One of the most common elements of figurative language is exaggeration; it is often used in everyday speech to describe physical characteristics. Hyperbole is a literary device that uses extreme exaggeration to evoke a particular emotion; for example saying that you have "tons" of money. Although you may not literally have tons of money, you are informing the reader or listener that you are in possession a great deal.
Similarly, a comparison provides an analogy between two things as a means to facilitate understanding. For example, a metaphor offers a comparison between two seemingly unlike things as a means to provoke imagination. Shakespeare's famous "all the world's a stage" acts a metaphor; it encourages the reader to imagine that the world is indeed a stage and thus humans are actors in a play -- life. A simile is another form of comparison; it is more direct and uses comparative words such as "like" or "as;" for example, "she is like a rose" or "her eyes sparkle like diamonds. " By using extravagant comparisons, the writer evokes a particular image and offers a specific description.
A writer may also encourage readers to use their imagination through the use of sounds in prose or poetry; onomatopoeia is a device that imitates a sound. For example, the comic book practice of using words to describe a fight represents onomatopoeia. By adding "bam" or "pow" to a scene, an author provides the reader with not only a visual but also an auditory description of a passage.
Humor is a key element of figurative language. By evoking laughter, an author may make their point more clearly by illustrating the ridiculousness of the situation. For example, a pun can draw greater emphasis to a word, such as using slang like the word "ridonculous" instead of "ridiculous" to play on the word "ridiculous" while also sounding ridiculous at the same time. Other humorous figurative language devices include personification, the description of non-human things by using human characteristics; this can add humor to a difficult situation. For example, instead of complaining that the weather has not been nice in a while, you could say that the sun is "playing hide and seek," making light of the situation.