Go Figure!

Figurative Language and poetic devices

Eng II, Eng II H, Creative Writing

Mrs. Lippel

What is figurative language?

Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else,

you are using figurative language.

Types of Figurative Language and poetic devices Simile Allusion Metaphor Personification Anaphora Hyperbole Idiom Alliteration Assonance epistrophe

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.

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.

Personification A figure of speech which gives the

qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea. Example: “The wind howled through the

trees.”

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.

Onomatopoeia Words that imitate their sound

Example:

Boom, hiss, splat, chug, ring, beep

Alliteration Repeated consonant sounds occurring at

the beginning of TWO or MORE neighboring words within a sentence.

Example: She was wide-eyed and wondering while she waited for Walter to waken.

Allusion Reference to another person, place,

event, literary work,etcExample: “He was a real Romeo with

the ladies” – alluding to Romeo and Juliet

Idiom A common phrase or figure of

speech not to be taken literallyExample:

Beating around the bush Raining cats and dogs

Imagery Language that appeals to the senses.

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

• Sight: the scarlet red pomegranate dripped with delectable juice• Hearing: the soft sweet whistling hummed lovingly in my ear• Touch: the rough ridged blade forced itself hotly in my skin• Taste: the tart apple sparked a mouth watering memory• Smell: the stale, acrid air suffocated me until I passed out

Anaphora

The repetition of words at the beginning of a clause

Example: In every cry of man, in every infants cry of fear, in every voice, in every ban

Epistrophe

The repetition of words at the ending of a clause

Example: If you had known the virtue of the ring/or half her worthiness that gave the ring/or your honor to contain the ring/you would not have partnered with the ring.

Assonance Repeated vowel sounds occurring in the

middle of words within TWO or MORE neighboring words

Example: Men sell the wedding bells.

Consonance Repeated consonant sounds occurring in

the MIDDLE or END of two or more neighboring words.

Example:

The rain screams pitter patter

There was so much brick a brack in the house that it felt so cluttered.

Time for you to try a few of your own…. Take out a piece of paper….

Write your own Simile

Write 5 of your own similes as follows: 1.) about your hair 2.) about your least favorite class 3.) about your favorite food 4.) about your best friend 5.) about your current mood

Metaphor

What are the 2 things being compared in the following metaphors?

1.) Friends are flowers in the garden. 2.) The classroom was Bedlam! 3.) He is a pig. 4.) John is a regular good Samaritan. 5.)The sea was a sheet of silk.

Identify the metaphors …..

My family lives inside a medicine chest:

Dad is the super-size band aid, strong and powerful but not always effective in a crisis.

Mom is the middle-size tweezers, which picks and pokes and pinches.

David is the single small aspirin on the third shelf, sometimes ignored.

And I am the wood and glue which holds us all together with my love.

Write a metaphor about your family Include every member of your family

including yourself, your pets, etc….

Personification. Which sentences have it? 1.) Walking desks took over town. 2.) I listen to the wind. 3.) The dog stares knowingly at me. 4.) The snake loves food. 5.) Moon dances around my fear. 6.) The bear reads my mind. 7.) Ronnie Johnson smiles at the fox. 8.) Wind whispers like a tree in the breeze. 9.)A rock smiles when people sit on it. 10.) Cars dance across the icy road.

Personification in poetry…

The Sky is Low by Emily Dickenson

The sky is low, the clouds are mean,

A traveling flake of snow

Across the barn or through a rut

Debates if it will go.

A narrow wind complains all day

How some one treated him;

Nature, like us, is sometimes caught

Without her diadem.

Write your own. Personify the following… 1.) The wind 2.) The desk 3.) The camera 4.) The rain 5.) The backpack

Alliteration isn’t always a tongue twister…The memories flash like dusk heat lightening,

Or the fireflies that flit and flare

But grow rusty like the screen door sighing

With creaks and groans in the hot night air.

Alliteration focuses on the SOUND:

Cameron can’t cool his addiction to quinoa.

Psychologists aren’t as sensitive as some may think.

Alliteration…create your own Write alliteration using the following

consonant sounds…

1.) F 2.) L 3.) T 4.) M 5.) C

Onomatopoeia isn’t always about “Bam” and “Boom” Find the onomatopoeia…

1.) The old floor creaked.

2.)The old engine chugged down the rickety track.

3.) The trucks’ brakes squeaked in the distance.

4.) Edwin’s guitar strings twanged the sad melody

5.) The tennis ball whistled by my ear.

6.) The fire crackles as we sat nearby.

7.) The snake hissed at its prey.

Try some of your own….

Think about sounds that common object make and come up with 5 of your own…

Hyperbole: Where is it?

I woke up this morning and my feet were killing me! All day long I worked my fingers to the bone getting my lessons together. I was dying to try out a new lesson plan with my students and really wanted it to be fun. By the end of the day I was so tired I couldn’t even move.

Create your own in response to each statement…1.) Don’t you think the TV is too loud?

The TV is so loud_________

2.) Look at all of the rain!

It’s raining so hard_______

3.) Look at that poor dog, he can hardly walk.

That dog is so old________

4.) Is that a mosquito bite?

My arm is so swollen___________