FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Narrative Text

SIMILES  Similes make comparisons using the words like, as, or than. EXAMPLE:  His eyes flashed like lightning.  The child climbed the tress as effortlessly as a monkey.

METAPHOR  Metaphors make implied comparisons. They do not us the words like, as, or than. EXAMPLE:  Winter is a long, dark tunnel connecting summers.  They were locked in a dark tomb of a cellar.

PERSONIFICATION  Personification is a figure of speech in which nonhuman things are given human qualities. EXAMPLE:  Even the sky cried on the sorrowful day.  The flower smiled at the sun.  The mountains guarded the valley.  The bird sang in happiness at the coming of spring.  Circling the diver, the shark planned its attack.

Hyperbole  Overblown metaphor  Exaggeration EXAMPLE:  That joke is so old, the last time I heard it I was riding on a dinosaur.  “adds amazing luster for infinite, mirror-like shine” (Brilliant Brunette shampoo)  “It doesn't get better than this” (Oscar Meyer)

Oxymoron  An OXYMORON is a combination of contradictory words that are stuck together in a way that make sense together. EXAMPLE  We are eating jumbo shrimp for dinner.  I will make an educated guess.  The police officer gave the man one choice.

Paradox  A PARADOX is an EXTENDED OXYMORON. It is when the contradictory elements (words, phrases, ideas) appear nearby in text or speech. It is a statement that appears on the surface to be contradictory, but actually reveals a truth of some kind. EXAMPLE  Nobody goes to that restaurant, it always too crowded.  Do not go into the water until you’ve learned to swim.  To have peace, we must go to war.

Understatement  Understatements are when the speaker or writer express an idea with significantly less force than is expected or would be required to accurately describe an idea. Understatement can be understood as the opposite of hyperbole. In hyperbole, the statement goes too far; whereas in understatement, the statement does not go far enough. Understatement can be used to downplay a negative or to be humorous. EXAMPLE:  Let’s just say that Bill Gates has got a few nickles to rub together.  Learning to juggle flaming chainsaws might be a little tricky at first.  It might take her a little while to get over her husband’s affair.  Jeffrey Dahmer wasn’t exactly a good neighbor.  The middle of the street isn’t the best place for your child to play.

An Educated Guess…