Poetry: Figurative Language Prairie Middle School

Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Personification Alliteration Onomatopoeia

Simile An implied comparison usually using “like” or “as”

Simile Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get.

Simile He ran down the field like a freight train.

Simile She was as quiet as a mouse.

Metaphor The process of describing one thing as if it were another. Does not use “like” or “as”

Metaphor Our project is almost finished. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Metaphor He had butterflies in his stomach.

Metaphor He carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Personification A figure of speech in which a thing, quality, or idea is represented as a person.

Personification The sun peeked over the mountain tops.

Personification One lonely slice of pizza remained.

Personification After a long day of work, the swimming pool was calling my name.

Alliteration The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of two or more closely associated words.

Alliteration Like loads of laundry lying on the lovely linoleum.

Alliteration Sally sells seashells by the seashore.

Alliteration Those creepy crawly critters caused a cramp in my cranium.

Onomatopoeia A word that imitates the sound it represents.

Onomatopoeia The water gurgled as it flowed down the drain.

Onomatopoeia The storm clouds rumbled across the sky.

Onomatopoeia It seemed everyone was sniffling during the cold and flu season.

Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Personification Alliteration Onomatopoeia Types of Figurative Language