Figurative Language

What is figurative language? Language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words in order to furnish new effects or fresh insights into an idea or subject a tool that an author employs (or uses) to help the reader visualize (or see) what is happening in a story or poem Some common types of figurative language: SimileHyperbole MetaphorAlliteration PersonificationOnomatopoeia

Simile Figure of speech in which two unlike objects are compared using like or as Examples: Her face was as red as a tomato. He ran like the wind. The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.

Metaphor Compares two unlike objects NOT using like or as – one becomes the other Examples: Bob is a snake in the grass. My dad is a bear in the morning. The room was a raging inferno from the oppressive heat.

Metaphor Practice With the students at your table, you will complete the following statement to create a metaphor: (write the metaphor on your slate/white board) Life Is … Example: Life is a box of chocolates Now, you will pass your slate to the left. You must explain the metaphor created by the other group. Example: You never know what you’re gonna get – it’s full of surprises. Some are sweet and some make you sick.

Simile & Metaphor Game Find a partner You have 5 minutes to come up with as many similes and metaphors as you can for the word I give you. You will get 1 point for each simile and 2 points for each metaphor. Chocolate

Alliteration The repetition of initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables (also know as initial rhyme) creates a consistent pattern that catches the mind’s eye and focuses attention – creates a melody Examples: The wild winds of winter Wide-eyed and wondering while we wait for others to wake Weather Whether the weather be fine Or whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold Or whether the weather be hot, We’ll weather the weather Whatever the weather, Whether we like it or not. - Anonymous

Alliteration continued … Not a repetition of letters but sounds For example, night and knight alliterate because they begin with the same consonant sound BUT… tin and thank you do not alliterate even though they begin with the same letter because they do not have the same sound

Alliteration is all around us!!! Sports Store names Product names Brand names

Hyperbole An exaggerated statement used to heighten the effect Not meant to be mislead reader, but to emphasize point Examples: She’s said so on several million occasions. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

Personification A figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea Examples: The winter wrapped its icy claws around Northeast Pennsylvania. The stars winked at us from the night sky. That carrot cake with the cream cheese icing is calling my name.

Four ways to personify 1.Give your object a verb that describes a human action. The car complained loudly as it climbed the hill. The star danced across the moonlit sky. 2.Describe the object using an adjective that is usually used to describe people. The worried peas glanced at the boiling water. The determined vine reached the rooftop. 3.Refer to the object using a personal pronoun. I stared out to sea and she waved back at me. 4.Describe the object by giving it human body parts. War raised its head. The car blinked its eyes at me.

Onomatopoeia Sound words BZZZZZZZ!!! WeeeeeeoooooWeeeeeooooo! BOOM!!!