars,” use figurative language in their pieces to elaborate on the subject of sea stars. Both authors use metaphors and personification in their writing, while opting for different comparisons in regard to human relation.

“Everything in the world is about sex except sex. Sex is about power.”. This quote is by Oscar Wilde. We base everything in this world to acquire sex, cosmetics, money, power. In this quote, Wilde tells us that sex is about power.

After being accused of being possessed by the devil and visited by her Uncle Marco’s dead body, Clare del Valle began to keep a diary. Fifty years later, her journal was used to solve the puzzle of a family history. In The House of Spirits, Isabel Allende tells the story of many generations of a family in Latin America. There are three prominent themes in The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende. First, the social divide between those who are “civilized” and those who are supposed barbarians. Second, the influence of women and their role in society. Third, the clash between social classes.