Figurative Language: Idioms, Analogies, Similes, and Metaphors

Figurative Language: Idioms, Analogies, Similes, and Metaphors An IntroductionFigurative vs. Literal LanguageTeachers commonly say, Come in quietly, take a seat, and get started immediately on your work. That is exactly what is required of you and that is literal. Teachers may say, Come in as quietly as a mouse. They dont want you to really act like a mouse; it is meant to emphasize the request for quiet or add flavor to the sentence. That is a figure of speechfigurative language.Figurative vs. Literal LanguageYour parents surely ask you to clean your room on occasion. Please clean your room today.I want your room as clean as a whistle by the time I get home.Which one is figurative? The second one! (And seriously, how clean is a whistle???)Figurative vs. Literal LanguageLets pretend that you and your friends are at Me n Eds. Suddenly your best friend says, You are such a hog! I wanted another piece of pizza, but it is all gone!This is another example of figurative language. Your friend does not see you as a swine, yet someone who ate a lot of foodjust as a hog may do. Literally would be, You sure ate a lot!Figurative vs. Literal LanguageWikipedia states: Literal language refers to words that do not deviate from their defined meaning. Figurative language refers to words, and groups of words, that exaggerate or alter the usual meanings of the component words.Simply stated: Literal means you say what you mean. Figurative means you use words to exaggerate, emphasize, or add flavor; you do not mean exactly what you say.Figurative vs. Literal LanguageNow turn to your neighbor and explain to him/her the difference between figurative and literal.

Reminder: Literal means you say what you mean. Figurative means you use words to exaggerate, emphasize, or add flavor; you do not mean exactly what you say.

Idioms, Analogies, Similes, and MetaphorsUsing comparisons, each of these add spice to our speaking, reading, and writing.

IdiomsA speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements, as in keep tabs on. WikipediaIdiom ExamplesRome was not built in a day; be patient.She is all ears; she never misses anything said!Joy sure has a nose for news.Mr. Smith has eyes in the back of his head.Its raining cats and dogs.Lets kill two birds with one stone and get both of these jobs done at the same time.Keep your eyes peeled for a Starbucks.That experience left a bad taste in my mouth.When I heard the bad news, I tried to keep a stiff upper lip rather than crying.

IdiomsIf you visit a foreign country, beware of idioms! They can confuse the non-native!If you know someone new to America, be helpful and explain idiom meanings. They can leave a person bewildered!Here is an excellent source for more examples. http://www.idiomsite.com/Try these on for size! (Not literally!)

IdiomsRemember: Idioms have an entirely different meaning than the sentence states. While visiting France, I was taken to the most beautiful, exquisite restaurant several stories high, led by narrow, winding staircases. The rooms were decorated like the time near the height of the Roman Empire. I said to my French friend, A meal here must cost a pretty penny! He looked at me like Id lost my marbles. What did I really mean? (And did I really have any marbles to lose?)Idiom Practice! Your turn!Find the two idioms in this passage.

Don't react when the bully is taunting you. Otherwise you will just be playing into his hands. He is trying to push your buttons to get a reaction out of you.

Check your answers!Did you find them?

Don't react when the bully is taunting you. Otherwise you will just be playing into his hands. He is trying to push your buttons to get a reaction out of you.

More Idiom Practice! Find the two idioms in this passage.

Tim decided that he would start his own lawn mowing business. Currently he was working for a man who paid him 35% of what the homeowner paid. Tim was tired of playing second fiddle to a man who was taking advantage of him. Unfortunately, he had to start his own business from scratch, finding new customers.

Check your answers!Did you find them?

Tim decided that he would start his own lawn mowing business. Currently he was working for a man who paid him 35% of what the homeowner paid. Tim was tired of playing second fiddle to a man who was taking advantage of him. Unfortunately, he had to start his own business from scratch, finding new customers.

Last Idiom Practice! Find the two idioms in this passage.

Giving in to peer pressure and trying cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol is dangerous. If you do, you are playing with fire. It is a good rule of thumb to avoid anything that is bad for your body or is mind-altering.

Check your answers!Did you find them?

Giving in to peer pressure and trying cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol is dangerous. If you do, you are playing with fire. It is a good rule of thumb to avoid anything that is bad for your body or is mind-altering.

analogies

A comparison of the similarities between two otherwise dissimilar things. Wikipedia Analogy ExamplesPairs of words with relationships:Dog is to bark as cat is to meow.Stop is to go as above is to below.Son is to boy as daughter is to girl.Nose is to smell as ear is to hear.Up is to down as in is to out.Water is to pool as air is to ballSun is to hot as snow is to cold.

19AnalogiesAnalogies are used to compare things.Sometimes they are useful in keeping your mind sharpkind of like puzzles.Here is a game worth trying! See if you can spot the right words! http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/phonics/analogies/analogiesx.htmIf that one is too fast for you, try this one: http://www.quia.com/cb/7146.htmlNote: This type of analogy is often seen on state tests

AnalogiesOther times analogies are used to help another person to understand a situation better. Lets say that you are having a hard time understanding why your friend is so upset about losing her purse. Finally she says, It is like losing myself. Everything that is about me was in that purse! This helps you understand the significance of the loss.AnalogiesThink about a time when you lost something important, you were especially excited, or you felt extreme sadness.Describe it to your partner, using an analogy to help him/her understand your feelings.Want more examples?When my beloved dog passed away, I had the same feelings as if my heart had been ripped out.The Huns attacked and spread fear. Today we see terrorists attack and people feel that same fear.

Analogy Practice! Read the poem. Day's Journeyby Vivian Gilbert Zabel

The day dawns as a journey.One leaves the station on a train,Rushing past other placesWithout a pause or stop,Watching faces blur as they pass,No time to say goodbye.On and on the train does speedUntil the line's end one sees,Another sunset downWithout any lasting memories.

Analogy Practice! Your turn!What is the analogy in the poem? What is being compared to the passing of a day?If you said, A train speeding by, you are right! If so, you deserve a pat on the back, or a word of congratulations. Both serve the same purpose, right? Just as analogies do. They use comparisons to help you to understand situations or relationships.school work: school; homework: homeno homework; day full of sunshine

similesA figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared, often in a phrase introduced by like or as. Wikipedia

More Simile ExamplesHis mind is as sharp as a tack.When he is in his workshop, he is as busy as a bee.That old table is as sturdy as an ox.Her stare was as cold as ice.Last night I slept like a log.Her pink hair stood out like a sore thumb.The movie line was as slow as molasses in January.She sings like a bird.Yesterday the two boys fought like cats and dogs.That explanation sure is as clear as mud.

Simile in Poetry Practice: Find the Similes A Red, Red Rose

O My Luve's like a red, red rose,That's newly sprung in June;O My Luve's like the melodieThat's sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,So deep in luve am I;And I will luve thee still, my dear,Till a' the seas gang dry, my dearWhile the sands o' life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve,And fare thee weel, awhile!And I will come again, my luveTho' it ware ten thousand mile!

Robert Burns

Simile in Poetry PracticeDid you find the following? If so, well done!

1. O My Luve's like a red, red rose,That's newly sprung in June;

2. O My Luve's like the melodieThat's sweetly played in tune.Simile in Poetry Practice Find the SimilesFlint An emerald is as green as grass,A ruby red as blood;A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;A flint lies in the mud. A diamond is a brilliant stone,To catch the world's desire;An opal holds a fiery spark;But a flint holds a fire.Christina Rossetti

Simile in Poetry PracticeDid you find the following? If so, you are as smart as a whip!

1. An emerald is as green as grass

2. A ruby red as blood

3. A sapphire shines as blue as heaven

metaphorsComparisons that show how two things that are not alike in most ways are similar in one important way. Unlike similes that use the words "as" or "like" to make a comparison, metaphors state that something is something else. Wikipedia

Metaphor ExamplesHis mind is a sharp tack.When he is in his workshop, he is a busy bee.That old table is a sturdy ox.Her stare was as cold ice.The movie line was slow molasses in January.That explanation is clear mud.Do these sentences look familiar? Indeed, they do. They were used for simile examples. But what was left out? as and like! Ta-da! Simile to metaphor in one easy step

More Metaphor Examples"A man may break a word with you, sir, and words are but wind."(William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors)"The rain came down in long knitting needles."(Enid Bagnold, National Velvet)"The streets were a furnace, the sun an executioner. (Cynthia Ozick, "Rosa")"Life is a journey, travel it well."(United Airlines)

Metaphor Practice! Time for some Battleship fun!Go to this internet site. Ready? Aim! Fire! http://www.quia.com/ba/42131.html?AP_rand=132026281

Metaphor Poetry PracticeFind the MetaphorPeace by StarFieldsThe wind is nowa roaring, smashingmonster of destruction,raking all man's workfrom the valleys,from the vales,and sends them spinning,broken flying -but all of that isnot its core, its center is in trutheternal stillnessbright blue skiesand all you hearare gentle whispersfar awayand unimportant.

Metaphor Poetry PracticeDid you find the metaphor?Yep! Right there at the beginning of the poem!

The wind is nowa roaring, smashingmonster of destruction

Metaphor Poetry Practice Discover the Metaphor

Fog by Carl Sandburg

The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.

Metaphor Poetry Practice What is the Metaphor?

Yes! The fog is a cat

The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.

Metaphor Poetry PracticeVisit this site for two poems about family. http://www.teachervision.fen.com/poetry/literary-techniques/5453.html

Discuss the metaphors you find. What metaphors would you give your family members?

40Idioms, Analogies, Similes, and MetaphorsFigurative Language...

Now, lets strike while the iron is hot!Time for some independent work!Your work pages will include identifyingIdioms AnalogiesSimilesMetaphors Remember: No monkey business; zip your lips; stick to your guns; and call it a day when you are done

42THE END ???