Figurative Language

Onomatopoeia An onomatopoeia is a sound word. Bang! Crash! Snap! Crackle! Pop!

Alliteration Alliteration is the repetition of beginning sounds. To sit in solemn silence on a dull dark dock awaiting the sensation of a very sharp shock. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers “Savory Steaks”

Hyperbole Hyperbole is a fancy word for exaggeration. I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse. Your momma jokes

Idiom An idiom is a phrase that has a different meaning than what would be predicted by the wording. Kick the bucket A blessing in disguise A taste of your own medicine A shot in the dark An arm and a leg Beat a dead horse Bend over backwards Chew out a person Bite the bullet Etc. etc…

Personification Personification is when the author gives animals or inanimate objects human like qualities. The lawn mower choked on the grass. The branches of the trees reached out and grabbed at me as I ran through the forest.

Imagery Imagery is when an author uses words that appeal to your senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) Grandma’s hugs burn my skin. The hot July sun beat relentlessly down, casting an orange glare over the farm buildings, the fields, the pond. Even the usually cool green willows bordering the pond hung wilted and dry. Our sun- baked backs ached for relief. We quickly pulled off our sweaty clothes and plunged into the pond, but the tepid water only stifled us and we soon climbed onto the brown, dusty bank. Our parched throats longed for something cool--a strawberry ice, a tall frosted glass of lemonade. We pulled on our clothes, crackling underbrush, the sharp briars pulling at our damp jeans, until we reached the watermelon patch. As we began to cut open the nearest melon, we could smell the pungent skin mingling with the dusty odor of the dry earth. Suddenly, the melon gave way with a crack, revealing the deep, pink sweetness inside. What words did the author use to appeal to each of your senses?

Simile A simile is a comparison using the words “like” or “as.” Her smile is as pretty as the August sun. I’ve gotta pee like a racehorse.

Metaphor A metaphor is a direct comparison. The road was a ribbon winding through the mountains. Hitch Hitch: "Tonight I want you to meditate on the image of an iceberg. Do you know why I want you to do that?" Albert: "Because I'm cool?" Hitch: "No." Albert: "I know, I'm not. I..." Hitch: "Uh, I'm saying that you are an iceberg in that over 90% of your mass is below the surface." Albert: "I know I'm heavy. I am." Hitch: "No, uh, I'm talking about who you are. It's a metaphor." House The liver is a cruise ship taking in water. As it starts to sink, it sends out an SOS. Only instead of radio waves, it uses enzymes. The more enzymes in the blood, the worse the liver is. But once the ship has sunk, there's no more SOS. You think the liver's fine, but it's already at the bottom of the sea.