This language is used to help the audience understand an idea, situation or feeling. It is used to paint a picture or to provoke an emotional response. They remind us of an idea, feeling or thought: ache for example, might make you remember a time you had an ache or felt pain.
Examples:
The autumn leaves are a blanket on the ground
My head is pounding like a drum.
This language is used across different text types to make communication more interesting and engaging.
In persuasive texts: My people die young in this country - Stan Grant
"We heard a howl. We heard a howl of humiliation that echoes across two centuries of dispossession, injustice, suffering and survival." "But every time we are lured into the light, we are mugged by the darkness of this country's history."
Why? If it's boring, you're not listening. If you're not listening, you're not persuaded. If you can picture it happening to you, you will care more about it.
In narrative texts: The fellowship of the ring - J.R.R. Tolkien "At length a silence fell, and they heard the music of the waterfallrunning sweetly in the shadows. Almost Frodo fancied that he could hear a voice singing, mingled with the sound of the water."
"As they went forward it seemed that the trees became taller, darker, and thicker. There was no sound, except an occasional drip of moisture falling through the leaves. For the moment there was no whispering or movement among the branches; but they all got an uncomfortable feeling that they were being watched with disapproval, deepening to dislike and even enmity. The feeling steadily grew, until they found themselves looking up quickly, or glancing back over their shoulders, as if they expected a sudden blow.There was not as yet any sign of a path, and the trees seemed constantly to bar their way."
Why? A narrative should be entertaining! If it's the same boring, simple words, why bother reading/ watching / listening? If you are reading or listening, the idea is you can picture the scene, in detail, in your imagination. You should really feel when reading a good narrative.