Figurative Language

Authors use figurative language to enrich their poetry. They use it to compare unlike things in an interesting and surprising way. Figurative language can help you view things differently.

Similes A simile is a form of comparison in which one thing is compared to another unlike thing by using specific words such as like and as.. Example: Don ate his food like a vacuum cleaner. The two things underlined are being compared. What does this simile tell us about Don?

More Examples of Similes: Look at these examples. Can you name the things being compared? Joey's arms were weak and felt like noodles. The thunder was as loud as fireworks. My sister runs like a cheetah during her competitions.

Metaphors A metephor also compares unlike things. Instead of saying that one thing is like something else, a metaphor actually makes one thing become something very different by renaming it. A metaphor never uses like or as to compare. Example: The clouds were cotton balls in the sky. The two things underlined are being compared. What does this metaphor tell you about the clouds?

Similes and Metaphors Watch this BrainPOP video to learn more about similes and metaphors.

Identifying Similes and Metaphors Identify each comparison as a simile or metaphor. Then determine what is being compared and what point each sentence is trying to get across.

Personification

Personification is the act of giving non-living things human characteristics. Here is an example of a paragraph that uses personification to describe a house.l Our house is an old friend of ours. Although he creeks and groans with every gust of wind, he never fails to protect us from the elements. He wraps his arms of bricks and mortar around us to keep us safe. He's always been a good friend to us and we would never leave him. Let’s find all the words that show us personification How does the author feel about his house? How do we know how he feels?