Figurative Language A Tutorial

During this presentation: Record accurate notes on the chart provided. Generate your own examples of each figurative language type. After this presentation:

Figurative Language vs. Literal Language

LITERAL LANGUAGE: language that can be taken at face value; it means what it says "You hit the nail on its head!" Literally speaking, this means that you have physically hit the nail on its head with the hammer. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: language that is not meant to be taken at face value; language that appeals to the senses and creates pictures and images in the reader's mind "You hit the nail on its head!" Figuratively speaking, this means that you got the right answer, or that you did something absolutely correctly. Literal vs. Figurative Language

Why Use Figurative Language? To help readers visualize characters and settings To provide amusement and make writing more interesting To familiarize readers with unknown terms

Common Types of Figurative Language Idiom Simile Metaphor Personification Hyperbole Alliteration Onomatopoeia Allusion

What is an IDIOM? Idiom = a “saying” that is peculiar to a particular language or group  The combination of words in an idiom has a meaning that is different from the meaning that is different from the meanings of the individual words meanings of the individual words themselves. themselves.  Idioms can have a literal meaning in one situation and a different idiomatic meaning situation and a different idiomatic meaning in another situation. in another situation.

Literal vs. Idiomatic Meaning Example: To sit on the fence ~ Literally means that someone is sitting on a fence Jeff sat on the fence to see the concert in the park. Definition taken from: ~ Idiomatically means that someone is not making a clear choice regarding some issue The senator sat on the fence and refused to give his opinion about the war in Iraq. images.jupiterimages.com/.../55/73/ jpg

Idiomatic Meaning: to have one’s affairs or business in order; to be organized all your ducks in a row Be sure to get all your ducks in a row before going on vacation: pack all of your clothes, ask a neighbor to feed your cat, and stop your mail at the post office.

Simile Uses like or as to make a comparison between two unlike ideas

Simile Mom’s Christmas cookies were like lumps of sand. What is being compared? Mom’s Christmas cookies were like lumps of sand.

Metaphor something is described as though it were something else; shows a similarity between two unlike things Uses the words is, are, was, or were

Metaphor Full of ups and downs, life is a roller coaster. What is being compared? Full of ups and downs, life is a roller coaster.

Which is a more powerful comparison, a simile or a metaphor?

Personification A non- human subject is given human characteristics

Personification The small chair peered out from behind the big desk.

Hyperbole Exaggerates an idea so vividly that the reader has instant picture

Hyperbole I am so sad I could cry a river. Ask yourself: Can someone really cry a river?

Alliteration The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginnings of several words

Alliteration Cindy sent seven cards to her sisters.

Onomatopoeia The use of words that imitate the sounds

Onomatopoeia Interesting Fact: –The word onomatopoeia comes from the combination of two Greek words, one meaning “name: and the other meaning “I make”. –Onomatopoeia literally means “the name (or sound) I make.” That is to say that the word means nothing more than the sound it makes.

Onomatopoeia Tick-tock. Tick-tock. The sound of the clock was all that could be heard in the hospital waiting room. “Tick-tock” sounds like what a clock does when the seconds hand moves around the face. The word itself sounds like the sound it’s representing.

Allusion An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to a person or a place, or to something that happened. This reference can be real or imaginary and may refer to anything, including literary characters, paintings, opera, folk lore, mythical figures, etc. The reference can be direct or may be inferred, and it can broaden the reader’s understanding.

Allusions: The Pros and Cons Pros: There are several ways that an allusion can help a writer: –Allusions engage the reader and will often help the reader remember the message or theme of the passage. –Allusions allow the writer to give an example or get a point across without going into a lengthy discourse. Cons: Allusions are contingent on the reader knowing about the story or event that is referenced. Source:

Allusion Justin was a real Romeo with the ladies. Romeo is a character in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. He is very romantic in expressing his love for Juliet. This allusion helps readers better understand Justin’s character by being able to compare him with what they already know about Romeo.

Let’s Practice! Complete the “Figurative Language Identification Practice” questions on the front side of your notes sheet.

Metaphor Her eyes were glistening jewels that lit up the room.

Onomatopoeia The buzzing fly near my ear proved to be an annoying distraction as I tried to concentrate on my homework. BUZZ

Simile Ellie walks as gracefully and as elegantly as a cat.

Alliteration Keyboards click quietly in the cozy computer carrels. (Although this also includes onomatopoeia— “clicked”)

Hyperbole My teacher is so old she taught cave men how to start a fire.

Personification My pillow whispered a bedtime story in my ear. Once upon a time…

Idiom You can yell until you’re blue in the face, but I will not give you a raise!

Allusion When Mrs. Hatfield lost her job, she turned into a Scrooge, refusing to buy anything that wasn’t necessary. Scrooge was an extremely stingy character from Charles Dickens’, A Christmas Carol.