Student Question
Can naturalistic fiction contain figurative language like similes, metaphors, and symbols?
Quick answer:
Naturalistic fiction can indeed contain figurative language such as similes, metaphors, and symbols. Skilled writers use these devices to enhance their narratives. For instance, Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat" utilizes similes to describe the sea, while Jack London's "To Build a Fire" employs symbolism to highlight themes of survival and fatalism. Such elements enrich the storytelling and align with Naturalism's focus on human struggle and the indifferent forces of nature.
Yes. In fact, skilled writers of fiction and nonfiction use figurative language. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech is riddled with figurative language, and Emerson's essays such as "Self-Reliance" feature thought-provoking metaphors.
In regards to Naturalist fiction, Crane's "Open Boat" relies heavily on similes, especially related to the author's description of the sea. In the story's opening paragraph, Crane uses the following simile to personify the dangerous sea.
"The horizon narrowed and widened, and dipped and rose, and at all times its edge was jagged with waves that seemed thrust up in points like rocks."
Similarly, Naturalist works often include symbols which represent Naturalism's themes of survival of the fittest and fatalism. Jack London's "To Build a Fire" serves as a good example of Naturalist symbolism.
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