Figurative Language

 Figurative language is language used in writing to make it more expressive. It is not meant to be taken literally!  Some different types of figurative language are: simile, metaphor, personification, and hyperbole.

Simile  Simile is a comparison between two unlike objects using the words like or as.  Ex. Her smile is as bright as the sun.

The Rhythm of Life by Edwin McCain The rhythm of life Heaven withstanding and smiling we're all swept away The rhythm of life Is not so demanding as some caught in narrows would say

Fragile as ships as we pass through Gibraltar The sirens have long given way Dark as the murky graveyard of sailors Whispering secrets told in the crashing waves

The beating of hearts Set walls to trembling The power of silence persuades The stumbling feet They stagger predestined We all end up wild eyed and crazed

And from that madness Most jaded of vision Reflections of horror invade Running and falling Relinquish your venom The antidote surely will cause your affliction to fade

How little we know of what we are blessed with Our shimmering island it turns How little we look at what we see clearly Of tragedy's lessons not learned

Sleeping through classes We'll make it up later There's still so much time left to go Misguided roses We bloom in October Emerging triumphant in time for the season's first snow

Metaphor  Metaphor is a comparison between two unlike objects saying that one thing is the other.  Ex. Her hair is silk.

I Am An Illusion by Rob Thomas Take this confusion Runnin’ round my head Runnin’ round my head Take back my unkind words Take back my unkind words Lay that weight on me instead Lay that weight on me instead I’m the place where everything turns sour I’m the place where everything turns sour Where you gonna run to now Where you gonna run to now

Wrong step We got off track We need someone to help us get back now Worn thin Awful state I was in I believe I was losing me, now I’m found I am found

I’m not real anymore I am an illusion I’m not real anymore I am an illusion

I am the damage I am the relief Sometimes I’m people I never hoped that I would be If I take in whatever they turn out What’s that gonna make me now Don’t you understand

I’m not real anymore I am an illusion I’m not real anymore I am an illusion

Wrong step We got off track We need someone to help us get back now Worn thin Awful state I was in I believe they were fooling me Now I’m down. Well, I am down

I’m not real anymore I am an illusion I’m not real anymore I am an illusion I’m not real anymore I am an illusion I’m not real anymore I am an illusion

Personification  Personification is giving human qualities, feelings, action, or characteristics to inanimate (non-living) objects.  Ex. The wind sang as it blew through the trees.

Bold As Love by Jimi Hendrix Anger he smiles towering in shiny metallic purple armor. Queen jealousy, envy waits behind him. Her fiery green gown sneers at the grassy ground. Blue are the life giving waters taking for granted, they quietly understand.

Once happy turquoise armies lay opposite ready, but wonder why the fight is on. But they're all, bold as love. They're all bold as love. They're all bold as love. Just ask the Axis. But they're all, bold as love. They're all bold as love. They're all bold as love. Just ask the Axis.

My red is so confident he flashes trophies of war and ribbons of euphoria. Orange is young, full of daring but very unsteady for the first go 'round.

My yellow in this case is not so mellow. In fact I'm trying to say it's frightened like me. And all of these emotions of mine keep holding me from giving my life to a rainbow like you.

Well, I'm bold as love. I’m bold as love. Hear me talkin', girl. I'm bold as love. Just ask the Axis. He knows everything.

Onomatopoeia  Onomatopoeia is the imitation of natural sounds in word form. They are words that sound like their meaning.  Ex. Hiss! Buzz! Zip!

Onomatopoeia by Todd Rundgren Onomatopoeia every time I see ya My senses tell me hubba And I just cant disagree I get a feeling in my heart that I can’t describe

It’s sort of lub, dub, lub, dub A sound in my head that I can’t describe It’s sort of zoom, zip, hiccup, drip Ding, dong, crunch, crack, bark, meow, whinnie, quack

Onomatopoeia in proximity ya Rearrange my brain in a strange cacophony I get a feeling somewhere that I can’t describe

It’s sort of uh, uh, uh, uh A sound in my head that I can’t describe It’s sort of whack, whir, wheeze, whine Sputter, splat, squirt, scrape

Clink, clank, clunk, clatter Crash, bang, beep, buzz Ring, rip, roar, retch Twang, toot, tinkle, thud

Pop, plop, plunk, pow Snort, snuk, sniff, smack Screech, splash, squish, squeek Jingle, rattle, squeel, boing Honk, hoot, hack, belch

Repetition  Repetition is the repeated use of a sound, syllable, word, phrase, line or stanza. Repetition helps govern the rhythm of a poem  Ex. Row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream Gently down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream Life is but a dream

Dreaming with a Broken Heart by John Mayer When you’re dreaming with a broken heart The waking up is the hardest part You roll out of bed and down on your knees And for a moment you can hardly breathe, wondering

Was she really here? Is she standing in my room? No, she’s not ‘Cause she’s gone, gone, gone, gone, gone

When you’re dreaming with a broken heart The giving up is the hardest part She takes you in with her crying eyes Then all at once, you have to say goodbye, wondering

Could you stay, my love? And will you wake up by my side? No, she can’t ‘Cause she’s gone, gone, gone, gone, gone

Now do I have to fall asleep with roses in my hand? Do I have to fall asleep with roses in my hand?

And would you get them if I did? No, you won’t ‘Cause you’re gone, gone, gone, gone, gone

When you’re dreaming with a broken heart The waking up is the hardest part

Alliteration  Alliteration is the repetition of the initial consonant.  Ex. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Hyperbole  Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration.  Ex. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

Who Says You Can’t Go Home by Bon Jovi I spent 20 years trying to get out of this place I was looking for something I couldn’t replace I was running away from the only thing I’ve ever known

Like a blind dog without a bone I was a gypsy lost in the twilight zone I hijacked a rainbow and crashed into a pot of gold

I been there, done that, and I ain’t lookin’ back on the seeds I’ve sown Saving dimes, spending too much time on the telephone Who says you can’t go home?

Who says you can’t go home There’s only one place they call me one of their own Just a hometown boy, born a rolling stone Who says you can’t go home?

Who says you can’t go back? I’ve been all around the world as a matter of fact There’s only one place left I want to roam Who says you can’t go home?

It’s alright

I went as far as I could, I tried to find a new face There isn’t one of these lines that I would erase I lived a million miles of memories on that road

With every step that I take I know that I’m not alone You take the home from the boy, but not the the boy from his home These are my streets, the only life I’ve ever known Who says you can’t go home?

There’s only one place they call me one of their own Just a hometown boy, born a rolling stone Who says you can’t go home?

Who says you can’t go back? I been all around the world as a matter of fact There’s only one place left I want to roam Who says you can’t go home?

It’s alright Who says you can’t go home?

It’s alright Who says you can’t go home?

I been there, done that, and I ain’t looking back It’s been a long, long road Feels like I never left That’s how the story goes

It doesn’t matter where you are It doesn’t matter where you go If it’s a million miles away Or just a mile up the road Take it in, take it with you when you go Who says you can’t go home?

There’s only one place they call me one of their own Just a hometown boy, born a rolling stone Who says you can’t go home?

Who says you can’t go back? I been all around the world as a matter of fact There’s only one place left I want to roam Who says you can’t go home?

It’s alright Who says you can’t go home?

Imagery  Imagery is the use of vivid description, usually rich in sensory words, to create pictures, or images, in the reader's mind.  Ex. The warm breeze blew across her skin.

You’re Missing by Bruce Springsteen Shirts in the closet, shoes in the hall Mama's in the kitchen, baby and all Everything is everything But you’re missing

Coffee cups on the counter, jackets on the chair Papers on the doorstep, but you’re not there Everything is everything But you’re missing

Pictures on the nightstand, TV’s on in the den Your house is waiting, your house is waiting For you to walk in, for you to walk in But you’re missing, You’re missing

You’re missing when I shut out the lights You’re missing when I close my eyes You’re missing when I see the sun rise You’re missing

Children are asking if it’s alright Will you be in our arms tonight?

Morning is morning, the evening falls, I got Too much room in my bed, too many phone calls How’s everything, everything? Everything ain’t everything You’re missing, you’re missing

God’s drifting in heaven, devil’s in the mailbox I got dust on my shoes, nothing but teardrops