1. Looking at Figurative Language
Poetry
Looking at Figurative Language
Complied By D. Kallal

2. What is Poetry? Poetry is usually written in short lines
Poetry often includes poetic devices, such as stanzas & rhythm
Poetry may rhyme or may be free verse
Poetry often includes figurative language
Poems connect our imagination, thoughts and feelings
Poetry is also called verse

3. What is Figurative Language?
Figurative language are the devices used by authors to create images in your mind.
It is language that appeals to the five senses: smell, sound, taste, touch, and sight.
The literal meaning is the real meaning. NO figurative language will be used in the
literal meaning.
The toast jumped out of the toaster! Or
I was as hungary as a bear.

4. Types of Figurative Language
Poets use many elements to create their poems. Some forms of figurative language a poet may include are:
Alliteration
Personification
Hyperbole
Simile
Metaphor
Onomatopoeia
Idiom
Let’s Take a Look at each type of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

5. Alliteration-figurative language using the repetition of consonant sounds
Cop Curt wrote Wanda the Witch a speeding ticket. She was flying and flipping over the fifty-five mile an hour limit.

6. ALLITERATION Garry gathered the garbage.
Kim comes to cut colorful kites.

7. Alliteration: What does it mean?
Paula planted the petunias in the pot.
Identify the use of alliteration in the sentence.
Paula planted the petunias in the pot.
Explain the image you see in your mind after reading the sentence.
Your answer should include a vivid image.
Put it together.
What image do you see?
What tone do you feel?

8. The moonlight walked across the water.
Personification-giving human characteristics to things that are not human
The moonlight walked across the water.

9. The tall grass danced in the breeze in the yard next door.
PERSONIFICATION
The tall grass danced in the breeze in the yard next door.

10. Personification: What does it mean? What does the sentence mean?
The wind whistled.
Identify the personification in the sentence.
whistled
Explain the image you see in your mind after reading the sentence.
Your answer should be thinking about the five senses…
Put it together.
What does the sentence mean?

11. Our teacher is so old she probably taught cavemen how to
HYPERBOLE-figurative language where exaggeration is used for emphasis and to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind
Our teacher is so old she probably taught cavemen how to
make the wheel.

12. Hyperbole He snores louder than a freight train.
No one snores louder than a freight train, but by exaggerating the writer shows us that he snores REALLY loudly.

13. Hyperbole: What does it mean? What does the sentence mean?
These shoes are so comfortable, I could walk a million miles in them today.
Identify the hyperbole in the sentence.
…walk a million miles…
Explain the image you see in your mind after reading the sentence.
Your answer should make you ask: Could I walk a million miles?
Put it together.
What does the sentence mean?

14. SIMILE-A figure of speech comparing two different things using the words “like” or “as.”
Grandpa lounged on the raft in the middle of the pool like an old battleship.
Grandma is as busy as a queen bee in her hive.

15. Similes The boy could swim like a fish.
My little sister is as annoying as a
pesky bug.

16. Similes: What do they mean? What does the sentence mean?
The music played softly in my mind like a fallen leaf floating aimlessly on the placid lake.
Identify the simile in the sentence.
…like a fallen leaf floating aimlessly on the placid lake.
Explain the image you see in your mind after reading the sentence.
Your answer should include
seeing a leaf gently floating on the top of a clear, calm lake.
Put it together.
What does the sentence mean?

17. Her soft voice was music to my ears.
METAPHOR-A figure of speech comparing two different things without using the words “like” or “as.”
He has a heart
of stone.
Her soft voice was music to my ears.

18. Metaphor
John is a mountain
on the field.

19. Metaphor: What do they mean? What does the sentence mean?
Sally was a chicken when it came to climbing the mountain.
Identify the metaphor in the sentence.
Sally was a chicken…
Explain the image you see in your mind after reading the sentence.
Your answer should include seeing a girl who is scared…but why?
Put it together.
What does the sentence mean?

20. Onomatopoeia-a word or words that imitate a sound
The click, click, click of the computer keys gave Mr. Jones a headache.

21. Onomatopoeia
Bang, Crash… Hiss!

22. Onomatopoeia: What does it mean?
“Grr, Growl, Screech,” was heard as the dinosaur approached its prey.
Identify the metaphor in the sentence.
Grr, Grow, Screech
Explain the image you see in your mind after reading the sentence.
In your answer you should be thinking about the five senses.
Why do you think a poet or author adds onomatopoeia?

23. Idiom-An expression that does not mean what it literally says.
I am on a roll!
You’re driving me bananas.
You are cracking me up!

24. Fred was on top of the world.
Idiom
My teacher has eyes in the back of her head.
Fred was on top of the world.

25. Idiom: What does it mean? What does the sentence mean?
I had to eat my words.
Identify the idiom in the sentence.
Words
…eat my words.
Explain the image you see in your mind after reading the sentence.
Your answer should include being wrong.
Put it together.
What does the sentence mean?

26. Example or Non-Example
In the next few slides you will read examples that include different types of figurative language.
Some are true examples and others are not.
Can you tell the difference?
Are you a figurative language expert?

27. Example or Non-Example?
Is this an example of personification?
When I opened my dryer door, it spit out a few socks onto the floor.

28. When I opened my dryer door, it spit out a few socks onto the floor.
Yes!
This is an example of
Personification
When I opened my dryer door, it spit out a few socks onto the floor.

29. Example or Non-Example?
Is this an example of metaphor?
The boiling soup cascaded over the edge of the pan.

30. This is NOT an example of because nothing is being compared.
Metaphor
because nothing is being compared.

31. Example or Non-Example? While I nodded, nearly napping,
Is this an example of alliteration?
While I nodded, nearly napping,
Suddenly there came
a tapping.
Excerpt from the Raven

32. Yes!
This is an example of
Alliteration

33. Example or Non-Example?
Is this an example of an Onomatopoeia?
I like to crunch up potato chips, and put them on my
sandwich.

34. This is NOT an example of
ONOMATOPOEIA
Because “crunch” is an verb in this sentence, not used to represent the sound an object makes
The Crunch, Crunch sound of Martha’s potato chips made my mouth water!
(Yes, Alliteration)

35. Example or Non-Example? He does not like carrots
Is this an example of a Simile?
He does not like carrots
for dinner.

36. This is NOT an example of because nothing is being compared.
Simile
because nothing is being compared.
Remember, even if the sentence uses “as” or “like”, if it doesn’t make a comparison, it is
NOT a simile.
A SIMILE compares.

37. Example or Non-Example? The large rock refused to budge.
Is this an example of a personification?
The large rock refused to budge.

38. YES! This is an Example of PERSONIFICATION
The large rock refused to budge.

39. Example or Non-Example?
Is this an example of an Idiom?
Harry had butterflies in his stomach because he had to sing in front of the audience.

40. Butterflies in your stomach is a figure of speech
YES!
This is an
Example of
An IDIOM!
Butterflies in your stomach is a figure of speech

41. Example or Non-Example?
Is this an example of a Hyperbole?
I am going to be grounded for life!

42. NO YES! This is an Example of HYPERBOLE.
I am going to be grounded for life! NO
Can you REALLY be grounded for LIFE??

43. Example or Non-Example?
Is this an example of Onomatopoeia?
As the boy tripped over the rock, all that was heard was the “SPLAT!” of the ice cream scoop hitting the ground.

44. YES! This is an Example of Onomatopoeia.
Onomatopoeia is the imitation of sound to send the reader a clearer picture of what happened. “SPLAT” helped you get a clearer picture of what happened to the ice cream cone.

45. ARE YOU A FIGURATIVE LANGAUGE EXPERT?
THE
END