Figurative Devices
Master the art of saying one thing but meaning another β where words transcend their literal meaning to create deeper impact.
π‘ Why Figurative Devices Matter for XAT
Figurative devices go beyond literal meaning. They require you to understand what the poet really means versus what they literally say. XAT loves testing whether you can read between the lines.
All figurative devices involve a gap between surface meaning and deeper meaning. Your job is to bridge that gap and explain what the poet truly intends.
Symbol
/ΛsΙͺm.bΙl/ β’ SIM-bulDefinition
A symbol is a concrete object, person, or action that represents something beyond its literal meaning β usually an abstract idea, quality, or concept.
Unlike metaphors which compare two things, symbols stand for something else entirely. The symbol and what it represents have a deeper cultural or contextual connection.
Etymology: From Greek symbolon meaning “token” or “sign”
Types of Symbols
Universal Symbols
Recognized across cultures
πΉ Rose = Love, π Skull = Death
Cultural Symbols
Specific to a culture/region
π¦ Eagle = America, πͺ· Lotus = India
Contextual Symbols
Created within the poem itself
A mirror in XAT 2024 = Self-reflection
Common Symbols in Poetry
Dawn/Sunrise
Hope, new beginnings, rebirth
Night/Darkness
Death, mystery, ignorance
Road/Path
Life journey, choices
Water/Sea
Life, emotions, unconscious
Fire
Passion, destruction, purification
Mirror
Self-reflection, truth, identity
Dove
Peace, purity, hope
Chains
Oppression, bondage, restriction
XAT Example Analysis
How to Identify Symbols
Look for Repeated Objects
If something appears multiple times, it’s likely symbolic.
Check for Unusual Emphasis
Does the poet spend extra time describing something ordinary?
Ask: “What could this represent?”
Connect the concrete to abstract ideas like love, death, hope, freedom.
XAT Exam Strategy
XAT 2024 heavily tested symbols! Know common symbols and their meanings.
Symbols can have multiple meanings β consider context.
Look at what emotions or themes the symbol connects to.
Irony
/ΛaΙͺ.rΙ.ni/ β’ EYE-ruh-neeDefinition
Irony is a contrast between what is said/expected and what is actually meant/happens. The surface meaning is opposite to the deeper meaning.
Irony creates a gap between appearance and reality, often used for humor, criticism, or emphasis.
Etymology: From Greek eironeia meaning “feigned ignorance”
Three Types of Irony
1. Verbal Irony
Saying the opposite of what you mean
“What lovely weather!” (during a storm)
2. Situational Irony
When the outcome is opposite to expectation
A fire station burns down
3. Dramatic Irony
Audience knows something characters don’t
Romeo thinks Juliet is dead (she’s not)
Examples with Analysis
Wife sells her hair to buy a watch chain for husband.
Husband sells his watch to buy combs for wife’s hair.
π The irony:
Each sacrificed their most precious possession to buy a gift for the other’s possession β which they no longer have. The outcome contradicts the intention.
Romeo finds Juliet “dead” and drinks poison.
Audience knows Juliet is only sleeping.
π The irony:
The audience knows Juliet took a sleeping potion and will wake up. Romeo doesn’t know this. His tragic action is based on incomplete information that we possess.
XAT Exam Strategy
XAT usually tests verbal and situational irony. Dramatic irony is less common.
Look for contrast β between words/meaning, expectation/reality.
Irony often carries criticism or commentary. What is the poet critiquing?
Hyperbole
/haΙͺΛpΙΛ.bΙ.li/ β’ hy-PER-buh-leeDefinition
Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration used for emphasis, humor, or emotional effect. It’s not meant to be taken literally.
The exaggeration is so extreme that no one would believe it’s true β that’s what makes it effective.
Etymology: From Greek hyperballein meaning “to throw beyond” or “exceed”
Examples
“I’ve told you a million times”
π Effect:
Expresses frustration and emphasizes that the speaker has said this many, many times.
“My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow”
π Effect:
Love growing “vaster than empires” is impossible β but it conveys the immense scale of the speaker’s devotion.
XAT Exam Strategy
Hyperbole = deliberate exaggeration. The poet knows it’s not literally true.
Ask: “What emotion or idea is being emphasized through this exaggeration?”
Don’t confuse with lies β hyperbole is obviously exaggerated for effect.
Understatement
/ΛΚn.dΙr.steΙͺt.mΙnt/Definition
Understatement is deliberately downplaying something β presenting it as less important, serious, or significant than it really is.
The opposite of hyperbole. Used for ironic effect, humor, or to emphasize by contrast.
Hyperbole vs Understatement
| Aspect | Hyperbole | Understatement |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Exaggeration (makes bigger) | Downplaying (makes smaller) |
| Example | “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse” | “I could eat a bite” (when starving) |
| Effect | Emphasizes intensity | Creates irony, dry humor |
Examples
Black Knight (after losing both arms): “‘Tis but a scratch”
π Effect:
Absurd understatement creates comedy β losing arms is clearly not “a scratch.”
XAT Exam Strategy
Look for situations where the language seems too mild for what’s described.
Often used in British/dry humor and to show stoicism or courage.
Paradox
/ΛpΓ¦r.Ι.dΙks/ β’ PAIR-uh-doksDefinition
A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or absurd on the surface, but upon deeper reflection, reveals a hidden truth.
Paradoxes challenge our thinking and reveal deeper meanings through apparent contradiction.
Etymology: From Greek paradoxon meaning “contrary to expectation”
Examples with Analysis
“I can resist everything except temptation”
π Interpretation:
If you can’t resist temptation, you can’t really resist anything that matters. The paradox reveals self-aware weakness with humor.
“I know that I know nothing”
π Interpretation:
How can you “know” that you know nothing? If you know nothing, you can’t know that either. But the deeper truth: true wisdom begins with recognizing the limits of one’s knowledge.
XAT Exam Strategy
XAT 2022 tested this! Look for statements that seem impossible but have deeper meaning.
Paradoxes require interpretation β what truth hides behind the contradiction?
Don’t dismiss contradictions β explore what they really mean.
Oxymoron
/ΛΙk.sΙͺΛmΙΛ.rΙn/ β’ ok-see-MOR-onDefinition
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms in a short phrase, usually just two words.
Think of it as a compressed paradox β contradiction in its shortest form.
Etymology: From Greek oxys (sharp) + moros (dull) β itself an oxymoron!
Paradox vs Oxymoron
| Aspect | Paradox | Oxymoron |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Full statement/sentence | Usually 2 words |
| Example | “Less is more” | “Deafening silence” |
| Focus | Hidden truth in contradiction | Impact of word combination |
Common Oxymorons
Deafening silence
Silence so intense it’s overwhelming
Living dead
Zombies; or feeling lifeless while alive
Bittersweet
Joy mixed with sadness
Cruel kindness
Help that ultimately hurts
Sweet sorrow
Sadness that has pleasure in it
Alone together
Physically together but emotionally isolated
Literary Example
XAT Exam Strategy
Spot oxymorons by finding two contradictory words placed together.
Explain how the contradiction creates meaning or captures complex feelings.