II. The Logic of Comparison: Mastering Figurative Language

Part II of VII essays examining the tenets and practices of poetics

Figurative language is the engine of poetic meaning, an expressive and non-literal use of words that allows poets to transcend the limitations of direct statement. It is not merely a decorative "frill and flash" but an integral component of human communication, so deeply embedded in our daily speech and thought that its absence renders expression robotic and alien. This is a poetic device I firmly believe should be included in the “normal” writing syllabi as a very basic tenet of writing in any genre. When a poet employs figurative language, they are not simply saying what they mean in a more elaborate way; they are putting meaning into what they say, creating new layers of understanding through comparison, association, and imaginative leaps. This chapter will deconstruct the logic of comparison by examining the foundational division between tropes and schemes, before providing a detailed analysis of the core comparative figures of metaphor, simile, and personification.