Transcript Figurative Language: Metaphors and Similes

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 ________________________________.