Figurative Language

Two Main Types of Language:Literal and Figurative

• Literal language is explicit, obvious, out in the open and plainly stated. It is a major part of non-fiction texts, but can also be found in fiction.

• Figurative language infers or suggests things rather than stating them. It creates a picture in your mind, it is imagery. Figurative language can give a text more richness and depth. It is often found in fiction texts and autobiographies, but can also be found in non-fiction.

What is figurative language?•Whenever you describe something by

comparing it with something else, you are using figurative language.

Types of Figurative Language• Imagery• Simile•Metaphor• Personification• Hyperbole• Idioms

Imagery • Language that appeals to the senses.

Descriptions of people or objects stated in terms of our senses.

• Sight • Hearing • Touch • Taste • Smell

Metaphor• A figure of speech which involves an implied comparison

between two relatively unlike things using a form of be. The comparison is not announced by like or as. Example: The road was a ribbon wrapped through the dessert.

Metaphor •A metaphor compares two unlike things. "My baby sister's a doll," you might say, compares your sister's size and sweetness to that of the perfection of a doll. At another time you might say, "My brother is a rat." This compares your brother to the nastiest little creature you can think of. In both cases you would be making a metaphor - a form of comparison that directly compares two unlike things. A metaphor wastes no time in getting to the point.

•Metaphors are used to compare two things. A metaphor says that one thing IS another thing. •For example: She is a pig. I am comparing her to a pig. I probably mean she has a big appetite and likes to eat!

Me Metaphors

• Write a poem about yourself. Your poem does not have to rhyme, but it does need to paint a picture of you! It should be at least five lines long. The first line should be only the word me. The last line is your name. The second, third, and fourth lines should be metaphors describing you! Here is an example:

MeI am a cloud floating in a hot air balloon.

I am a flower growing toward the sun.I am a book sharing what I know.

Mary

Simile• A figure of speech which

involves a direct comparison between two unlike things, usually with the words like or as. Example: The muscles on

his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.

SimiliesLook at this picture of The Boating Party, by Mary Cassatt, from the National Gallery of Art. Write a paragraph describing what you see. Be sure to include at least three similes in your description. Compare what you see in the picture to other objects or feelings.

Write some silly similes about your teacher! Make a list of at least five!

Mary CassattThe Boating Party, 1893/1894

Chester Dale Collection1963.10.94

Music Video

Personification • A figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea. Example: “The

wind yells while blowing."

The wind cannot yell. Only a living thing can yell.

Personification•One of the most familiar kinds of comparison is personification---that is, speaking of something that is not human as if it had human abilities and human reactions.

Similes

Do you remember who said, "Life is like a box of chocolates?" Forrest Gump was comparing life to a box of chocolates. He meant that we never know what life has planned for us.

Hyperbole• An exaggerated statement used to

heighten effect. It is not used to mislead the reader, but to emphasize a point. Example: She’s said so on several million

occasions.

Idioms• An idiom or idiomatic expression refers to a construction or

expression in one language that cannot be matched or directly translated word-for-word in another language.

Example: "She has a bee in her bonnet," meaning "she is obsessed," cannot be literally translated into another language word for word.

Idiom•Idioms are groups of words whose meaning is different from the ordinary meaning of the words. The context can help you understand what an idiom means. For example: "Put a lid on it." Our teacher tells us to put a lid on it. She's not really telling us to put a lid on something but to be quiet and pay attention.

IdiomsIdiom Website Flocabulary Idiom Song

1.It's time to use a little elbow grease and find out about

idioms. (What idiom is in that first sentence?)

2. You'll be an old hand at idioms if you complete the

Body Parts Idioms activity!

3. If you want more practice with idioms, try the

Change Idioms to Plain English activity.

4. A little bird told me that there was a fun

Animal Idiom activity for you to complete!

Flocabulary Idiom Song

Intro

We pulled out all the stops, took it up a notch, Stepped it up, so we're over the top. I’m married to hip-hop till I die, So I tied the knot… You flip-flopped, changed your mind So you get dropped. "Hip-Hop is dead..." That’s nonsense, Stop talking, put a sock in it. If you don’t have a sock, use a stocking, We rockin’ it. Like a quarry, A diamond in the rough, no need to worry. Now you know what’s up. I’m off the record, off the beat, and off the cuff, I’m off the top, I’m just making it up, I’m caught with my pants down, But my hands are up. We're in your face like your nose is, So go slow kids. When you walk through life, Don’t forget to smell the roses. And I think that you know this.

Whoa, hold your horses. You call me a chump ‘cause I’m serving verses? Y’all know what the mouth of the horse is. It’s the place where you hear it first kids.

It could be raining cats and dogs, Big drops that hit when they fall. Flocab’ll put the pedal to the metal, If you meddle with my levels, I’m gonna stir it up like Steve Biko, never settle. They say the devil’s in the details, So if you're making a beat, Never overlook the treble. I'll be selling this retail, Like Sally at the seashore selling seashells. Followers ride our coattails, We cut them off each week like toenails. Oh yeah, Flocab up on that, Crews who be chewing the fat, Talking bout this and bout that, Oh, now we up on the map.

Whoa, hold your horses. You call me a chump ‘cause I’m serving verses? Y’all know what the mouth of the horse is. It’s the place where you hear it first kids.

This is news for all you new crews, Keep your kids close like Kangaroos do. I could eat a horse, or an animal, So hungry I can’t stand it though. I see red when I’m mad like the Red Sea, Or the color other than blue on your Pepsi, Who are you to test me? Hold your horses like a jockey, Cause it’s impossible to stop me…

Whoa, hold your horses. You call me a chump ‘cause I’m serving verses? Y’all know what the mouth of the horse is. It’s the place where you hear it first kids.

Review Video

Quizzes – Click on the link and test your figurative skill level!• Figurative Language – Find out what you know