INFERENCE IN READING

Figurative Language Figurative language is NOT ACTUALLY TRUE. But, it gives us an idea of the truth. Most idioms are figurative. My heart broke when he kissed another girl. Does this girl need to go to the hospital? NO! This is NOT LITERAL!

Literal Language The opposite of figurative. A: I had a heart attack when he scared me! B: Literally? A: Yes, I had to go to the hospital!

Connotation The implied (or hidden) meaning of a word. It has an emotional connection, normally positive or negative. Strong-willed has a POSITIVE connotation. Bull-headed has a NEGATIVE connotation. They both describe the same thing!

Denotation The literal, dictionary meaning of a word without discussing the connotation. Bony (Neg. connotation) Thin (Neutral) Slender (Positive connotation). They all have the same denotation.

Literal Language The opposite of figurative. A: I had a heart attack when he scared me! B: Literally? A: Yes, I had to go to the hospital!

Inference/ To Infer To use your background knowledge to understand the hidden meaning of something. “Reading between the lines”. She was sad. She lived in a home by the beach. But, she had no children. Why is she sad?

Allusion/To Allude A short IMPLIED reference to something historical, cultural, literary, etc. What piece of art does this famous horror movie mask allude to?

Allusion and Inference In a way, these two concepts are opposites. We allude TO something. This means that we are HINTING. We infer FROM something. This means that we are GUESSING what they are alluding to.

Allusion The famous painting, “The Scream” by Edvard Munch.

Allusion What famous horror movie is this alluding to?

Allusion The Shining (1980)

Metaphor My mother is a lioness. His stomach had butterflies. To make a direct, implied comparison between two things to explain something. It isn’t actually, literally true. My mother is a lioness. His stomach had butterflies. He’s a bad apple.

What’s being compared and why?

What is this alluding to?

Simile I’m as busy as a bee. As smooth as silk. To make an indirect, EXPLICIT comparison between two things to explain something. It is somewhat true??? Uses “LIKE” or “AS” for comparison. I’m as busy as a bee. As smooth as silk. They fight like cats and dogs. You eat like a bird!

Practice With your partners, complete the similes. This pencil is as sharp as….. My friend is as strong as/ as weak as… Your hair is like… My bed is like…

Practice 2 Now complete these METAPHORS. Use animals to finish. When I run, I am a __________. (Which animal runs the closest to you?) My father/mother is a __________. (Which animal are they closest to in behaviour?)

Metaphor and Simile Example We will look at two very similar songs that both use similes and metaphors. Write down as many as you can. Stereo Love Song

Symbolism To have an image, object, etc. be a metaphor for something else. What does this plant symbolize?

Symbolism What does this flag symbolize?

Symbolism With your partner, discuss your country or province’s flag. What do the different parts of your country’s flag SYMBOLIZE?