Figurative Language

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Figurative Language
Bringing Words to Life
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What is figurative language?
- Can describe something through the use of
unusual comparisons.
- Figurative language is not intended to be
interpreted in a literal sense.
- Appealing to the imagination, figurative
language provides new ways of looking at the
world.
- Using figurative language helps you write with
expression and feeling.
- Figurative language helps us turn words and
ideas into vivid images in our minds.
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Examples of Figurative Language
Simile
Personification
Alliteration
Hyperbole
Metaphor
Idiom
Onomatopoeia
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Lets Start with Similes
A simile makes a comparison between two unlike
things.
A simile always uses the words like or as in
the comparison.
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Lets take a closer look at a simile
Her eyes are like stars!
What two things are being compared?
and
What does this mean?
It could mean that her eyes are beautiful,
bright, mysterious, shining, glittering, or
bedazzling. What do you think?
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For more practice
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What is a Metaphor?
Its not just something to keep the cows in!
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A Metaphor
Makes a comparison between two unlike things
BY
Suggesting that one thing is something else.
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Lets look at a metaphor
My love is a rose.
What two things are being compared?
AND
What does this mean?
It could mean that the feeling of love is
beautiful like a rose, or that the person is like
a rose in some way. What do you think?
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Compare Similes and Metaphors
Simile
Metaphor
Both
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In her book Owl Moon, Jane Yolan uses many
different examples of figurative language.
Can you identify the similes metaphors?
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The trees stood still as giant statues._________
But I was a shadow as we walked home.________
The moon made his face into a silver
mask._______
Somewhere behind us a train whistle blew long
and low, like a sad, sad song._____________
And when their voices faded away it was as quiet
as dream. _______________
-Jane Yolen, Owl Moon, 1987
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Can you find the similes in the poem?
Drumpp the Grump
Im Drumpp the grump of the garbage dump, Im a
contradictory cuss, Im grubby and gruff, and
just as rough as an old rhinoceros.
Im mean as a bear thats burned his hair, Ive
nothing nice to say, I dont like youor youor
YOU! Youd better go away.
I never wash, and like to squash my fingers into
worms, Im full of fleas and smelly cheese and
fifty million germs.
Im Drumpp, the grump of the garbage dump, Im
hard as a battering ram, but I want you to know
before you go I LIKE THE WAY I AM!
I swallow food before its chewed, I belch an
awful lot, I smell like a goat, and wear a
coat that swarms with slime and rot.
-James Stevenson, The New Kid on the Block, 1984
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What is Alliteration?
Alliteration is a form of figurative language
that accentuates or unites words or concepts
through a kind of repetition.
Alliteration is the repetition of initial sounds
in a phrase or sentence.
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Here are some examples of Alliteration
Alphabetically aware alligators always address
audiences adequately.
Silly Suzy Snodgrass sneezes in a series of seven.
Terrible ________ tries to _______ ten _______ at
a _______.
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Bulgy Bunne Find the alliterative words in the
poem.
Bulgy Bunne (the wonder builder) built a boat of
brass and wood, Bulgy chose the finest
lumber, and the brass was just as good. Every
plank he picked was perfect, there was not a knot
in one, for the best was barely suited to the
boat of Bulgy Bunne. Bulgy scraped and sawed and
sanded, Chiseled, hammered, planed, and
drilled, As he built the grandest sailboat It was
possible to build. Bulgy buffed and Bulgy
burnished, Bulgy raised a sturdy mast, Bulgy
stitched the strongest fabrics into sails
designed to last.
When his work was finally finished, Bulgy studied
it with pride, for he knew his stalwart
sailboat was prepared to face the tide. Bulgy
Bunne made but one blunder, Bulgys boat will not
leave shore, Bulgy built it in his bedroom it
wont fit through Bulgys door.
- Jack Prelutsky, The New Kid on the Block,1984
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What is Personification?
Figurative language in which human qualities or
powers are assigned to
An Animal
An Idea
A Natural Force
An Object
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In The Little House, Virginia Lee Burton uses
many examples of personification.
What makes the house seem human?
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The Little House was happy as she sat on the
hill and watched the countryside around her (p.2)
What words are used to describe the house as a
human?
This must be living in the city, thought the
Little House, and didnt know whether she liked
it or not. She missed the field of daisies and
the apple trees dancing in the moonlight (p.20)
What things are personified in this passage?
- Virginia Lee Burton, The Little House, 1942
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What is hyperbole?
Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used to
produce an effect.
Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is so dramatic
that no one would believe the statement is true.
Tall tales are hyperboles.
Some examples include
I could sleep for a thousand years.
I could eat a horse.
That box weighs a ton.
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You try it! Complete the statements
If I have told you once, I have told you. . .
I laughed my . . .
I nearly died . . .
Create your own hyperbole. Remember, you need to
think of an extreme exaggeration
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Oh, you Idiom!
A set expression of two or more words that means
something other than the literal meaning of the
words.
In other words
An idiom is an expression that means something
different from what the words actually mean.
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A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush
Having something that is certain is much better
than taking a risk for more, because chances are
you might lose everything.A Blessing In
Disguise Something good that isn't recognized
at first. A Chip On Your Shoulder Being upset
for something that happened in the past. A Slap
on the Wrist A very mild punishment.
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Match the idioms with their meanings
A very small part of something big or
whole. It's easy for a foolish person to lose
his/her money. Everyone involved must unify
and function together or it will not work out.
You cannot change who you are.By not spending
money, you are saving money (little by
little).A visual presentation is far more
Anything that is common and easy to get. A
skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence
in order to believe something. More descriptive
than words.A task that can be accomplished very
easily.
A Dime A Dozen A Doubting Thomas A Drop in
the Bucket A Fool And His Money Are Easily
Parted A House Divided Against Itself Cannot
Stand A Leopard Can't Change His Spots A
Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned A Picture Paints
a Thousand Words A Piece of Cake
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Onomatopoeia
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(No Transcript)
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Figurative Language

• as alike as two peas in a pod
• water plops into pond
• Dans dog dove deep in the dam, drinking dirty
  water as he dove
• To say the sun is smiling
• We are so poor we dont have two cents to rub
  together
• The snow is a white blanket
• Its raining cats and dogs

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Links for games and exercises
similes
http//www.learnenglish.org.uk/cet/flashactivities
/similes.html
Review fig language
http//www.quia.com/hm/80390.html
Alliteration or simile
http//school.discoveryeducation.com/quizzes26/gum
bie7/PoetryPieces.html