Appendix 6: Interpreting Figures of Speech

• “She’s as busy as a bee.”• “Hard work is the key to success.”• “Fate tempted him.”• “I died of embarrassment.”• “After he lost the election, there was no fight left in him.”

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Definition of Figures of Speech

Figures of speech are non-literal ways of saying things; that is, the words have to be interpreted in order to understand the author’s intended meaning.

Literal = the basic meaning of the words without any further interpretation

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Common Figures of Speech

In this chapter, you will learn about five very common figures of speech: Simile Metaphor Personification Hyperbole Metonymy

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Simile A simile is a comparison between two

things which, in most respects, are totally unlike, but which actually are alike in some significant way.

Similes often use the words “like” and “as.”

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Examples of Simile

“The construction worker’s hands were as rough as sandpaper.”

Hands and sandpaper are being compared. How they are alike: they are both rough. Interpretation: The construction worker’s hands are very rough.

“Marie’s eyes are like diamonds. Eyes and diamonds are compared. How they are alike: Both sparkle; both are bright. Interpretation: Marie’s eyes sparkle. Marie has bright eyes.

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Metaphor A metaphor implies a comparison

between two seemingly dissimilar things by saying that one of them is the other.

Although the two things seem dissimilar, they are alike in some significant way.

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Examples of Metaphor Aunt Sophie is a pack rat. Aunt Sophie is being compared to a pack rat. How they are alike: Both collect things and never discard any of them. Interpretation: Aunt Sophie accumulates things and never gets rid of any of them.

My dog is a bottomless pit. My dog and a bottomless pit are being compared. How they are alike: Neither can be filled up. Interpretation: My dog eats an enormous amount of food.

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Hyperbole

A hyperbole is a figure of speech in which the author makes an obvious exaggeration for emphasis or in order to create some other specific effect (such as humor, emphasis, or surprise).

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Examples of HyperboleMy mom hit the golf ball into the next county! The exaggeration: into the next county Interpretation: My mom hit the ball very far.

When I received my college diploma I told everyone I knew or had ever met! The exaggeration: I told everyone I knew or had ever met. Interpretation: I was very excited and proud when I received my

college diploma.

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Personification Personification is speaking about

nonhuman or nonliving things as if they were human. In other words, it is giving human characteristics or qualities to nonliving things.

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Examples of Personification The vacuum cleaner ate my socks. What is being personified: vacuum cleaner Way in which it is like a person: It “ate” something. Interpretation: The vacuum cleaner sucked up my socks. (My socks were sucked up by the vacuum cleaner.)

The TV remote control managed to hide from us for an entire week.

What is being personified: the TV remote control Way in which it is like a person: It “hid” from us. Interpretation: We couldn’t find the TV remote control for a week.

(The TV remote control was lost for a week.)

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Metonymy

In metonymy, a closely-related term or symbol is substituted for what it represents, or some concrete term is used for a more abstract idea.

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Examples of Metonymy Jack Frost came to town earlier than usual this year. Metonymy: Jack Frost What is represents: winter; cold weather Interpretation: Winter came earlier than usual this year. Cold weather came earlier than usual this year.

Could you give me a hand with these windows? Metonymy: hand What it represents: help; assistance Interpretation: Could you help me clean these windows?

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The Edge: Pointers from the Coach “Figures of speech” and “figurative language” are

different names for the same thing.

Figures of speech must be interpreted; they do not literally mean what they say.

Understanding the meaning of a figure of speech is more important than identifying the type of figure of speech.

There are more than 250 types of figures of speech.