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Non-literal

Adjective
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Language or imagery that is figurative, symbolic, or not directly tied to its surface meaning

Detailed Definition
Non-literal language in poetry encompasses metaphor, simile, symbolism, and other figurative devices that convey meaning beyond dictionary definitions, allowing poets to express complex emotions, abstract ideas, or layered realities through indirect, imaginative, and associative expression.
Example
Example in poetry:
A simile like "Life is but a walking shadow"; A metaphor such as "The road was a ribbon of moonlight"; The use of hyperbole to exaggerate a feeling: "I've told you a million times"; Personification like "The wind whispered secrets through the trees";
Additional Notes
Non-literal: Language that is not meant to be understood in its most basic or actual sense; synonymous with figurative language or metaphorical language; includes techniques like simile, metaphor, hyperbole, and personification.
Also Known As
figurative symbolic metaphorical
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