Types of Figurative Language Used in Out of the Dust

Simile Comparison using LIKE or AS Examples: White LIKE a ghost Warm AS a spring day

Metaphor Direct comparison of two unlike things- no LIKE or AS Examples: She is an old mule. My mom is a pillar of strength.

Onomatopoeia A word that makes the sound of the action it describes. Examples: The bacon sizzled. The door creaked.

Repetition Repeating words, lines, and phrases over again to stress the importance of the idea. Example: Spring is flowers, Spring is green grass, Spring is rainy days

Alliteration Repetition of beginning consonant sounds. Example: The lizards leisurely lay in the sun.

Assonance Repetition of vowel sounds in words. Example: The witch’s fleet feet sweep over the steep stairs.

Idioms An expression whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of words. Examples: Raining cats and dots Hold your horses Stabbed in the back Green thumb Over his head

Imagery Using the 5 sense to describe something (show, don’t tell). Examples: Thunder rumbled and rain fell from the sky. Flowers bloomed and their scent filled the air.

Personification Giving something (an object or animal) human qualities. Example: The ball growled at my feet and refused to cooperate every time I tried to score.

Hyperbole A huge exaggeration used to emphasize a point. Examples: “For the ten-thousandth time! Clean your room!” I had a gash the size of Texas.

Stanza Poem’s paragraph- verse Example: Rose are red Violets are blue

Focus: Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, & Simile Alliteration: Repetition of beginning consonant sounds Onomatopoeia: A word that makes the sound of the action it describes. Simile: A comparison using “like” or “as”

Examples: The burgers sizzled in the pan. Onomatopoeia We were watching and waiting by the water. Alliteration

Examples: Fancy folks fret on the freight train. Alliteration Her feet felt like ice. Simile

Examples: It was hard as a rock. The frog splashed on the lily pad. Simile The frog splashed on the lily pad. Onomatopoeia

Examples: She was like an angel. The dynamite went ka-boom! Simile Onomatopoeia

Examples: The birds chirped all morning long. Onomatopoeia They continued cautiously as they crossed the street. Alliteration

Examples: He moved as slow as a turtle. Simile The dog dipped delightfully in the stream. Alliteration

Focus: Metaphor, Personification, & Hyperbole Metaphor: Comparison of two unlike things (no “like” or “as”). Personification: Giving something (an object or animal) human qualities. Hyperbole: A huge exaggeration used to emphasize a point.

Examples: Life is a battle. These books in your bag weight a ton. Metaphor These books in your bag weight a ton. Hyperbole

Examples: I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse. Hyperbole The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky. Personification

Examples: The noise is music to her ears. Metaphor He did not realize that his last chance was walking out the door. Personification

Examples: She is drowning in the sea of love. Metaphor The first rays of morning tiptoed through the meadow. Personification

Examples: She did not realize that opportunity was knocking at her door. Personification I would die if she asks me to dance. Hyperbole

Examples: He is older than dirt. Hyperbole She is an angel. Metaphor

Focus: Assonance, Idiom, & Imagery Assonance: Repetition of beginning consonant sounds Idiom: An expression whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of words. Imagery: Using the five senses to describe something (show, don’t tell).

Examples: Take someone under your wing Idiom The grimy scraps of withered leaves at your feet. Imagery

Examples: A dime a dozen Idiom I must confess that in my quest I felt depressed and restless. Assonance

Examples: Flash with a rash gimme my cash Assonance I gazed upon grey skies above Imagery

Examples: Try to light the fire A host, of golden daffodils; Assonance A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Imagery

Examples: Under the weather Idiom The giant tree was ablaze with the orange, red, and yellow leaves that were beginning to make their decent to the ground. Imagery

Examples: It beats…as it sweeps…as it cleans To throw in the towel Assonance To throw in the towel Idiom