Figures of Speech & Literary Devices Go Figure!

Figures of Speech Figures of speech are words or phrases that depart from straightforward literal language. Figures of speech are often used and crafted for emphasis, freshness, expression, or clarity.

Recognizing Literal Language “I’ve eaten so much I feel as if I could literally burst!” In this case, the person is not using the word literally in its true meaning. Literal means "exact" or "not exaggerated." By pretending that the statement is not exaggerated, the person stresses how much he has eaten. Literal language is language that means exactly what is said. Most of the time, we use literal language.

What is figurative language? Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else, you are using figurative language.

Types of Figures of Speech Simile Metaphor Alliteration Onomatopoeia Hyperbole Personification Imagery (senses) Symbol (ism)

SIMILE A simile is the comparison of two Unlike things using or . He eats like a pig. You are as pretty as a picture. The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands. like as

SIMILE “Love You Like a Love Song” – Selena Gomez It's been said and done Every beautiful thought's been already sung And I guess right now here's another one So your melody will play on and on, with best of 'em You are beautiful, like a dream come alive, incredible A centerfold miracle, lyrical You've saved my life again And I want you to know baby [Chorus] I, I love you like a love song, baby I, I love you like a love song, baby I, I love you like a love song, baby

SIMILE "I want to be like water. I want to slip through fingers, but hold up a ship.“ - Michelle Williams

METAPHOR A metaphor is the comparison of two unlike things or expressions, sometimes using the verb “to be,” and not using like or as (as in a simile). “To be” (am, is, are, was, were)

METAPHOR He is a pig. You are a tulip.”-From “A Meditation for his Mistress” ~Robert Herrick The road was a ribbon wrapped through the dessert.

METAPHOR “Stereo Hearts” -feat. Adam Levine My heart's a stereo It beats for you, so listen close Hear my thoughts in every no-o-o-te Make me your radio And turn me up when you feel low This melody was meant for you Just sing along to my stereo If I was just another dusty record on the shelf Would you blow me off and play me like everybody else? If I asked you to scratch my back, could you manage that? Like yea check it I can handle that Furthermore, I apologize for any skipping tracks

ALLITERATION repetition Sally sells seashells by the seashore. Alliteration is the of initial consonant sounds of neighboring words. Sally sells seashells by the seashore. She was wide-eyed and wondering while she waited for Walter to waken.

ALLITERATION “She left the Heaven of Heroes and came down To make a man to meet the mortal need, A man to match the mountains and the sea, The friendly welcome of the wayside well.” From “Lincoln, the Man of the People” ~Edwin Markham

ALLITERATION using Anamalia by Graeme Base

ALLITERATION using Anamalia by Graeme Base

ONOMATOPOEIA sound (on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh) An onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the it represents. The chiming of the bells… The boom of the explosion… The buzz of the bees… sound

ONOMATOPOEIA “Tinkling sleigh bells Clanging fire bells Mellow chiming wedding bells Tolling, moaning, and groaning funeral bells” From “The Bells” ~Edgar Allan Poe

HYPERBOLE -opposite of hyperbole is….understatement exaggeration A hyperbole is an or an His feet are as big as boats! I nearly died laughing! She’s said so on several million occasions. overstatement.

HYPERBOLE This cat smells like a year's worth of spoiled milk! ( The cat smells bad ) These books weigh a ton. (These books are heavy.) I could sleep for a year. (I could sleep for a long time.) He beat him into a pulp. (He beat him up very harshly.) He must have jumped a mile. (He jumped very high into the air.) I'm doing a million things right now. (I'm busy.) "Ladies and gentlemen, I've been to Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and I can say without hyperbole that this is a million times worse than all of them put together." This uses hyperbole to illustrate the use of hyperbole. -Kent Brockman, "The Simpsons" world

HYPERBOLE "A Thousand Miles“ –Vanessa Carlton Making my way downtown Walking fast Faces pass And I'm home bound Staring blankly ahead Just making my way Making a way Through the crowd And I need you And I miss you And now I wonder.... If I could fall Into the sky Do you think time Would pass me by 'Cause you know I'd walk A thousand miles If I could Just see you Tonight

Personification the shot heard round the world A figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea. “The wind yells while blowing.“ The wind cannot yell. Only a living thing can yell. "Cold sweat--that malignant little friend--outstaying its welcome in the armpits and trousers." (175.) – The Book Thief the shot heard round the world

Personification

Personification

Imagery Language that appeals to the senses. Descriptions of people or objects stated in terms of our senses. Sight, touch, smell, taste, hear "He sat on his suit case, waiting. How many days had it been now? he had eaten only the foul taste of his hungry breath for what felt like weeks, and still, nothing."(pg 139) The Book Thief Like tasting colors

Imagery "Her face was the color of a dirty pillowcase, and the corners of her mouth glistened with wet, which inched like a glacier down the deep grooves enclosing her chin. Old-age liver spots dotted her cheeks, and her pale eyes had black pinpoint pupils. Her hands were knobby, and the cuticles were grown up over her fingernails" (Lee 122). To Kill a Mockingbird

Imagery LORDE (Ella Yelich O’Connor) Interview with NPR – talks of the magic of words “She [her mom] always made sure we were reading at my house and that there were books around. And we would discuss whatever it is that we were reading, so I think my kind of interest in how you can combine words to make something magic I think that came from her.”   http://www.npr.org/2013/09/30/227790278/lorde-doesnt-have-a-bentley-but-the-charts-will-do Imagery example: "Royals" [Verse 1] I've never seen a diamond in the flesh I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies And I'm not proud of my address, In a torn-up town, no post code envy

Symbol (ism) A symbol is often an ordinary object, event, person, or animal to which we have attached extraordinary meaning and significance. We use a rectangle of dyed cloth to symbolize a country.

Symbol (ism) Writers often take a new object, character, or event and make it the embodiment of some human concern. Some invented symbols in literature have become so widely known that they often have gained the status of public symbols. Peter Pan is a symbol for eternal childhood. What is the symbol for our school?

Allusion Check out this awesome explanation of allusion: Click here.

Test Your Knowledge!

He clattered and clanged as he washed the dishes. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! He clattered and clanged as he washed the dishes. Simile Onomatopoeia Hyperbole

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! Life is a beach! (A)Metaphor (B)Alliteration (C) Simile

“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” ~Mother Goose Onomatopoeia Hyperbole Alliteration

The river falls under us like a trap door. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! The river falls under us like a trap door. Onomatopoeia Simile Metaphor

I’m so hungry I could eat a horse! TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! I’m so hungry I could eat a horse! Hyperbole Metaphor Onomatopoeia

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! “Don’t delay dawn’s disarming display. Dusk demands daylight.” From “Dewdrops Dancing Down Daises” ~Paul Mc Cann Onomatopoeia Alliteration Hyperbole

I’ve heard that joke a billion times, but it still cracks me up! TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! I’ve heard that joke a billion times, but it still cracks me up! (A) Simile (B) Metaphor (C) Hyperbole

The glass vase is as fragile as a child’s sandcastle. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! The glass vase is as fragile as a child’s sandcastle. Metaphor Alliteration Simile

The buzzing bee startled me! TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! The buzzing bee startled me! Hypberbole Onomatopoeia Metaphor

She looked at him with fire in her eyes. TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! She looked at him with fire in her eyes. Alliteration Simile Metaphor

Use Your Noggin!

(Simile, Metaphor, Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, Hyperbole) USE YOUR NOGGIN! Write a story about an experience in your life in 2-3 paragraphs. Use each of the figures of speech we learned today! (Simile, Metaphor, Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, Hyperbole)