Figurative Language: Metaphors and Similes

OBJECTIVES Students will use images to create similes/metaphors that have meaning. Students will be able to interpret a poet’s meaning through his or her use of metaphors or similes. Connect IMAGE to MEANING Students will be able to derive THEME of a poem, based on figurative language.

Figurative Language Prep All Figurative Language is based on IMAGERY. To understand what a poet means, we have to understand the image. Activity: I will put up an IMAGE. You must do the following: 1. Give the image a TITLE or TOPIC 2. Explain or Summarize what’s going on in the picture. 3. Then, fill in the blank: “X” is like _______(Image)________. Come up with a comparison of your own. What can you figuratively explain about an experience that the image captures?

EXAMPLE This is a picture of a bike race, with a guy winning…BARELY. 1. Title/Topic: Barely getting the win after a 150-mile race. 2. Summary: These guys fought it out the same, they are ALL right there, but only one guy gets the trophy. There is no prize for the others. 3. Comparison: Trying to get promoted is LIKE eking out a win after 150 miles

Your turn…Picture #1

Picture 2

Picture 3

NOTES! SIMILE: A comparison between two LIKE objects, using “like” or “as” to connect the ideas. Life is LIKE a box of chocolates. Similes are not as “strong” as… METAPHOR: A direct comparison between two UNLIKE objects. “Life IS a box of chocolates.” Metaphors can be DIRECT (like above) or INDIRECT. Both have a VEHICLE (initial object) and a TENOR (the image) You must be able to “see” the image to understand the meaning. Images can be POSITIVE or NEGATIVE.

Now…go backwards Read “Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes. What do you think he is saying about “Dreams?” He uses FIVE similes and ONE metaphor. Create a Web Organizer as shown. What does Hughes REALLY mean?

Dream Deferred By Langston Hughes What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? Using graphic organizer, IDENTIFY the FIVE similes, and the ONE metaphor. “Dreams” = the Vehicle Images = the Tenor

Write a paragraph to explain the meaning of Hughes’ poem. In “Dream Deferred,” the poet thinks that dreams that are put on hold are ________________. We see this through his use of similes. For example, when the speaker says that dreams are like “____________________,” he means _________________________. _______________. When he writes that dreams are like ____________, he suggests that_____________________. For all SIX: LONG PARAGRAPH. Because of the use of similes and metaphors, it is easy to see that theme of this poem is ________________________________.