What is figurative language?

- Can describe something through the use of unusual comparisons.

- Figurative language is not intended to be interpreted in a literal sense.

- Appealing to the imagination, figurative language provides new ways of looking at the world. - Using figurative language helps you write with expression and feeling.

- Figurative language helps us turn words and ideas into vivid images in our minds.

Examples of Figurative Language Simile Personification Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Idiom Onomatopoeia

Let’s Start with Similes: A simile makes a comparison between two unlike things.

A simile always uses the words “ like ” or “ as ” in the comparison.

Let’s take a closer look at a simile: “Her eyes are like stars!”

What two things are being compared?

and

What does this mean?

It could mean that her eyes are beautiful, bright, mysterious, shining, glittering, or bedazzling. What do you think?

For more practice:

What is a Metaphor?

It’s not just something to keep the cows in!

A Metaphor: Makes a comparison unlike things BY between two Suggesting that one thing is something else.

Let’s look at a metaphor: “My love is a rose.”

What two things are being compared?

AND

What does this mean ?

It could mean that the feeling of love is beautiful like a rose, or that the person is like a rose in some way. What do you think?

Compare Similes and Metaphors Simile Both Metaphor

In her book Owl Moon, Jane Yolan uses many different examples of figurative language.

Can you identify the similes & metaphors?

“The trees stood still as giant statues.”_________ “But I was a shadow as we walked home.”________ “The moon made his face into a silver mask.”_______ “Somewhere behind us a train whistle blew long and low, like a sad, sad song.”_____________ “And when their voices faded away it was as quiet as dream.” _______________ -Jane Yolen, Owl Moon, 1987

Can you find the similes in the poem?

“Drumpp the Grump” I’m Drumpp the grump of the garbage dump, I’m a contradictory cuss, I’m grubby and gruff, and just as rough as an old rhinoceros.

I’m mean as a bear that’s burned his hair, I’ve nothing nice to say, I don’t like you…or you…or YOU!

You’d better go away.

I never wash, and like to squash my fingers into worms, I’m full of fleas and smelly cheese and fifty million germs.

I’m Drumpp, the grump of the garbage dump, I’m hard as a battering ram, but I want you to know before you go… I LIKE THE WAY I AM!

I swallow food before it’s chewed, I belch an awful lot, I smell like a goat, and wear a coat that swarms with slime and rot.

-James Stevenson,

The New Kid on the

Block, 1984

What is Alliteration?

Alliteration a kind of is a form of figurative language that accentuates or unites words or concepts through repetition .

Alliteration is the repetition of initial sounds in a phrase or sentence.

Here are some examples of Alliteration :

Alphabetically aware alligators always address audiences adequately.

Silly Suzy Snodgrass sneezes in a series of seven.

Terrible ________ tries to _______ ten _______ at a _______.

“Bulgy Bunne” Find the alliterative words in the poem.

Bulgy Bunne (the wonder builder) When his work was finally finished, built a boat of brass and wood, Bulgy chose the finest lumber, and the brass was just as good.

Every plank he picked was perfect, there was not a knot in one, for the best was barely suited to the boat of Bulgy Bunne.

Bulgy studied it with pride, for he knew his stalwart sailboat was prepared to face the tide.

Bulgy Bunne made but one blunder, Bulgy’s boat will not leave shore, Bulgy built it in his bedroom …it won’t fit through Bulgy’s door.

Bulgy scraped and sawed and sanded, Chiseled, hammered, planed, and drilled, As he built the grandest sailboat It was possible to build.

Bulgy buffed and Bulgy burnished, Bulgy raised a sturdy mast, Bulgy stitched the strongest fabrics into sails designed to last.

- Jack Prelutsky, The New Kid on the Block,1984

What is Personification?

Figurative language in which human qualities or powers are assigned to: An Animal An Idea A Natural Force An Object

In The Little House, Virginia Lee Burton uses many examples of personification.

What makes the house seem human?

“The Little House was happy as she sat on the hill and watched the countryside around her” (p.2) What words are used to describe the house as a human?

“ ‘This must be living in the city,’ thought the Little House, and didn’t know whether she liked it or not. She missed the field of daisies and the apple trees dancing in the moonlight” (p.20) What things are personified in this passage?

- Virginia Lee Burton, The Little House, 1942

What is hyperbole?

Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration produce an effect.

used to Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is so dramatic that no one would believe the statement is true. Tall tales are hyperboles.

Some examples include: I could sleep for a thousand years.

I could eat a horse.

That box weighs a ton.

You try it! Complete the statements:

If I have told you once, I have told you. . .

I laughed my . . .

I nearly died . . .

Create your own hyperbole. Remember, you need to think of an extreme exaggeration

Oh, you Idiom!

A set expression of two or more words that means something other than the literal meaning of the words.

In other words… An idiom is an expression that means something different from what the words actually mean.

A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush:

Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might lose everything.

A Blessing In Disguise:

Something good that isn't recognized at first.

A Chip On Your Shoulder:

Being upset for something that happened in the past.

A Slap on the Wrist:

A very mild punishment.

Match the idioms with their meanings A Dime A Dozen: A Doubting Thomas: A Drop in the Bucket: A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted: A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand: A Leopard Can't Change His Spots: A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned: A Picture Paints a Thousand Words: A Piece of Cake:

A very small part of something big or whole.

It's easy for a foolish person to lose his/her money. Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will not work out. You cannot change who you are.

By not spending money, you are saving money (little by little).

A visual presentation is far more Anything that is common and easy to get.

A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something.

More descriptive than words.

A task that can be accomplished very easily.

Onomatopoeia

Figurative Language

• • • • • • • as alike as two peas in a pod water plops into pond Dan’s dog dove deep in the dam, drinking dirty water as he dove To say the sun is smiling •We are so poor; we don’t have two cents to rub together The snow is a white blanket It’s raining cats and dogs

Links for games and exercises similes http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/cet/flashactivities/similes.html

Review fig language http://www.quia.com/hm/80390.html

Alliteration or simile http://school.discoveryeducation.com/quizzes26/gumbie7/PoetryPieces.html