1. Proverbs Figurative Language In Lesson 42 you will:
Understand what is a ‘proverb’.
Interpret ‘proverbs’.
You can misunderstand the text you are reading because of words you encounter. Individual words can prevent you from understanding if you don’t have an effective strategy to help you. What can you do when this happens. To become an independent and confident reader you need to use the strategy called, Context Clues.

2. What do you think this means?
Figurative Language
What is a proverb?
Proverbs are a short popular saying of sometimes unknown authorship, expressing some general truth, example: Haste makes waste.
What do you think this means?
Maybe you can pronounce all the words on your page, but you don’t know what they mean. That is a problem. You will not be to understand what you are reading. Your mental picture of what you are reading will break down.
Stop reading and do Context Clues to support your reading comprehension.

3. When we hurry we usually end up
Figurative Language
What is a proverb?
Haste makes waste.
When we hurry we usually end up
wasting our time and we have to redo correctly what we tried to do quickly. This happens to everyone!
It is a general experience. Has this ever happened to you?

4. Where do you find proverbs?
Proverbs, like other forms of figurative language, are everywhere. People use them in conversation, too. You will find them in TV advertisements, movies, and in a variety of genres in literature. A proverb sounds like a philosophy because it expresses a truth from observations on human behavior. We will explore several together.
Maybe you can pronounce all the words on your page, but you don’t know what they mean. That is a problem. You will not be to understand what you are reading. Your mental picture of what you are reading will break down.
Stop reading and do Context Clues to support your reading comprehension.

5. Proverbs
Proverbs are found in most cultures, and are often very ancient. The Hebrew scriptures include a book of proverbs. This is the Old Testament part of the Bible. Many poets and novels put proverbs into their writing, too!

6. Proverbs
Examples:
‘Mustn't cry over spilt milk’
Meaning: When you have an accident, you need to just fix the damage done instead of whining about it. You move on.
Like idioms, you cannot figure out the meaning of a proverb literally, word by word. You have to think behind the words for the deeper meaning.

7. You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.
Proverbs
Example:
You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.
Meaning:
If you want results you need to be sweet, not sour. This addresses attitudes. Positive attitudes see more desirable results!
Maybe you can pronounce all the words on your page, but you don’t know what they mean. That is a problem. You will not be to understand what you are reading. Your mental picture of what you are reading will break down.
Stop reading and do Context Clues to support your reading comprehension.

8. More examples you may encounter in your reading or conversations:
Proverbs
More examples you may encounter in your reading or conversations:
A Friend in need is a friend indeed- A real friend is one who can be counted on in difficult times.
The early bird catches the worm-Those who get things done sooner reap the rewards.

9. Proverbs
5. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. You can count on what you already have. It is more practical than wishing for more.
6. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. You can guide someone and give advice but you can’t make them use it or do what you advise.

10. Proverbs
7. Birds of a feather flock together- People with common interests and ways tend to stick together in groups.
8. When a cat is away, the mice will play-When the person in charge is gone, people don’t do their work. They get into trouble.

11. Let’s look at a couple and analyze what they could mean….
Proverbs in the Bible
What do they mean?
What is the purpose of a proverb? What kinds of messages or lessons do the proverbs teach?
Maybe you can pronounce all the words on your page, but you don’t know what they mean. That is a problem. You will not be to understand what you are reading. Your mental picture of what you are reading will break down.
Stop reading and do Context Clues to support your reading comprehension.
Let’s look at a couple and analyze
what they could mean….

12. Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart.
Proverbs in the Bible
What does this mean?
Just as water mirrors your face,
so your face mirrors your heart.
(Proverbs 27: 19)
Just as you can see your reflection on the surface of water, so people can often tell by your face how you
are feeling. (the heart)
Maybe you can pronounce all the words on your page, but you don’t know what they mean. That is a problem. You will not be to understand what you are reading. Your mental picture of what you are reading will break down.
Stop reading and do Context Clues to support your reading comprehension.

13. 2. A miser in a hurry to get rich
Proverbs in the Bible
What does this mean?
2. A miser in a hurry to get rich
doesn’t know that he’ll end up broke. (Proverbs 28:22)
Greediness and stinginess will rob the person who thinks this way will make him or her rich.
Maybe you can pronounce all the words on your page, but you don’t know what they mean. That is a problem. You will not be to understand what you are reading. Your mental picture of what you are reading will break down.
Stop reading and do Context Clues to support your reading comprehension.

14. 3. Pride lands you flat on your face;
Proverbs in the Bible
What does this mean?
3. Pride lands you flat on your face;
humility prepares you for honor. (Proverbs 29:23)
Pride will bring you down. Humility will bring you up. Pride is thinking too highly of yourself. Humility respects others as valuable.
Maybe you can pronounce all the words on your page, but you don’t know what they mean. That is a problem. You will not be to understand what you are reading. Your mental picture of what you are reading will break down.
Stop reading and do Context Clues to support your reading comprehension.

15. 5. If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the
Proverbs in the Bible
What does this mean?
5. If you fall to pieces in a crisis,
there wasn’t much to you in the
first place. (Proverbs 24: 10)
You can know how strong a person really is by the way they respond in a difficult time.
Maybe you can pronounce all the words on your page, but you don’t know what they mean. That is a problem. You will not be to understand what you are reading. Your mental picture of what you are reading will break down.
Stop reading and do Context Clues to support your reading comprehension.

16. How proverbs are written: Alliteration (Forgive and forget)
Parallelism (Nothing ventured, nothing gained)
Rhyme (When the cat is away, the mice will play)
Ellipsis (Once bitten, twice shy)

17. Hyperbole: exaggeration to make a point, (All is fair in love and war)
Proverbs
Hyperbole: exaggeration to make a point, (All is fair in love and war)
Paradox: opposites, (For there to be peace there must first be war)
Personification: used often in proverbs, (Hunger is the best cook)

18. Try creating a few of your own!
Proverbs
Try creating a few of your own!
In your journal practice writing
some proverbs following one or more of these styles. Have fun!

19. GET TO KNOW NEW FRIENDS, BUT DON’T GIVE UP THE OLD ONES.
Proverbs
In your journal write the following
proverbs from different countries around the world. Write what
you think they mean.
GET TO KNOW NEW FRIENDS, BUT DON’T GIVE UP THE OLD ONES.
(Bulgaria)

20. Proverbs
In your journal write the following
proverb and write what you think it
means.
2. A MAN WHO HAS COMMITTED A MISTAKE AND DOESN’T CORRECT IT IS COMMITTING ANOTHER MISTAKE. (China)

21. 3. A HANDFUL OF FRIENDS IS BETTER THAN A WAGON FULL OF GOLD.
Proverbs
In your journal write the following
proverb and write what you think it
means.
3. A HANDFUL OF FRIENDS IS BETTER THAN A WAGON FULL OF GOLD.
(Czech Republic)

22. 4. NICE WORDS ARE FREE, SO CHOOSE ONES TO PLEASE ANOTHER’S EARS.
Proverbs
In your journal write the following
proverb and write what you think it
means.
4. NICE WORDS ARE FREE, SO CHOOSE ONES TO PLEASE ANOTHER’S EARS.
(Vietnam)

23. 5. SILENCE IS BETTER THAN SPEECH. (Cambodia)
Proverbs
In your journal write the following
proverb and write what you think it
means.
5. SILENCE IS BETTER THAN SPEECH.
(Cambodia)

24. Write a response in your journal:
Proverbs
Write a response in your journal:
***What do proverbs show about what people believe and value (e.g., friendship, hard work)?

25. Reading is Thinking Practice
Read the following passage: Proverbs 1:1-33, The Message
Respond in your journal on the following:
What is the main idea of this chapter? (Make sure you support your opinion by using the text.)

26. 2. What connections did you make with this chapter
2. What connections did you make with this chapter? What questions do you have?
(Think about the proverbs that speak to you that you can relate to.) Share your connections and questions in the Discussion Forum with others taking this course!

27. Here are some questions I want you to reflect on in your journal:
What do you think it means to “Start with God”? (Proverbs 1:7) Explain.
Record examples of figurative language you find as you read this chapter. Record them in your journal. What type of figurative language is it?

28. Good-Bye, until next time!
Writing
We will be talking about inference skills in our next lesson. Practice writing by writing in your journal. Just remember to write a new date and title for new entries or topics! Keep up your reading! Use the CROPQV to show reading is thinking!
Good-Bye, until next time!