Figurative Figurative LanguageLanguage

Similes, Metaphors, Similes, Metaphors, Hyperbole, Hyperbole, PersonificationPersonification

You will need to:You will need to:

understand, identify, and,understand, identify, and, useuse

figurative language in figurative language in your writing.your writing.

Figurative Figurative LanguageLanguage A writer’s toolA writer’s tool It helps the It helps the

reader to reader to visualize (see) visualize (see) what the writer what the writer is thinking.is thinking.

It puts a picture It puts a picture in the reader’s in the reader’s mind.mind.

Language Types Language Types

We’re going to look at two types of We’re going to look at two types of language:language:

figurative language

and literal language

Figurative vs. LiteralFigurative vs. LiteralTo understand To understand

figurative language

figurative

one has to understand the difference between

and literal

More on LiteralMore on Literal

My meaning is exactly what I My meaning is exactly what I say.say.

To be literal is to mean what you say. For example:If I tell you to sit down! I mean it literally: “sit down,” as in: “sit in your seat now, please.”

and more on Literaland more on Literal

I mean exactly what I say.I mean exactly what I say.

Here’s another example.I’m tired and going home.

This means “I’m tired and I’m going home” there is no other meaning other than what is said.

22ndnd Figurative Figurative

I’m not suggesting we I’m not suggesting we get into the freezer.get into the freezer.

To be figurative is to not mean what you say but imply something else. For example:

If, I tell you: “let’s go chill!”

Figurative continuedFigurative continued

It has nothing It has nothing to do with temperature.to do with temperature.

“let’s go chill” …

…means let’s relax together and do something fun.

Figurative vs. LiteralFigurative vs. Literal

Confused? Confused?

Think of it this way:Think of it this way:

LiteralLiteral as as realreal

Figurative Figurative as as imaginaryimaginary

Why Figurative Language? Why Figurative Language?

Also known as descriptive Also known as descriptive language, or poetic language, or poetic language, language, figurative figurative language language helps the writer helps the writer paint a picture in the paint a picture in the reader’s mind.reader’s mind.

SimileSimile

Examples of similes:Examples of similes: She is like a rainy day.She is like a rainy day. He is as busy as a bee.He is as busy as a bee. They are like two peas in a pod.They are like two peas in a pod.

A simile is a figurative language technique where a comparison is made using like or as.

Complete your custom simileComplete your custom simile

The cat was as scary as a ____.The cat was as scary as a ____. The night is like a ____.The night is like a ____. The moon is like a ____The moon is like a ____ The scarecrow was as scary a ____.The scarecrow was as scary a ____.

MetaphorMetaphor

A poetic comparison that does A poetic comparison that does notnot use the words like or as. use the words like or as.

Examples of metaphors:Examples of metaphors:She is a graceful swan.She is a graceful swan.He is a golden god.He is a golden god.They are honey from the They are honey from the honeycomb.honeycomb.

Brian was a wall, bouncing every Brian was a wall, bouncing every tennis ball back over the net.tennis ball back over the net.

This metaphor compares Brian to a This metaphor compares Brian to a wall because __________.wall because __________.

a. He was very strong.a. He was very strong.b. He was very tall.b. He was very tall.c. He kept returning the balls.c. He kept returning the balls.d. His body was made of cells.d. His body was made of cells.

We would have had more pizza to eat if We would have had more pizza to eat if Tammy hadn’t been such a hog.Tammy hadn’t been such a hog.

Tammy was being compared to a Tammy was being compared to a hog because she __________.hog because she __________.

a. looked like a hog a. looked like a hog b. ate like a hogb. ate like a hogc. smelled like a hogc. smelled like a hogd. was as smart as a hogd. was as smart as a hog

Cindy was such a mule. We couldn’tCindy was such a mule. We couldn’tget her to change her mind.get her to change her mind.

The metaphor compares Cindy to The metaphor compares Cindy to a mule because she wasa mule because she was __________.__________.

a. always eating oatsa. always eating oatsb. able to do hard workb. able to do hard workc. raised on a farmc. raised on a farmd. very stubbornd. very stubborn

The poor rat didn’t have a The poor rat didn’t have a chance. Our old cat, a bolt of chance. Our old cat, a bolt of lightning, caught his prey.lightning, caught his prey.The cat was compared to a bolt The cat was compared to a bolt of lightning because he was of lightning because he was _______._______.

a. very fasta. very fast b. very brightb. very brightc. not fond of fleasc. not fond of fleas d. very oldd. very old

PersonificationPersonification

Personification is a figurative language technique in which human characteristics are given to nonhuman things.

PersonificationPersonification

The leaves danced in the The leaves danced in the wind.wind.

Example of personification:

The heat ripped the breath from her lungs.

PersonificationPersonificationExamples of Examples of PersonificationPersonification::

Hunger sat shivering on the Hunger sat shivering on the roadroad . .

Flowers danced about the Flowers danced about the lawn.lawn.

PersonificationPersonificationExamples:Examples: The sleeping water reflected the The sleeping water reflected the

evening sky.evening sky. Humidity breathed in the girl's Humidity breathed in the girl's

face and ran its greasy fingers face and ran its greasy fingers through her hair.through her hair.

When I fell into the river, the icy When I fell into the river, the icy waters reached around me.waters reached around me.

HyperboleHyperbole

• Is when one exaggerates. Is when one exaggerates. • We use hyperbole all the time when we want to We use hyperbole all the time when we want to

impress or stress.impress or stress.

HyperboleHyperbole

““He He nevernever speaks to her.” speaks to her.”

Never? That is a very long time.Never? That is a very long time.

Hyperbole means to exaggerates.Hyperbole means to exaggerates.

Take for example:Take for example:

HyperboleHyperbole

• We have a We have a tonton of work. of work.

A ton is a lot of work. A ton is A ton is a lot of work. A ton is

also a thousand pounds.also a thousand pounds.

Hyperbole example:Hyperbole example:

HyperboleHyperbole

• I ate a I ate a thousand poundsthousand pounds of of

pasta.pasta.A thousand pounds is also known A thousand pounds is also known

as a ton, this person must be as a ton, this person must be

really obese.really obese.

Hyperbole example:Hyperbole example:

HyperboleHyperbole

• I told you a I told you a millionmillion times. times.

I don’t mind repeating myself, I don’t mind repeating myself,

but a million times? That’s a but a million times? That’s a

lot.lot.

Hyperbole example:Hyperbole example: