Figurative Language Figuring it Out

Figurative and Literal Language Literally: words function exactly as defined The car is blue. He caught the football. Figuratively: figure out what it means I’ve got your back. You’re a doll. ^Figures of Speech

Simile Comparison of two things using “like” or “as.” Examples The metal twisted like a ribbon. She is as sweet as candy.

Important! Using “like” or “as” doesn’t make a simile. A comparison must be made. Not a Simile: I like pizza. Simile: The moon is like a pizza.

Metaphor Two things are compared without using “like” or “as.” Examples All the world is a stage. Men are dogs. She has a stone heart.

Personification Giving human traits to objects or ideas. Examples The sunlight danced. Water on the lake shivers. The streets are calling me.

Hyperbole Exaggerating to show strong feeling or effect. Examples I will love you forever. My house is a million miles from here. She’d kill me.

Understatement Expression with less strength than expected. The opposite of hyperbole. I’ll be there in one second. This won’t hurt a bit.

How to Identify Figurative Language

Is it a comparison between two things? Yes Does it use “like” or “as”? No Are they exaggerating too much or too little? YesNo SimileMetaphor Yes No Too Much? Too Little? Hyperbole Understatement Object or idea doing human things? Personification YesNo ?

Poetic Devices The Sounds of Poetry

Alliteration When the first sounds in words repeat. Example Peter Piper picked a pickled pepper. We lurk late. We shoot straight.

Assonance Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. It is often used in combination with consonance and alliteration. Example He saw the cost and hauled off. Notice the repetition of the “awe” sounds? (Depending on your dialect I suppose). Assonance can be subtle and may go unnoticed if you’re not scanning for it.

Consonance When consonants repeat in the middle or end of words. Vowels: a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y. Consonants: all other letters. Examples Mammals named Sam are clammy. Curse, bless me now! With fierce tears I prey.

Enjambment Enjambment is when the writer uses line breaks meaningfully and abruptly to create dual meanings or for emphasis. When a poem is read, the reader will conventionally make a slight pause (shorter than a comma) when transitioning from line to line in a poem. When a writer uses enjambment, he or she uses this space to spread an idea. Example Rolling through the field in the dead of winter.

Imagery Imagery is when the writer or speaker uses their descriptions to access the senses of the reader or listener. Sometimes this is called, using sensory details. When I say “senses” or “sensory,” I am referring to the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. Example The winter evening settles down With smell of steaks in passageways. Six o'clock. The burnt-out ends of smoky days.

Idiom An idiom is an expression that means something other than the literal meanings of its individual words. Example "Under the weather" is a common idiom or idiomatic expression. You might miss a day of school because you feel "under the weather." The meaning of the expression has nothing to do with the weather. It means you feel ill. You have to memorize the meanings of idioms or figure out their meanings by using context clues.

Onomatopoeia When a word’s pronunciation imitates its sound. Examples BuzzFizzWoof HissClinkBoom BeepVroomZip

Rhythm When words are arranged in such a way that they make a pattern or beat. Example There once was a girl from Chicago Who dyed her hair pink in the bathtub I’m making a pizza the size of the sun. Hint: hum the words instead of saying them.

Rhyme When words have the same end sound. Happens at the beginning, end, or middle of lines. Examples Where Fair Air Bear Glare

Repetition Repeating a word or words for effect. Example Nobody No, nobody Can make it out here alone. Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody Can make it out here alone.

Quiz On a separate sheet of paper… 1.I will put an example of figurative language on the board. 2.You will write whether it is an simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, or understatement. 3.You can use your notes.

1 He drew a line as straight as an arrow.

2 Knowledge is a kingdom and all who learn are kings and queens.

3 Can I see you for a second?

4 The sun was beating down on me.

5 A flag wags like a fishhook there in the sky.

6 I'd rather take baths with a man-eating shark, or wrestle a lion alone in the dark, eat spinach and liver, pet ten porcupines, than tackle the homework, my teacher assigns.

7 Ravenous and savage from its long polar journey, the North Wind is searching for food—

8 The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

9 Can I have one of your chips?

10 I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise

Answers 1.Simile 2.Metaphor 3.Understatement 4.Personification 5.Simile 6.Hyperbole 7.Personification 8.Metaphor 9.Understatement 10. Metaphor