Figurative Language Mrs. Reinhart

Simile A comparison of two unlike things that uses words such as “like” or “as” Example: He was hungry as a hippo. Purpose: to create imagery by comparing two unlike things Ask yourself: Is it comparing two things that are not normally alike?

Metaphor A comparison of two unlike things that doesn’t use words such as “like” or “as” Example: He was a hungry hippo Purpose: to create imagery by comparing things that have few similarities Ask yourself: Is it comparing two things that are not normally alike?

Alliteration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGJu 6LzUfYM Example: He had heavy, hungry hippos helping him hop.

Personification Definition: giving human characteristics or traits to non-human things. I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Purpose: help the reader relate to the concept being presented

Hyperbole Definition: figure or speech that uses exaggeration I’m so hungry I could eat a horse Purpose: to express strong emotion or to create a comic effect

Gathering Leaves (by Robert Frost) Onomatopoeia Definition: words that sound like their meaning Gathering Leaves (by Robert Frost) Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons. I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away. Purpose: Describe a sound and make it more interesting

Idiom Definition - A phrase or expression who’s meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meanings of the words in it. Purpose – make language more interesting, typically used when you are VERY familiar with the language, sometimes used as slang Example: He kicked the bucket.

Cliché Definition: a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought Live and learn What goes around comes around One foot in front of the other Absence makes the heart grow fonder All that jazz Purpose: to be used when an original thought or metaphor would be overkill

Allusion Definition: an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference – drawing attention to something without explicitly describing it “Then Eden sang to grief.” Calling someone Romeo Purpose: to simplify a concept by referring it or comparing it to something that is more easily understood

Analogy Definition: a comparison of how things are related Puzzles Pencil is to paper as paint is to canvas Stanza is to poetry as paragraph is to prose Black is to white as good is to evil Literature – Romeo and Juliet “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet.
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,” Purpose: to create deeper meaning and clarify relationships by comparing them to more commonly known relationships

Symbolism Definition: the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities We could think literally… This is a symbol that tells us to what? It doesn’t say to do that but we know that when we see this symbol we better stop! Purpose: to add depth and interest to your writing – add a second meaning to your writing other than the literal meaning