Figurative Language: Sensory Language and Hyperboles

What is Sensory Language? Writing or speech that appeals to

one or more of the five senses.

Sight Hearing Touch Smell Taste

What is the goal of Sensory Language? Showing vs Telling!

Paint pictures, sounds and sensations with words

Gain readers’ attention and greater understanding

Communicate more effectively

Sensory Language Examples Telling: While John began

reading his poem in front of the class, he became nervous.

Showing: While John began reading his poem in front of the class, his heart started pounding. His cheeks, as red as cherries, burned like fire. His hands began to sweat, which left greasy finger prints on his paper. His voice, shaky and quivering, was almost inaudible.

Create your Own!Choose 1 of the following Prompts

Telling: The morning was beautiful.

Telling: The girls were excited.

Telling: The coffee was good.

Remember to Show the reader!! Sight

Hearing Touch Smell Taste

Sensory Language Examples

Telling: The morning was beautiful.

Showing: Behind the mountains, the sun peaked brightly, ready to start a new day. The blue sky remained silent yet showed signs of sadness. The wind whispered through the trees as the cheerful sun rose. The birds sang gently by my window as if they wanted to wake me up.

Sensory Language Examples

Telling: The girls were excited.

Showing: Giggles and screams filled the arena. The soft curls were now damp with perspiration and the anticipation of the event. They held tight to each other in a mock effort to contain themselves. Arms flailed upward, and voices echoed in varying tones. The moment was here.

Sensory Language Examples

Telling: The coffee was good.

Showing: She cradled the mug in both hands and leaned her head over the rising steam. Pursing her lips, she blew softly over the clouded surface and let her eyelids drop. Her shoulders rose slightly as she breathed in, and she hummed with her head low. I lifted the tiny porcelain pitcher and poured a brief rotating arch of white into the black depths of my own cup. She opened her eyes, and we looked at each other across the table without speaking.

What is a Hyperbole? An exaggeration used

to make something seem better or greater

Not literally true, but people make them to sound impressive or to emphasize something, such as a feeling, effort, or reaction.

Hyperbole Examples

I nearly died laughing!

I have like 5,000 things to do for school.

The library books weigh a ton.

He was so big, he used a tree trunk as a toothpick.

Create your Own Hyperbole!

I am so hungry, I could…

I am so tired, I could…