Figurative Language Thursday, September 30 th

Figurative Language  Not meant to be taken literally

Figurative Language  Not meant to be taken literally  Relies on creative use of wordplay

Figurative Language  Not meant to be taken literally  Relies on creative use of wordplay  Enhances meaning

Figurative Language  Not meant to be taken literally  Relies on creative use of wordplay  Enhances meaning  Helps the reader make connections

Similes  A comparison between two things using LIKE or AS

Similes  Example  Life is like fighting a dinosaur.

Similes  Example  Life is like fighting a dinosaur.  What is the comparison being made? Hmmm…let’s break it down…

Life is like fighting a dinosaur.  Life is like fighting a dinosaur.  Fighting a dinosaur would be really difficult.

Life is like fighting a dinosaur.  Life is like fighting a dinosaur.  Fighting a dinosaur would be really difficult. They’re gigantic and extinct.

Life is like fighting a dinosaur.  Life is like fighting a dinosaur.  Fighting a dinosaur would be really difficult. They’re gigantic and extinct.  So that means that if I say life is like fighting a dinosaur, that means that life can be really difficult. Hello comparison!

Life is like…  Brainstorm other possible comparisons we could use to show that life is difficult. Think to yourself, what else would be really difficult?  Write these in your notebook.  Life is like… a dinosaur 1) 2)

Life is like…  Share out with your partner!  Write down one of the two examples your partner wrote. This means, you’ll have FOUR, yes four, similes illustrating that life is difficult.  Life is like… a dinosaur 1) [awesome, original simile] 2) [awesome, original simile, part deux] 3) [awesome, original simile from your partner]

Family is like water.  Family is like water.  What is the comparison?

Family is like water.  Family is like water.  What is the comparison?  Water: you need it to live, but too much can kill you.

Family is like water.  Brainstorm other possible comparisons we could use to show that family is necessary, but too much is a bad thing. Ask yourself, “Self, what is something I need, yet too much of this item can be a bad thing?”  Write these in your notebook.  Family is like…water 1) 2)

Metaphor  Metaphor: a comparison between two things NOT using like or as.

Metaphors  Example  Love is a dodgeball.

Metaphors  Example  Love is a dodgeball.  Comparison: You try your best to avoid a dodgeball, and it still hits you in the face.

 Another example:  Life is a pile of crap.

 Another example:  Life is a pile of crap. On fire.

 Another example:  Life is a pile of crap. On fire.  Comparison: A pile of crap is not a good thing. Therefore, events in life are not always good.

Life is …  Write down TWO other comparisons we could make about life and how sometimes it sucks.  Life is… 1) [something that’s bad] 2) [something else that’s bad]

Life is…  Share and swap one example with your partner!  Be ready for a whip-around of other examples!

Quick Recap  Simile: makes a comparison using LIKE or AS  Metaphor: makes a comparison NOT using like or as So…

Quick Recap SimileMetaphor Love is like a battlefield. Love is a battlefield. Love is like a dodgeball. Love is a dodgeball. Life is like a pile of crap. Life is a pile of crap.

Euphemism  Euphemism: words that hide, downplay, or understate the importance or severity of something.

Euphemism  Example  When I asked the doctor about my gunshot wound to the face, he said it was just a scratch. If you know what movie this still frame is from, you are my new favorite student.

Euphemism  Example  When I asked the doctor about my gunshot wound to the face, he said it was just a scratch.

Euphemism  When I asked the doctor about my gunshot wound to the face, he said it was just a scratch.  Severity of something: gunshot wound  Downplay: just a scratch

Euphemism  When I scored a 3% on a test, I told my mom that I almost passed.  What is the severe situation?  How is it downplayed?  Write down the sentence and your answers…

Euphemism  When I scored a 3% on a test, I told my mom that I almost passed.  What is the severe situation?  3% on a test  How is it downplayed?  Saying I almost passed. Not. Even. Close.

Euphemism  1) Write down a situation that is severe or highly important.

Euphemism  1) Write down a situation that is severe or highly important.  2) Switch notes with your partner. You will now write a euphemism for the sever situation he/she wrote. Think to yourself, what is one way I can downplay this severe situation…  Be ready to share out…

Personification  What does this word look like?

Personification  What does this word look like? PERSON ification So why does this matter?

Personification  Personification: attributing human qualities to nonhuman beings or inanimate objects

Personification  Examples  My car hates me.

My car hates me. Miss, a car can’t hate! It’s inanimate!

My car hates me. Miss, a car can’t hate! It’s inanimate! You’re right! It IS inanimate, but we are giving it a human quality (hate). That’s why it is PERSONIFICATION.

Another example? Okay!  My mirror is trying to make me feel bad about myself.

Another example? Okay!  My mirror is trying to make me feel bad about myself. That jerk.  What is the inanimate object?

Another example? Okay!  My mirror is trying to make me feel bad about myself. That jerk.  What is the inanimate object? The mirror.

Another example? Okay!  My mirror is trying to make me feel bad about myself. That jerk.  What is the inanimate object? The mirror.  What is the human attribute?

Another example? Okay!  My mirror is trying to make me feel bad about myself. That jerk.  What is the inanimate object? The mirror.  What is the human attribute? Making me feel bad about myself. And being a jerk.

Personify this!  Step 1: Pick an inanimate object.  Step 2: Pick a human attribute.

Personify this!  Step 1: Pick an inanimate object.  Step 2: Pick a human attribute.  Step 3: Pick a partner. And by “pick,” I mean look at the person next to you. Assign one person “1” and one person “2”

Personify this!  Step 1: Pick an inanimate object.  Step 2: Pick a human attribute.  Step 3: Pick a partner. And by “pick,” I mean look at the person next to you. Assign one person “1” and one person “2”  Step 4: Create TWO examples of personification.  1) Use the object of person 1 and the human attribute of person 2.  2) Use the object of person 2 and the human attribute of person 1.

Hyperbole  Hyperbole: a deliberate and obvious exaggeration.

Hyperbole  Example  I ate 40 pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving.

Hyperbole  Example  I ate 40 pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving.  There is no way I could eat 40 pounds of turkey. I used this form of figurative language to really prove a point.  My point: I ate a lot. Not quite 40 pounds, but a lot.

Hyperbole  I had to wait a year for you to show up.  What is the exaggeration here? Tell it to your partner.

Hyperbole  My cat weight 300 pounds.

Hyperbole  My cat weight 300 pounds. And she eats people. Nom nom nom…

Your turn! Hyperbolize it!  Practice creating hyperboles!  Step 1: think of something

Your turn! Hyperbolize it!  Practice creating hyperboles!  Step 1: think of something  A person  A place  A thing  Oh hey! Those are nouns!

Your turn! Hyperbolize it!  Practice creating hyperboles!  Step 2: exaggerate it  Use your adjectives!  Reference its  Size  Color  Timing/frequency  Number/weight