FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE By: Salvador Benitez Note on following figures: red indicates U.S. DOS data, blue indicates RAND/MIPT data (incomplete for , see table below for more recent figures).

DEFINITIONS Similie: A comparison of two unlike things using “like,” “as,” or “than.” Metaphor: A comparison of two unlike things NOT using “like,” “as,” or “than.” Hyperbole: An extreme exaggeration. Personification: Giving human qualities to non- human. Allusion: Reference to a historical place, event, and person. Symbolism: One thing represents another. Imagery: A mental picture that uses the five senses.

SIMILIE EXAMPLES It's been a hard day's night, and I've been working like a dog This above example is a simile because it uses like and compares the persons work to a dogs work It means to say he is working hard

METAPHOR EXAMPLE America is a melting pot This is a Metaphor because it is comparing America to a melting pot. It means that in America are different people from different cultures and styles.

HYPERBOLE EXAMPLE Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, Then another thousand, then a second hundred, Then still another thousand, then a hundred This is a Hyperbole because you cannot give a person that many kisses. It means that some one gave him many kisses.

PERSONIFICATION EXAMPLE Wind yells while blowing. This is a personification because the wind cannot yell while blowing. It means that the wind was blowing fast.

ALLUSION EXAMPLE She looked as beautiful as Cinderella on her way to the party This is an allusion because they are comparing the girl to Cinderella, which is a character in a story book It really means that she was really beautiful

SYMBOLISM EXAMPLE She always wore a cross necklace on her neck. The cross represents religion.

IMAGERY EXAMPLE The winter evening settles down With smell of steaks in passageways. Six o'clock. The burnt-out ends of smoky days. And now a gusty shower wraps The grimy scraps Of withered leaves about your feet And newspapers from vacant lots; The showers beat On broken blinds and chimney-pots, And at the corner of the street A lonely cab-horse steams and stamps. And then the lighting of the lamps. It is a Imagery because you see and hear the horse steaming and stamping and smell the steaks.

Practice: Jack was like a tornado, ruining everything he walked by. Jaime is a rock. The chair screamed when the boy sat on it. He is as tall as a building. This is a simile it uses like to compare Jack to a tornado. This is a metaphor it is comparing Jaime to a rock not using like or as This is a personification because chair cannot scream This is a Hyperbole because you cannot be that tall

USE THIS POEM TO PRACTICE Every person who wants power is at war For any power that could give control even more, they carry on hurting and hating just for a little bit more. The power of truth is in the belief. Power is love and strength showered on others at any length Power knows no friends. The power of love is like a light that keeps darkness away. There is power in revenge but more power in forgiving. The power of anger can rage inside until it tears you will part. But the power of a smile can heal a broken heart. The power is yours and yours alone so use it wisely and you'll never go wrong

ANSWERS PERSONIFICATION: Power knows no friends. SIMILIE: Power of love is like a light. Did you get them right? GOOD FOR YOU

The author could use this Figurative Language: Metaphor: Power is alcohol, you might get addicted to it. Allusion: Power is like Ares, the God of war. Symbolism: Power represents evil. Hyperbole: Power is as big as the empire state. Imagery: Power smells like trash, it tastes like rotten food, looks smooth, but its rough, and sounds like rock music.

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