Does the Koran contain any figures of speech... things not to be taken literally?

Yes, the Qur'an contains some statements in the form of parables, metaphors or similes to encourage the mind to contemplate a matter abstractly. An example of this is the parable found in Quran 24:35, "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth . The parable of His Light is as (if there were) a niche and within it a lamp: the lamp is in a glass, the glass as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east (i.e. neither it gets sun-rays only in the morning) nor of the west (i.e. nor it gets sun-rays only in the afternoon, but it is exposed to the sun all day long), whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself), though no fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything."