Figurative Language
Figurative Language Figurative language is a word or phrase that departs from everyday literal language for the sake of comparison, emphasis, clarity, or freshness.
Simile That bug is as dead as a doornail. His back felt stiff as a board. Jason felt like a fish out of water. Ethan was like a bull in a china shop. A simile is a comparison of two things using the words “like” or “as”.
Famous similes “How could you be so cold? As the winter wind when it breeze yo.” “When I’m gone, I’ll miss you like a child misses her blanket.” “I love you like fat kid loves cake.”
Metaphor These biscuits are rocks. Raymond is a bear when he’s tired. After the hurricane, Jason was a wreck. A metaphor is a figure of speech that expresses an idea through comparison with another object, but metaphors do NOT use like or as.
Metaphor These biscuits are rocks. Raymond is a bear when he’s tired. After the hurricane, Jason was a wreck. Generally, metaphors use a form of the verb “to be.” See underlined examples above!
Famous metaphors “We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl year after year.” –Pink Floyd “You be the prince and I’ll be the princess. It’s a love story, baby, just say yes.” –Taylor Swift http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esuQIMr8nNw&feature=related Generally, metaphors use a form of the verb “to be.” See underlined examples above!
“Strong as 10 regular men, definitely.” –Aladdin Hyperbole “Strong as 10 regular men, definitely.” –Aladdin “I'd catch a grenade for ya Throw my hand on a blade for ya I'd jump in front of a train for ya” –Bruno Mars Hyperbole is an exaggeration or overstatement. Like other figurative language, hyperbole is used to create a certain image or idea, and is not meant to be taken literally.
Personification Have you ever noticed what cheerful things brooks are? They’re always laughing. Even in winter-time I’ve heard them under the ice. When we give human characteristics to a non-human object or idea, it is called personification.
Personification Have you ever noticed what cheerful things brooks are? They’re always laughing. Even in winter-time I’ve heard them under the ice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKexdSZNiLc&feature=related Obviously, we know brooks don’t laugh. However, by personifying the brooks, the author allows the reader to imagine the sound of the running water flowing in the brook.