figurative language: tropes change in the meaning of words

Figurative Language: Tropes

Change in the meaning of words

Figurative language

is language that goes beyond the normal meaning of the words used. It’s language that is not meant to be taken literally.

(metaphors and similes are examples of figurative language)– Example:

Her eyes are like two diamonds. (her eyes aren’t actually diamonds—it’s figurative, not literal)

What is figurative language?

Here are some examples. What do you think figurative language means?

The wind whispered softly through the trees.

The cafeteria pizza was a soggy, droopy piece of cardboard.

The teacher glared like a furious dragon.

What is figurative language?

The wind whispered through the trees

Can wind really whisper?

What is the author trying to tell us about wind?

What is figurative language?

The cafeteria pizza was a soggy, droopy piece of cardboard.

Is the pizza really cardboard?

What is the author trying to tell us about the pizza?

What is figurative language?

The teacher glared like a furious dragon.

Was the teacher really a dragon?

What is the author trying to tell us about the teacher?

What is figurative language?

Figurative language expresses an idea that goes beyond the actual meaning of the words

Wind can’t whisper…but the expression gives you an idea of how the wind sounds

Types of Figurative Language Simile - a comparison between two unlike

objects using like or as. Similes are easy to spot!!

Examples:

The team’s center looked like a skyscraper. My love is like a red, red rose. We were as quiet as frightened mice.

Types of Figurative LanguageMetaphor - a comparison between two unlike

things that does not use “like” or “as”

A metaphor is a bit more sophisticated than a simile.

In a metaphor, a poet writes that X is Y. Readers understand that we are not to take the comparison literally, but that the metaphor helps us to see X in a new way.

Examples: My brother is a prince. Richard was a lion in the fight. Her eyes are dark emeralds. Her teeth are pearls.

Types of Figurative Language

Personification – to give human thoughts and qualities to non-human objects.

Examples: John Milton calls time “the subtle thief of youth” (599).

Homer refers to “the rosy fingers of dawn” (599).

The stars smiled down on us.

An angry wind slashed its way across the island.

Personification (continued)

The tree stood tall and proud by the curving path

How is this sentence showing the tree doing something that trees don’t really do?

Practice: example 1

The airplane landed as gracefully as a

ballerina.

What is it? Personification Simile Metaphor

answer: Example # 1The airplane landed as gracefully as a

ballerina.

What is it?

Simile

Example # 1

The airplane landed as gracefully as

a ballerina.Interpret the simile What is the author

comparing? What is the author

trying to tell us?

Practice: Example #2

The water smashed angrily against the

rocks.

What is it? Personification Simile Metaphor

Answer: Example #2

The water smashed angrily against the

rocks.

What is it? Personification

Example #2

The water smashed angrily against the rocks.

Interpret the personification! What is the water

doing that water doesn’t really do?

What is the author trying to tell us about the water?

Practice: Example #3

My brother’s room was a dark, mysterious

cave.

What is it? Personification Simile Metaphor

Answer: Example #3

My brother’s room was a dark, mysterious

cave.

What is it?

Metaphor

Example #3

My brother’s room was a dark, mysterious cave.

Interpret the metaphor! What is the author

comparing?

What is the author trying to show about the brother’s room?

Types of Figurative Language

Onomatopoeia (o no mat o pee ya) – a word that sounds like what it means

Examples:

buzz

cock-a-doodle-doo

whip

Onomatopoeia (continued)

The onomatopoeic Snap, Crackle and Pop!

-- Kellog’s Rice Crispies

Onomatopoeia (continued)

"Onomatopoeia every time I see yaMy senses tell me hubbaAnd I just can't disagree.I get a feeling in my heart that I can't describe. . . .

It's sort of whack, whir, wheeze, whineSputter, splat, squirt, scrapeClink, clank, clunk, clatterCrash, bang, beep, buzzRing, rip, roar, retchTwang, toot, tinkle, thudPop, plop, plunk, powSnort, snuck, sniff, smackScreech, splash, squish, squeakJingle, rattle, squeal, boingHonk, hoot, hack, belch."

(Todd Rundgren, "Onomatopoeia")

Types of Figurative Language

Allusion – referring to a person, idea, event, etc. from art, culture, or history to get across an idea.

– Allusion means 'reference'

– Allusion relies on the reader being able to understand the allusion and being familiar with the meaning hidden behind the words.

Allusion (continued)

Examples: She is the Brittany Spears of our school!

– What would this mean about the girl he/she is describing?

Describing someone as a "Romeo" makes an allusion to the famous young lover in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

Types of Figurative Language

Hyperbole – exaggeration used for emphasis– Often for dramatic or humorous effect

Examples: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!

– Could I literally eat an entire horse? NO!

– Why would I say that if I didn’t mean it?

– To show I am really, really hungry.

Practice: Is it hyperbole, personification, allusion, onomatopoeia, simile, or metaphor?1. Alladin

Jafar: Gazeem was obviously less than worthy. Iago: Wow! There’s a big surprise! I think I'm going to have a heart attack and die, from that surprise.

Answer: hyperbole

Practice: Is it hyperbole, allusion, onomatopoeia, personification, simile, or metaphor? 2. Austin Powers: International Man of

Mystery

Austin: She's the village

bicycle! Everybody's

had a ride.Answer: metaphor

Practice: Is it hyperbole, allusion, onomatopoeia, personification, simile, or metaphor? Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Cameron: What'd I do? Ferris: You killed the car.

Answer:personification

Practice: Is it hyperbole, allusion, onomatopoeia, personification, simile, or metaphor? Ghostbusters

Egon: "I feel like the floor of a taxi cab."

Answer:simile

Practice: Is it hyperbole, allusion, onomatopoeia, personification, simile, or metaphor? Family Guy

Tom Tucker: A bit of breaking news. A local family is forced out of their home by ghosts. Who are they gonna call?

Diane Simmons (sighs):

Ghostbusters, Tom.

Tom Tucker: No, Diane. Their insurance company. That's just stupid what you said.

Answer:allusion

Practice: Is it hyperbole, allusion, onomatopoeia, personification, simile, or metaphor? Hot Shots!

"I've fallen for you like a blind roofer.“

“I could never find time for love -- too heavy -- it's an

anchor that drowns a man.”

Answer: simile

Answer: metaphor

Practice: Is it hyperbole, allusion, onomatopoeia, personification, simile, or metaphor? Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins: In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and - SNAP - the job's a game!

Answer: onomatopoeia

Practice: Is it hyperbole, allusion, onomatopoeia, personification, simile, or metaphor?

Meet the Parents

Greg "Gaylord" Focker: “The only way that I would ever let go of my bag would be if

you came over here right now and tried to pry it from my dead, lifeless fingers, okay?”

Answer: hyperbole