Figurative language is a type of language that deviates from the literal meaning of words and phrases. Also called "ornaments of language," it requires the reader to use their imagination to understand the author's intended meaning. This type of language is similar to plain language in that it carries underlying meaning. Figurative language employs figures of speech or devices that enable words to convey meanings beyond their literal or conventional sense, thereby adding beauty and emotional depth to the text. These devices are frequently used in poetry to convey the author's impressions or thoughts by comparing or identifying one thing with another that has a meaning the reader is familiar with. Figurative language is situational and context-bound and is used to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas implicitly [1]. Figures of speech can take several forms, such as personifications, paradoxes, similes, synecdoche, antitheses, hyperboles, metonymies, allegories, and idioms [2].

Figurative language has both practical and artistic uses, and it is essential to understanding the meaning of literary texts. It adds to the form's aesthetic appeal and serves as a semantic signifier. Figurative language is essential to achieving the decorative quality of literary language because it gives authors the freedom to use language in a variety of ways to accomplish particular stylistic effects. Riemer [3] claims that figurative language belongs to the category of "picture language." This implies that figures of speech have many purposes in texts. They not only adorn writings and increase their aesthetic worth, but they also convey connotative meanings and have particular effects that enhance the texts and make their meanings more concrete and accurate.

Figurative language is essential for communicating abstract ideas that may be challenging to visualise, generating emotions, and making language expressive [4], [5]. While figures of speech are frequently employed in various types of communication, literal language is the focus of most Natural Language Processing (NLP) research. The implicit nature of figurative language makes it more complex, and it is often considered a significant obstacle to automatic text comprehension [6].

According to Yule [7], understanding language involves more than just comprehending the literal meaning of words. Words that may have a specific meaning in a dictionary can change when they are used in social interactions. This quality of language provides a multitude of research possibilities and allows for words to be loaded with meaning in different ways. Scholars have analysed language to describe how speakers and writers use it to convey meaning appropriately. Words have the power to create sentences, and every act of communication involves choices made by the interlocutors [8].

Individuals may choose to use language on a literal or figurative level, depending on their intentions and desired outcomes in communication. Writers may employ figurative language to engage readers and encourage them to explore deeper meanings beyond the literal words [9]. It is common for people to switch between literal and figurative language in communication, and the structure of language reflects the functions it has evolved to serve in society [10]. Language is not neutral, but rather influenced by various factors; the meaning of words can vary depending on the context in which they are used [11]. When examining the use of figurative language in literature, context is crucial since it guides the meaning-construction process. When producing a fictional work, the author creates a context composed of personal experiences and sociocultural factors that shape the communicative process [12]. Figurative language aims to exceed the boundaries of usual meaning set by the writer or speaker, and for the recipient to decode and understand the new meaning effectively.

A literary work's use of language is crucial because it allows the author to convey their thoughts, feelings, and ideologies. A literary work cannot be realised without the use of language; consequently, authors must consider the role that language plays in the production of a literary work. Literary works are the outcome of the author's meditation on numerous occurrences of people's lives;thus, they are not only viewed as the author's made-up stories but also as the embodiment of the author's creative exploration of his or her ideas [13]. Literature is created in the midst of society as a result of the author's creativity and contemplation of the social phenomena that surround it [14]. Furthermore, human thought is intertwined with language and culture. The cultural expression of a speaking community is language. The language of a given language community will reflect or manifest the views and culture of that community. Additionally, Yunhadi [15] asserts that a society's culture can be seen in its language. As a result, the language that is used in a given society reveals a lot about that society's culture. When writing his works of literature, the author employs a variety of strategies, one of which is the use of figurative language to entice readers. A language that presents meanings or concepts figuratively or symbolically is known as figurative language. Figurative language has aesthetic values that make a pleasant impression on the reader and can liven up the atmosphere [16].

According to Sari [17], when a writer immerses his narrative in metaphorical language that has artistic value, human problems in literary works take on a distinctive quality. The more aesthetic components a literary work has, the more valued and attractive it is regarded as. Figurative language, or the ornamental quality of literary language, is the cornerstone of literariness [18] since it allows authors to take advantage of and utilise language's latent potential in a number of ways to impact specific styles. As a result, a fascinating literary work uses beautiful language to convey information. The study of stylistics emphasises the use of linguistic style and the artistic creation of literary works. In their work, the author's style or language style is very important. The author's unique way of expressing his or her thoughts is the author's style of language, which reveals the author's soul and personality.

Therefore, this study is an analysis of figurative language in Damilare Kuku’s The Anointed Wife. The short story is the third in her collection titled Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad.As a creative artist, Damilare Kuku has experience as a director, producer, writer, and radio host. She has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in arts. At the moment, her most well-known roles as an actor are in the following genres: Television (Season 1 of Ebony Life's Castle and Castle and Africa Magic's Unbroken); theatre (Kakadu the Musical and Ewa); and cinema (The Set Up and ChiefDaddy). She was enthralled with writing as a child because she saw writers as spellcasters and was pulled to the timeless magic of literature.

In The Anointed Wife, Tade is portrayed as a self-righteous pastor who, despite his adulterous behaviour, justifies his actions as "celebrating the Lord." His hypocrisy is made even more evident through his wife,who is fully compliant with his infidelity and holds misguided views on marriage, which are common among many African women. As a result, when news of her husband's infidelity threatens to ruin her perfect family, she takes it upon herself to keep the situation under control. She fears that the public would learn about and examine the details of her dishonest existence.

There have been many scholarly engagements of literary texts with concerns ranging from stylistics, pragmatics, and lexico-semantics, to sociolinguistic perspectives and basedon varying theoretical frameworks. However, few of the studies that have investigated figurative language in literary texts have largely focused on the poetic genre of literature [13], [18–22]. Even though figurativeexpressions are more predominant in poetry forms of literature than any other type of text, they are still found to be stylistically imperative in other texts, including prosaic texts. Given the figurative captivation of the title of Damilare’s short story The Anointed Wife, it becomes notable to investigate the figurative constructions in the piece of work.

Thus, this study intends to fill this gap in scholarship by analysing the figurative use of language in the book. This will enable us to understand the craftiness of language and the richness that figurative expressions afford in communicating intentions beyond the surface. It will equally appreciate the authorial ingenuity of Damilare Kuku, who is a famous Nollywood artist in Nigeria.

Metaphorsare used to make comparisons between two things that are not literally the same, including creating vivid and imaginative images in the reader's mind. The phrase "a man with a divine calling, made of flesh but instructed to lead with the spirit" uses metaphor to create a vivid image of the pastor's role. The metaphorical language emphasises the duality of the pastor's nature- both human and divine. The phrase "made of flesh" emphasises the human side of the pastor, while the phrase "instructed to lead with the spirit" refers to the pastor's religious calling. This metaphorical description helps to communicate the complex expectations placed on pastors and their families.

Hyperbole exaggerates something to create a vivid and dramatic effect. The clause "Any ordinary wife has their work cut out for them" uses hyperbole to exaggerate the difficulties of being a wife. By using this figure of speech, the author emphasises the increased difficulty of being a pastor's wife. The hyperbole is also used to create a sense of tension, as the phrase highlights the immense pressure placed on the wife to fulfil her duties. This exaggerated description helps the reader to understand the unique challenges of being a pastor's wife.

Allusion is a figure of speech that refers to a well-known person, place, event, or literary work to create a comparison or add depth to a message. The phrase "for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health" is an allusion to traditional wedding vows. The allusion serves to create a point of comparison for the reader, making it easier to understand the unique responsibilities of being a pastor's wife. By using this well-known phrase, the author also emphasises the seriousness of the commitment that the pastor's wife has made to her husband and her church.

1 www.masobebooks.com

Metonymy is a figure of speech that refers to something by using a term that is closely associated with it, but not necessarily a part of it. The phrase "holy anointing" uses metonymy to represent the pastor's spiritual authority. The anointing is a symbol of divine empowerment, and by helping her husband maintain it, the wife is seen as supporting his spiritual leadership. The use of metonymy in this phrase highlights the importance of the pastor's role and the responsibility of the wife to support it. By using this figure of speech, the author also emphasises the spiritual nature of the pastor's work.

Personification iswhen human characteristics, qualities, or actions are attributed to non-human entities such as animals, inanimate objects, or natural phenomena. The clause "to do so with an invisible hand" personifies the role of the pastor's wife. The use of personification gives agency to the wife's actions as if her actions have a life of their own. By personifying the role of the pastor's wife, the author highlights the importance of her work and her ability to help her husband fulfil his calling. The phrase also creates a sense of mystery, as the "invisible hand" suggests a hidden, mysterious force at work.

Overall, the figurative language in this extract emphasises the challenges and responsibilities of being a pastor's wife. By using metaphor, hyperbole, allusion, metonymy, and personification, the author creates a vivid and memorable description of the pastor's wife's role or more appropriately, the societal construction of the roles expected to be assumed as the wife of a pastor.

How long has it been since I became the mummy of our organisation, themother in our marriage? I can’t remember. It feels like forever since I had thepleasure, the intimacy of hearing my own name fall from my husband’s lips—my real name, not Mummy, sometimes followed by one of the children’snames. I look at him now. His pleading eyes and downturned mouth. His hairis impeccably groomed, his salt and pepper beard neatly trimmed. We havebeen married for over twenty years. Our love has gone beyond compassion,beyond butterflies in the stomach and settled into a form of kinship. Tade andI are members of an elite, exclusive club, we couldn’t be closer if we hadshared some kind of blood covenant (29).

I. Metaphor: The phrase "the mummy of our organisation" uses a metaphor to create a vivid image of the wife's role in the church. The metaphorical language suggests that the wife is the nurturing force that keeps the organisation alive, much like a mother figure. This metaphorical description helps to communicate the importance of the wife's role in the church. The noun “organisation” also gives an impression of the church as a coordinated place having a designed system and regulated patterns of operations.

II. Anaphora: Anaphora involves the repetition of a word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences or phrases. The repetition of "my own name" emphasises the wife's desire to be recognised as an individual, and not just as a mother figure. By repeating the phrase, the author emphasises the wife's longing for intimacy and connection with her husband. The anaphora also creates a sense of rhythm in the writing, drawing the reader's attention to the wife's emotional state.

III. Imagery: Imagery is a language used to create sensory experiences, usually through descriptions of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. The phrase "beyond butterflies in the stomach" uses imagery to describe the depth of the couple's relationship. The imagery of butterflies in the stomach is a common metaphor for the feeling of falling in love. By saying that their love has gone "beyond" this feeling, the author suggests that their love ought to have deepened and matured over time.

IV. Simile: Simile directly compares two things. Similes are often used to create vivid and imaginative images in the reader's mind. The phrase "we couldn't be closer if we had shared some kind of blood covenant" usesa simile to compare the couple's relationship to a blood covenant. The comparison creates a sense of intimacy and exclusivity, emphasising the bond between the couple. By using this figure of speech, the author also suggests that the couple's relationship is sacred and binding.

V. Personification: The phrase "His pleading eyes and downturned mouth" personifies the husband's facial expressions. The use of personification gives life to the husband's emotions, making them seem more real and immediate. This technique helps the reader to understand the husband's feelings and creates a sense of empathy for both characters.

VI. The extract shows a complex and nuanced relationship between the narrator, who is the wife of Tade, the pastor, and her husband. The figurative language used in the extract, such as the metaphor of the wife as the "mummy of our organisation" and the simile of the couple's relationship as a "blood covenant," emphasises the depth and importance of the couple's bond. At the same time, the use of anaphora, imagery, and personification highlights the wife's sense of longing for intimacy and recognition from her husband. The extract conveys a sense of complexity and tension in the relationship between the couple, as the wife struggles to balance her own desires and needs with her role as the wife of a pastor. The use of figurative language adds depth and nuance to the portrayal of the characters and their relationship, making the extract both engaging and thought-provoking.

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you. As you go about your daily activities, please do not let the devil take hold of your mind with fake news. Two weeks ago, an article was released accusing pastor of sleeping with a young lady on the 19th of June 2020. The young lady claims that my husband, our daddy in the Lord, picked her up from Festac, took her to a hotel close by to have inappropriate relations with her. She says she is coming forward because she saw Daddy on television preaching and she didn’t think that it was right for an adulterer to be the one to guide people on their spiritual journeys (30).

I. Metaphor: This portion highlights the use of the metaphor "devil" to describe the potential influence of fake news. This metaphor is powerful and emotionally charged, as it taps into common cultural and religious beliefs about the forces of evil. By invoking this metaphor, she conveys a sense of urgency and concern about the potential impact of what she assumes to be a piece of false informationabout her husband. The use of the phrase "fake news" is also notable. It connotes a judgment of the released article as a form of falsehood and propaganda, and its use in this context suggests that the accusations against the pastor are not only false but also intentionally malicious.

II. Repetition: With repetition, a word, phrase, line, or stanza is repeated for emphasis or effect. The repetition of the term "young lady" and the use of the phrase "our daddy in the Lord" have stylistic implications. The repetition of the term "young lady" serves to emphasise the youth and vulnerability of the accuser, as well as to draw attention to the power dynamic at play in the situation. The use of the phrase "our daddy in the Lord" thus puts the previous expression in perspective, as it underscores the position of authority that the pastor holds within his community against an ordinary woman in society. These devices create a sense of tension and unease, as the reader is forced to confront the potential abuse of power by someone who is supposed to be a spiritual leader.

III. Euphemism: Euphemism uses a mild or indirect word or expression to refer to something unpleasant, embarrassing, or taboo. This involves the use of the phrase "inappropriate relations" to describe the alleged actions of the pastor. This euphemism is significant, as it allows the author to convey the gravity of the situation without being overly explicit. The use of a euphemism is also notable because it highlights the taboo nature of the accusations against the pastor. By not explicitly stating what the pastor is alleged to have done, the author creates a sense of suspense and tension, as the reader is left to imagine the worst. This use of understatement serves to emphasise the seriousness of the accusations and underscores the potential consequences for pastor Tade and his community.

IV. Irony: Irony is a figurative device in which the intended meaning of a word or expression is different from, or even opposite to, its literal or usual meaning. The ironic expression is deployed to underscore the hypocrisy perceived to be at play in the situation. The use of irony is powerful because it draws attention to the contrast between the pastor's alleged behaviour and his role as a spiritual leader. By suggesting that an adulterer should not guide people on their spiritual journeys, the accuser is implicitly criticising the pastor's character and calling into question his fitness for his role. This use of irony creates a sense of tension and conflict, as the reader is forced to consider the moral and ethical implications of the accusations against the pastor.

The devices used in this extract help to create a sense of drama and tension. The figurative language used in the extract serves to create a sense of urgency, concern, and gravity, highlighting the emotional weight of the situation. The use of metaphor, repetition, euphemism, and irony all contribute to the overall effect, creating a complex and nuanced portrayal of the accusations against the pastor. Through the use of these linguistic devices, the author is able to convey a sense of moral and ethical complexity, as well as the potential consequences of the allegations for the pastor and his community.

After that, we kissed every time we were alone. Falling against each otherwith fevered passion. My rubbing against his groin became more practiced,and I was rewarded with a bulge that grew with each caress. One day, Icouldn’t take it anymore so I hiked up my skirt and got on top of him. I foundthe sweet spot between our bodies and I rocked my hips back and forth, thethin material of my underwear and the cotton of his trousers moistening. Hemoaned hotly against my neck, his hands fondling my breasts as he whisperedmy name over and over. Evelyn. Evelyn. Those moments felt like liquidecstasy. But he never allowed us to go beyond that until we were marriedthree years later. So, you see? That prostitute is lying and she will soon be cast back into thepit of hell where she crawled out from (33).

I. Metaphor: The first paragraph uses figurative language to convey a sense of intense physical passion between the narrator and her lover. The phrase "sweet spot" is a metaphor for the point of maximum pleasure, and the use of the word "moistening" creates a sense of physical wetness and arousal.The phrase "pit of hell" is a metaphor for a place of evil, emphasising the narrator's contempt for the accuser. The language is confrontational and aggressive, with the use of the word "lying" suggesting that the narrator believes the accusation is completely false.

II. Imagery: The language is erotic, with phrases such as "fevered passion" and "rubbing against his groin,"

creating an image of desire and lust. The language is also sensory, with descriptions of touch, sound, and movement, adding to the intensity of the scene.

III. Repetition: The repetition of the narrator's name, "Evelyn," adds to the sense of intimacy and personal connection between the two lovers. Moreover, the repetition of the phrase "cast back" adds to the sense of finality and dismissal, as if the accusation has already been dealt with and dismissed.

IV. The language in the extract is emotive and sensual, with the use of figurative language creating a strong sense of physical passion and desire.In the overall sense, this piece is an ironical delivery. In a bid to justify her husband against accusations of sexual infidelity, the pastor’s wife is flashing back to the display of sexual indiscipline exhibited between herself and pastor prior to their marriage.

I should not have been surprised. Gossip these days is a hot commodity, aquick path to wealth on the internet highway. In the old days, rumours wouldcirculate among friends and family in your area, in the worst-case scenario, itmight reach another local government area or state. These days, bad newstravels at the speed of light, leaping from one blog post in Lagos to Londonwithin seconds.Several blogs reposted the original article and within a week, the girlwhose name I have refused to learn or remember had sat down withjournalists detailing her alleged one-night encounter with my husband. Icompared the metrics of my Facebook post and retweets of the church’sofficial response to the bloggers and saw that we were losing. Badly. What?Are you surprised that I’m talking about losing? Do you think this is anethical or moral war that this girl is waging against my husband? Of coursenot. This thing is all about PR. Even though she is a liar and a prostitute, thetruth is, in this social media era we are in, the only thing that matters is whopeople believe, who they sympathise with. And right now, I am losing, but Iwon’t be for long (33-34).

I. Simile: The extract employs direct comparison to relate gossip to a "hot commodity." This suggests that gossip is in high demand and is seen as valuable in today's society. The use of the word "commodity" also implies that gossip can be bought and sold, which highlights the commercial aspect of social media.The simile includes the description of social media as an "internet highway", which suggests that social media is a fast and efficient means of communication, much like a highway. Thisemphasises the speed at which information travels on social media and highlights the potential reach of any given message.

II. Metaphor: This text employs metaphor to describe the spread of rumours in the past. Rumours are described as "circulating," which suggests that they are like a fluid moving through a network of people. This metaphor emphasises the localised nature of rumours in the past, as they were typically limited to a small group of individuals. The verb "losing" is a metaphor whichdescribes theposition of the religious family in the conflict with society. They suggest that they are currently "losing" the battle, but they will not be for long. This metaphor implies that the conflict is like a contest, in which victory or defeat is determined by public opinion. The use of the word "long" suggests that the conflict is temporary and that the author is confident in their ability to turn the situation around.

III. Hyperbole: Hyperbole is used in the text to describe the impact of social media on the spread of gossip.

They describe how several blogs reposted the original article within a week, which suggests that the information has spread rapidly and widely. The use of the adverb "badly" to describe how the church's response is faring in comparison to the bloggers' employs hyperbole, emphasising the perceived severity of the situation.

IV. Rhetorical questions: A rhetorical question is a figure of speech that is posed as a question but is not meant to be answered directly. Rhetorical questions are used in this instance to challenge the reader's assumptions about the nature of the conflict. They ask if the reader is surprised that they are "losing" and if they think the conflict is an "ethical or moral war." This strategy allows the author to reframe the conflict as a purely strategic one, in which the goal is to win over public opinion rather than to uphold moral values.

The impression of this extract is that it describes the wife’s experience of dealing with the spread of gossip and rumours on social media. She is concerned with the potential impact of this gossip on their “holy” reputation and public opinion, and views the situation as a strategic battle for public support. The use of figurative language, such as metaphors and similes, is prominent throughout the extract and helps to emphasise the speed and scale of communication on social media. The wife's tone is defensive and somewhat combative as they attempt to protect their reputation and defend her husband against the allegations. This highlights the power of social media to spread information quickly and the challenges that individuals and organisations face in managing their public image in this environment.

As the weeks went by the scandal grew wings and added jetpack fuel. I hadto sit through interviews she gave to all and sundry, watch her lower heroverfilled eyelashes in false modesty, her overflowing cleavage clearlyshowing who she really is—an opportunist and a gold digger. I watched andread every single thing this girl said because knowing your enemy is the firststep to destroying them (38).

I. Metaphor: In the passage, the metaphor "the scandal grew wings and added jetpack fuel" suggests that the scandal was becoming increasingly powerful and unstoppable, like a fast-flying jet with powerful propulsion. This metaphor helps to convey the sense that the sexual scandal of pastor Tade was growing quickly and taking on a life of its own, which is an important aspect of the writer's narrative.

II. Hyperbole: In the passage, the writer uses hyperbole to describe the woman at the centre of the scandal, saying that her "overfilled eyelashes" and "overflowing cleavage" are on full display. These descriptions are exaggerated to the point of absurdity, but they help to convey the writer's disdain for the woman and to paint her as someone desperate for attention and willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

III. Oxymoron: "False modesty" is an example of an oxymoron, which is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms to create a new meaning. In this case, "false" and "modesty" are opposite ideas, as true modesty is characterised by a lack of pretence or vanity, while falsehood implies the opposite. By combining these two terms, the writer creates a sense of contradiction or tension that emphasises the woman's insincerity and manipulative behaviour. This oxymoron is used to convey a sense of the woman's hypocrisy and to paint her as someone who is not what she appears to be.

The scandal is described with vivid and sometimes exaggerated language to describe the scandal as it unfolds, using metaphors, hyperbole, irony, and allusion to create a sense of drama and urgency. The language used suggests that the writer has a strong negative opinion of the woman at the centre of the scandal, and the use of figurative language helps to reinforce this negative impression. The extract creates a vivid and dramatic picture of a scandal and the writer's negative opinion of the woman involved in it.