Figurative Language Symbolism Personification Simile Puns Metaphor Imagery

Figurative Language... ...expresses something more than the dictionary meaning of words. ...paints vivid images in the mind of the reader. …is used to create a special effect or feeling.

Metaphors… ...are used to compare two different things that have something in common. …do not use words such as “like, as, than, or resembles.” …say something “is” something else. Examples: Don’t be a Road Hog! The guy is a rock! She is a Couch Potato.

Similes… …are used to compare two things that have something in common using words such as like or as. Examples: His teeth were as white as pearls. She smells like a rose.

Symbolism… …is using an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning. Authors use symbolism in writing to deliver a message that adds depth to the written work.  (continued on next slide)

Symbolism (cont.) Symbols may be objects, characters, colors, forces of nature, or numbers. Symbols may have different meanings in different stories and situations. Examples: The American flag often symbolizes freedom. The color purple often symbolizes royalty, justice, and/or truth.

Puns – “A Play on Words“… …is the humorous use of a word or words having more than one meaning. Examples: When a clock is hungry, it goes back for seconds. A dog not only has a fur coat but also pants. . I recently spent money on detergent to unclog my kitchen sink. It was money down the drain.

Imagery… …is the use of words or figures of speech to create a vivid mental picture or physical sensation. …allows a writer to show a writer what she means instead of just telling someone.  continued on next slide

Imagery (cont.) Examples: Our parched throats longed for something cool--a strawberry ice, a tall frosted glass of lemonade. Suddenly, the melon gave way with a crack, revealing the deep, pink sweetness inside.

Personification… … is when a writer speaks of an animal, object, or idea as if it were human. …uses words usually applied to a person to describe non-human things or ideas.  This is a way of making writing more interesting and lively.  continued on next slide

Personification Examples: The crisp autumn wind invited the leaves to dance. . The cold wind shrieked through the cracks in the old house.