Go Figure! Figurative Language

Recognizing Literal Language Literal language is language that means exactly what is said. Most of the time, we use literal language. Literally: words function exactly as defined The car is blue. He caught the football.

Recognizing Figurative Language The opposite of literal language is figurative language. Figurative language is language that means more than what it says on the surface. Figuratively: figure out what it means I’ve got your back. You’re a doll.

What is figurative language? Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else, you are using figurative language.

Types of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Personification Hyperbole

Simile A figure of speech that is a direct comparison between two unlike things, using the words like or as. Example: The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.

Metaphor A figure of speech which is a comparison between two unlike things. A metaphor DOES NOT USE like or as. Example: The road was a ribbon wrapped through the dessert.

Personification A figure of speech that gives the human qualities to an animal, an object, or an idea. Example: “The wind whistled while blowing through the trees." The wind cannot whistle. Only a human can whistle.

Hyperbole An exaggerated statement, stretching the truth Example: My mom has told me a million times to clean my room.

Figure It Out!!! We watched in amazement as lightning danced across the sky

Figure It Out!!! It was so cold, I saw polar bears wearing hats and jackets.

Figure It Out!!! The leaves are little yellow fish / swimming in the river

Figure It Out!!! You were as brave as a lion.

Figure It Out!!! The tabloids screamed their headlines at the customers walking by.

Figure It Out!!! He couldn’t find his glasses because he was as blind as a bat without them.

Figure It Out!!! My geography teacher is older than the Earth.

Figure It Out!!! We watched in amazement as lightning danced across the sky Personification

Figure It Out!!! Hyperbole It was so cold, I saw polar bears wearing hats and jackets. Hyperbole

Figure It Out!!! The leaves are little yellow fish / swimming in the river METAPHOR

Figure It Out!!! You were as brave as a lion. Simile

Figure It Out!!! The tabloids screamed their headlines at the customers walking by. PERSONIFICATION

Figure It Out!!! He couldn’t find his glasses because he was as blind as a bat without them.

Figure It Out!!! My geography teacher is older than the Earth. Hyperbole