Elements of Figurative Language

Objective After this presentation, you will be able to successfully analyze elements of figurative language.

Elements of Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Personification Imagery Alliteration Oxymoron Foreshadow Flashback Irony (verbal, situational, dramatic) Symbolism Paradox Assonance Consonance

Simile Definition: Examples: A figure of speech in which the words like or as are used to compare two unlike things Examples: Her cheeks are red like a rose. Our soldiers are as brave as a lion.

Simile Practice Directions: Complete the following comparisons He is as tall as ____________. She is as fast as ___________. My little brother is as funny as __________. Her eyes were _________ like ___________.

Metaphor Definition: Examples: a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else Examples: Her voice is music to his ears. The assignment was a breeze.

Metaphor Practice Directions: In the metaphors below, identify what is being compared. My dad is a bear in the morning before he drinks his coffee. ________ is being compared to ________ When it was her turn to dance, Melissa was as graceful as a butterfly. Steven’s angry words were bullets that hit Greg right in his heart.

Hyperbole Definition: Examples: A deliberate exaggeration or overstatement Examples: Your suitcase weighs a ton! My grandmother is old as dirt. It’s raining cats and dogs.

Hyperbole Practice Directions: Complete the following sentences by making it a hyperbole I am so tired, I could sleep ___________. It is so hot, I could ___________.

Personification Definition: Examples: A type of figurative language in which a nonhuman subject is given human characteristics Examples: The wind whispered through the dry grass. The flowers danced in the gentle breeze.

Personification Practice Directions: Identify the object that is being personified; then identify what human trait/quality is being given. As we walked through the scorching desert, the sun beat down on us. Time crawled as Tim waited for detention to end. As Sheila walked home from school, the wind gripped her.

Imagery Definition: Examples: Descriptive language used in literature to create word pictures for the reader; the pictures are created by details of sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, or movement Examples: It was dark and dim in the forest. (sight) The children were screaming and shouting in the fields. (sound)

Imagery Practice Directions: Identify the imagery details in the following sentences and the sense that it appeals to. He whiffed the aroma of brewed coffee. The girl ran her hands on a soft satin fabric.

Alliteration Definition: Examples: The repetition of beginning consonant sounds Examples: But a better butter makes a batter better Shelly sells sea shells by the seashore

Alliteration Practice Directions: Complete the following sentences by continuing the pattern. Dirty dogs ________ in the dirt. ________ snakes slithering in the _______.

Oxymoron Definition: Examples: A combination of words, or parts of words, that contradict (go against) each other Examples: Open secret Loud silence

Foreshadowing Definition: Example: The use of clues that suggest events that have yet to happen Example: Fred left the house at eleven o’clock and drove into town. He was meeting his father for lunch at Brown’s. Officially, they were just ‘catching up,’ but they both knew Fred needed money again- and not such a small amount this time, either.

Flashback Definition: Example: When an author presents material that occurred earlier than the present tense of the narrative; the event can happen in a character’s memory, a dream, or an account of past events Example: As she sat in the park, she felt a sense of joy as she was reminded of her childhood.

Irony Definition: Types of Irony: The difference between appearance and reality, or expectation and result Types of Irony: Verbal Irony: use of words to mean something opposite than what is meant; sarcasm Situational Irony: an event happens that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience Dramatic Irony: a contradiction between what the character thinks and what the audience knows to be true

Irony Examples Verbal Irony: Situational Irony: Dramatic Irony: Stacy sighed, “Oh, great,” as she realized she left her homework on her bed. Situational Irony: John has been a vegetarian for seven years. When he arrived to the party he was starving. He devoured a slice of pepperoni pizza. Dramatic Irony: Two people are engaged to be married but the audience knows that the man is planning to run away with another woman.

Symbolism Definition: Examples: Using an object to stand for something else Examples: He gave her a rose to show that he loved her. The veterans were honored to receive new flags when they went to the memorial ceremony.

Symbolism Practice Directions: Identify what each of the symbols stand for. When the girl saw the flashing red light, she knew to turn around. He gave a “thumbs up” to the children after their performance.

Paradox Definition: Examples: A statement that seems contradictory but actually may be true Examples: Nobody went to that restaurant because it’s too crowded. This is the beginning of the end. Love is a disease.

Assonance Definition: Examples: The repetition of vowel sounds followed by different consonants in two or more stressed syllables Examples: Row row row your boat Try to light the fire.

Consonance Definition: Examples: The repetition of the final consonant sounds in stressed syllables with different vowel sounds Examples: Do you believe in love? Tick, tock when the clock.