Figurative Language

How Do Authors Use Words  Literal Language: The words an author uses mean exactly what would be in the dictionary.  Ex. The river flooded in the spring.

Does the author literally mean that the man is as thin as a piece of wood? Does the author literally mean that the man is a mountain?

When an author uses figurative language… *the words aren’t meant to be taken literally. *They create a picture in the reader’s mind * There are many types of figurative language

Similes, Metaphors and Personification WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE??

Similes  A comparison between two things that are usually not alike.  Similes always use the words like or as.  Ex. Lisa’s tears streamed down her face like a flooding river.

What is being compared?  Her eyes were as blue as the ocean.  His mother moved like a tornado through the kitchen preparing dinner.

His mother moved like a tornado through the kitchen preparing dinner.  What does the author really mean?  Why write it as a simile instead of just saying it?

“as busy as a bee” comparing someone’s level of energy to a fast- flying bee "as snug as a bug in a rug" comparing someone who is very cozy to how comfortable a bug can be in a rug "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get." comparing the uncertainty of life to the uncertainty of choosing a chocolate from a box "as agile as a monkey" implying someone can move as well as a monkey does "as black as coal" comparing the color of something dark to the very- dark coal color "as blind as a bat" indicating that the person cannot see any better than a bat can

What is a metaphor?  A metaphor is also a comparison. The difference is that it does not use the word like or as to compare two things. A metaphor simply suggests that things are the same.

Brain Pop on Similes and Metaphors Brain Pop Brain Pop

Firework

Look at the lyrics for the song Firework by Katie Perry. Circle all of the similes with a red pen and write what she is REALLY saying in the margin. Do the same for all of the metaphors with a blue pen. How does her use of figurative language make the song better? Write your answer on the back of the paper.

Firework  Firework Firework