Figurative Language
Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else. Words that goes beyond their literal meaning in order to bring a fresh insight into an idea or subject. The most common figures of speech are simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, and idioms.
A simile compares two unlike things always using the key words “like” or “as”.
Playing chess with Ashley is like trying to outsmart a computer. The activity “playing chess with Ashley” is being compared to “trying to outsmart a computer.” The point is that Ashley can think in a powerful manner that resembles the way a computer operates, not that she is like a computer in any other way.
His feet were as big as boats. What is being compared? How are they alike?
His temper was as explosive as a volcano. His temper is being compared to a volcano in that it can be sudden and violent.
A metaphor states that one thing is something else. It is a comparison, but it does NOT use like or as to make the comparison.
Open the window. This room is an oven!! The oven and the room are being compared. Both an oven and a room are square, can get extremely hot, and have an opening. The point is the oven gets hot and so can a room. Not that we are in an actually oven.
The shop was a little gold mine. What is being compared? How are they alike? How are they different?
Directions: below are some sentences for you to figure out which is which. Tell whether the following sentences have a simile or metaphor. 1.The baby was like an octopus, grabbing at all the cans on the grocery store shelves. 2.As the teacher entered the room she muttered under her breath, "This class is like a three-ring circus!“ 3.The giant’s steps were thunder as he ran toward Jack. 4.The pillow was a cloud when I put my head upon it after a long day.
Giving human characteristics to an animal, object, or idea.
“The wind yells while blowing." The wind cannot yell. Only a living thing can yell.
The flowers danced in the wind. The Earth coughed and choked in all of the pollution. The friendly gates welcomed us. ASK YOURSELF: What is the object ? What are the human characteristics is it given? What is the author trying to portray?
Sally sells seashells by the seashore on Saturdays.
Stan the strong surfer saved several swimmers on Saturday. Tiny Tommy Thomson takes toy trucks to Timmy’s on Tuesday.
An idiom is an expression that has a meaning apart from the meanings of its individual words.
It’s raining cats and dogs. Its literal meaning suggests that cats and dogs are falling from the sky. We interpret it to mean that it is raining hard.
When mom and dad see my report card, I am going to be in the doghouse! Has the cat got your tongue? He was down in the dumps because he lost his ring. ASK: What is the LITERAL meaning? What do we interpret it to mean?
Figurative langauage worksheet: /figurative-language-worksheets/identifying- figurative-language-1.pdfhttp:// /figurative-language-worksheets/identifying- figurative-language-1.pdf Online activity: language.html language.html Free worksheets to print online: language-worksheets/ language-worksheets/