Figurative Language speech/writing that departs from literal meaning in order to achieve a special effect or meaning.

Alliteration Alliteration: repetition within a line or phrase of the same initial sound or letter. Example: “One mother who is tired all the time from buttoning and bottling, and babying”(29).

Imagery Imagery: language that creates a recognizable world by drawing on our common experiences. Example: “Down the corner where the men can’t take their eyes off us. We must be Christmas” (40).

Metaphor Metaphor: suggests a comparison by wording a sentence as if two unlike things are the same. The comparison is never directly stated. Example: “But my mother’s hair…is the warm smell of bread before you bake it.”

Simile Simile: a comparison is directly stated using “like” or “as” Example: “They don’t walk like ordinary dogs but leap and somersault like an apostrophe and comma” (71).

Personification Personification: language that attributes human qualities to things, animals, or nature. Example: “Looking smaller still, our house with its feet tucked under like a cat” (22).

Hyperbole Hyperbole: A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect. Example: “I shake my head no. My feet growing bigger and bigger” (47).

Assonance and Consonance Consonance: repetition of consonant sounds within a phrase (again, not always the initial letter!) The black chicken pecked at the candy corn. Assonance: repetition of vowel sounds within a phrase (not the initial letter!) Like a diamond in the sky.

Activity Grab a copy of The House on Mango Street. Look for at least two examples of each type of figurative language. Write out the quote, the page number, and one sentence explaining what the figurative language means literally. You may work with a partner.

When You Finish Write your sentences using figurative language! You must have one sentence for each of the six types. Imitate the subject of your first vignette if you have it. If not, choose something that you can write about easily. Put your six sentences into a vignette-like paragraph. You’re telling a story using figurative language!