1. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: MAKE YOUR WRITING VIVID & COLORFUL!!

2. WHAT IS FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE? 1.Language used to create a special effect or feeling. 2. Language that communicates ideas beyond the ordinary or literal meaning of words..

3. WHY USE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE ? 1.CREATES VIVID PICTURES IN READER’S MIND. 2.MAKES WRITING EMOTIONALLY INTENSE. 3.STATE IDEAS IN NEW AND UNUSUAL WAYS TO STIMULATE READER’S IMAGINATION. 4. “BRINGS WORDS ALIVE.”

4. LITERAL VS. FIGURATIVE MEANING The key to understanding figurative language is to know the difference between the literal and figurative meaning of words.

5. LITERAL VS. FIGURATIVE MEANING Literal Meaning: Means exactly what is written or said. Person is straightforward. Figurative Meaning: The message or idea the author is trying to get across to reader (conveys idea) & allows reader to use imagination. Can not take meaning of words exactly as they are written or literally.

6. EXAMPLE: JULIA IS A WALKING ENCYCLOPEDIA. LITERAL MEANING: Julia is a walking encyclopedia or an encyclopedia with legs. FIGURATIVE MEANING: Julia is very intelligent or extremely smart. She seems to know the answer to any question.

7. ANOTHER EXAMPLE: THIS MORNING,STEVE WOKE UP WITH A FROG IN HIS THROAT. LITERAL MEANING: When Steve woke up this morning, he had a frog in his throat. FIGURATIVE MEANING: When Steve woke up this morning, he was having trouble speaking due to a problem with the throat, such as hoarseness, phlegm, coughing or soreness. hoarsenessphlegm

8. EXAMPLE: GRACE THE GYMNAST WAS A RUBBER BAND DURING HER PERFORMANCE AT NATIONALS. On your whiteboards, tell what this sentence means literally & figuratively.

9. EXAMPLE: GRACE THE GYMNAST WAS A RUBBER BAND DURING HER PERFORMANCE AT NATIONALS. LITERALLY: Grace is a gymnast and she is a rubber band when she performs. FIGURATIVELY: Grace is a gymnast and she is very flexible and can twist in various ways.

10. ANOTHER EXAMPLE: MORGAN WAS ANGRY THAT KEITH LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG THAT SHE LOST HER MOM’S NECKLACE. On your whiteboards, tell what this sentence means literally & figuratively.

11. MORGAN WAS ANGRY THAT KEITH LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG THAT SHE LOST HER MOM’S NECKLACE. Morgan was angry with Keith that he let the cat out of the bag since she lost her mom’s necklace. FIGURATIVELY: Morgan was angry that Keith told or disclosed the secret that she lost her mom’s necklace. LITERALLY:

12. S I M I L E What is a simile?

13. A SIMILE IS... A FIGURE OF SPEECH IN WHICH TWO UNLIKE ITEMS ARE COMPARED USING THE WORDS “LIKE” OR “AS.”

14. UNBELIEVABLE EXAMPLES

15. ACCORDING TO THE LOVELY MRS. H., Mr. H. snores like a chainsaw especially when he is tired.

16. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? ACCORDING THE TO LOVELY MRS. H., MR H. SNORES LIKE A CHAINSAW ESPECIALLY WHEN HE IS TIRED. Literal Meaning? Figurative Meaning? What is being compared?

17. HOW DID YOU DO? Literally: Mr. H. snores like a chainsaw. (exactly what is written) Figuratively: Mr. H. snores very loudly. Compared: Mr. H.’s snoring to a chain saw using like in the comparison.

18. ANOTHER WONDERFUL EXAMPLE My aunt’s face looks like an old catcher’s mitt. Literal Meaning? Figurative Meaning? What is being compared?

19. LITERAL MEANING: MY AUNT ELEANOR’S FACE IS A CATCHER’S MITT. Figurative Meaning: My aunt Eleanor’s face is leathery, wrinkled and she is UGLY!! Comparison: Aunt Eleanor’s face to a catcher’s mitt using the work like.

20. ONE MORE WONDERFUL EXAMPLE: THE BOXER WAS ALL OVER HIS OPPONENT LIKE A PIRANHA ON A RAW ROAST. You know the drill – literal & figurative meanings as well as what is being compared & key word.

21. THE BOXER WAS ALL OVER HIS OPPONENT LIKE A PIRANHA ON A RAW ROAST. Literal: The boxer was on his opponent like a piranha on a raw roast. Figurative: The boxer quickly & maliciously attacked his foe in the boxing ring.

22. WHAT IS A METAPHOR? A metaphor is a comparison between 2 unlike items / things that you usually do not associate with each other AND DOES NOT USE THE WORDS “LIKE” OR “AS.”

23. AFTER SHOVELING GRAVEL ALL DAY, AN EXHAUSTED STEVE LAID HIS HEAD ON THE PILLOWS WHICH WERE PUFFY MARSHMALLOWS. What is being compared? Literal meaning? Figurative meaning?

24. AFTER SHOVELING GRAVEL ALL DAY, AN EXHAUSTED STEVE LAID HIS HEAD ON THE PILLOWS WHICH WERE PUFFY MARSHMALLOWS. Comparison: Pillows to puffy marshmallows Literal Meaning: Steve is fatigued & the pillows are puffy marshmallows. Figurative Meaning: Steve is exhausted so the pillows were soft, fluffy, & comfortable.

25. MORE METAPHORS MR. H. WAS SUCH A MULE THAT PAGE COULD NOT GET HIM TO CHANGE HIS MIND. Literal meaning? Figurative meaning? What is being compared?

26. MR. H. WAS SUCH A MULE THAT PAGE COULD NOT GET HIM TO CHANGE HIS MIND. Literal: Mr. H is a mule and Page could not convince him to change his mind. Figurative: Page can’t convince Mr. H. to change his mind, so he is stubborn & inflexible like a mule. Compared: Mr. H. to a donkey.

27. AFTER SLAMMING HIS FINGER IN THE CAR’S DOOR, MIKE WAS A WORM WRITHING ON THE HOT ASPHALT. What is being compared? Literally means? Figuratively means?

28. AFTER TEARING HIS HAMSTRING, MIKE WAS A HELPLESS WORM WRITHING ON THE GRASS FIELD. Literal Meaning Mike was a worm writhing on the field since after he tore his hamstring playing soccer. Figurative Meaning After tearing his hamstring while playing soccer, Mike was helpless and in a tremendous amount of pain as he rolled around on the soccer field. Comparison Mike, with the torn hamstring, is being compared to a helpless worm.

29. YOUR TURN!!

30. DIRECTIONS: WRITE SIMILES OR METAPHORS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS. Good similes & metaphors are not common or ordinary. You may want to brainstorm ideas and write them in a Circle Map. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!! PAINT AN IMAGE IN THE READER’S MIND!!

31. COMPARE DETECTIVE PEEPER SEARCHING FOR A MURDER WEAPON TO A RACCOON.

32. DETECTIVE PEEPER SEARCHED FOR THE MURDER WEAPON LIKE AN ENORMOUS RACCOON IN THE DUMPSTER LOOKING FOR A HALF-EATEN CREAM FILLED DONUT.

33. WRITE A METAPHOR OR SIMILE ABOUT A MAN OR WOMAN WORKING OUT & SWEATING PROFUSELY.

34. MR. H. WAS A DRIPPING BATHROOM FAUCET OF SWEAT WHEN HE WORKED OUT IN THE 120 DEGREE, GARAGE BRIMMING WITH STALE AIR.

35. AFTER THE BRUTAL 5 ROUND MATCH, THE FIGHTER’S NOSE WAS A SEEDLESS WATERMELON WITHOUT THE RIND. WHAT PICTURE IS THE AUTHOR TRYING TO CONVEY OR GET ACROSS TO YOU? IS IT A SIMILE OR A METAPHOR? BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.

36. AFTER THE BRUTAL 5 ROUND MATCH, THE FIGHTER’S NOSE WAS A SEEDLESS WATERMELON WITHOUT THE RIND. After the match, the fighter’s nose was red, bloody, swollen and probably broken.

37. BORING WRITING: Having been pushed by Kylie, Mr. H. fell 12 stories and hit the pavement like a sack of potatoes. Boring – I’ve never heard that one before (NOT!!) Write an original simile or metaphor.

38. HAVING BEEN PUSHED BY KYLIE, MR. H. FELL 12 STORIES, HITTING THE PAVEMENT LIKE A SANDWICH BAG FILLED WITH VEGETABLE SOUP.

39. REVIEW: WHY DO AUTHORS USE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE? WHAT IS A SIMILE? WHAT IS A METAPHOR? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LITERAL MEANING AND THE FIGURATIVE MEANING OF A SIMILE OR A METAPHOR?