[Uncle Chip]

Maybe if he wrote you a second letter and TOLD you which ones were figurative, maybe that might be a clue?

And then perhaps a third letter to identify the figuratives in the second.

[DreamsofPolycarp]

And then maybe you could argue with him and tell him he is not allowed to use figurative language? Or at least that we have to interpret it literally, even though he has told us it is figurative?