1. Figurative Language
Figuring it Out

2. Figurative and Literal Language
Literally: words function exactly as defined
The car is blue.
He caught the football.
Figuratively: figure out what it means
I’ve got your back.
You’re a doll.
^Figures of Speech

3. Recognizing Literal Language
“I’ve eaten so much I feel as if I could literally burst!”
In this case, the person is not using the word literally in its true meaning. Literal means "exact" or "not exaggerated." By pretending that the statement is not exaggerated, the person stresses how much he has eaten.
Literal language is language that means exactly what is said.
Most of the time, we use
literal language.

4. Types of Figurative Language
Simile
Metaphor
Alliteration
Personification
Understatement
Onomatopoeia
Hyperbole
Idioms

5. Simile
A figure of speech which involves a direct comparison between two unlike things, usually with the words like or as.
Example: The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.

6. A comparison must be made.
Important!
Using “like” or “as” doesn’t make a simile.
A comparison must be made.
Not a Simile: I like pizza.
Simile: The moon is like a pizza.

7. Metaphor
A figure of speech which involves an implied comparison between two relatively unlike things using a form of be. The comparison is not announced by like or as.
Example: The road was a ribbon wrapped through the dessert. or
All the world is a stage.

8. Personification
A figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea.
Example: “The wind yells while blowing."
The wind cannot yell. Only a living thing can yell.
The sunlight danced on the water.
Water on the lake shivers.
The streets are calling me.

9. Hyperbole
An exaggerated statement used to heighten effect. It is not used to mislead the reader, but to emphasize a point.
Example: She’s said so on several million occasions.
I will love you forever.
My house is a million miles
from here.

10. Understatement Expression with less strength than expected.
The opposite of hyperbole.
I’ll be there in one second.
This won’t hurt a bit.

11. Alliteration
Repeated consonant sounds occurring at the beginning of words or within words.
Example: She was wide-eyed and wondering while she waited for Walter to waken.

12. Onomatopoeia The use of words that mimic sounds.
Example: The firecracker made a loud ka-boom!

13. Idioms
An idiom or idiomatic expression refers to a construction or expression in one language that cannot be matched or directly translated word-for-word in another language.
Example: "She has a bee in her bonnet," meaning "she is obsessed," cannot be literally translated into another language word for word.
Back to the drawing board.
When an attempt fails and it’s time to start all over.

14. Quiz On a separate sheet of paper…
I will put an example of figurative language on the board.
You will write whether it is a simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, or understatement.
You may use your notes.

15. He drew a line as straight as an arrow.1
He drew a line as straight as an arrow.

16. 2
Knowledge is a kingdom and all who learn are kings and queens.

17. 3
Can I see you for a second?

18. The sun was beating down on me.4
The sun was beating down on me.

19. 5
A flag wags like a fishhook there in the sky.

20. 6
I'd rather take baths with a man-eating shark, or wrestle a lion alone in the dark, eat spinach and liver, pet ten porcupines, than tackle the homework, my teacher assigns.

21. 7
Ravenous and savage from its long polar journey, the North Wind is searching for food—

22. 8
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

23. Can I have one of your chips?9
Can I have one of your chips?

24. 10 I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear
in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise

25. 11
“Bark,” said the dog.

26. 12
Sally sells sea shells by the seashore.

27. 13
A leopard cannot change its spots.

28. Answers
Simile
Metaphor
Understatement
Personification
Hyperbole