Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

Figurative language refers to any Figurative language refers to any language that helps to create mental language that helps to create mental images or language that makes images or language that makes different kinds of comparisons.different kinds of comparisons.

Figurative language helps an Figurative language helps an audience (reader) better understand audience (reader) better understand the story or text.the story or text.

What are some examples of figurative What are some examples of figurative language?language?

Stylistic DevicesStylistic Devices

Stylistic Devices (sound devices)- are Stylistic Devices (sound devices)- are techniques used by a writer to add techniques used by a writer to add interest or meaning.interest or meaning.

Figurative Language Review: Figurative Language Review:

1. Simile1. Simile2. Metaphor2. Metaphor3. Hyperbole3. Hyperbole4. Idiom4. Idiom5. Personification5. Personification6. Onomatopoeia6. Onomatopoeia7. Imagery7. Imagery

More Examples of Figurative More Examples of Figurative Language/Stylistic Devices:Language/Stylistic Devices:

8. Oxymoron8. Oxymoron

9. Symbolism 9. Symbolism

10. Paradox10. Paradox

11. Alliteration11. Alliteration

12. Onomatopoeia12. Onomatopoeia

SimileSimile

A simile is a description that A simile is a description that compares characteristics of two compares characteristics of two unlike things to one another, using unlike things to one another, using the words like or as. the words like or as.

Examples: Examples: The sea was The sea was as smooth as glassas smooth as glass..That day, her smile was like the rainbow That day, her smile was like the rainbow

after the rain.after the rain.

MetaphorMetaphor

A metaphor compares characteristics of A metaphor compares characteristics of unlike things without using the words like unlike things without using the words like or as.or as.

Examples:Examples: My face My face was a beetwas a beet. I couldn’t believe I had . I couldn’t believe I had

fallen in front of the whole school.fallen in front of the whole school.The clouds were fluffy cotton balls The clouds were fluffy cotton balls

floating through the sky.floating through the sky.

HyperboleHyperbole

A hyperbole is an extreme, obvious A hyperbole is an extreme, obvious exaggerationexaggeration

Examples:Examples: Her hair was Her hair was as tall as a skyscraperas tall as a skyscraper. It . It

must have taken a gallon of hairspray to must have taken a gallon of hairspray to fix it. fix it.

““Yes, I know. You’ve said that a Yes, I know. You’ve said that a thousand times already.”thousand times already.”

IdiomIdiom

Idioms use words or phrases in a way that Idioms use words or phrases in a way that is different from its usual or “dictionary” is different from its usual or “dictionary” meaning.meaning.

An idiom is a phrase that should not be An idiom is a phrase that should not be taken for its literal meaning.taken for its literal meaning.

Examples: Examples: Would you please stop Would you please stop channel surfingchannel surfing? ? Can you lend me a hand with this Can you lend me a hand with this

ladder?ladder?The little girl was the apple of her The little girl was the apple of her

daddy’s eye.daddy’s eye.

PersonificationPersonification

Personification- giving human qualities to Personification- giving human qualities to inanimate objectsinanimate objects

Examples: Examples: The The trees dancedtrees danced in the wind storm. in the wind storm.The sun greeted the young girl as it The sun greeted the young girl as it

peeked in her window.peeked in her window.

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia- when a word is used Onomatopoeia- when a word is used to suggest a sound that would to suggest a sound that would normally be heardnormally be heard

Examples: Examples: The The bzzzzzbzzzzz of the bee was driving me of the bee was driving me

crazy. crazy.Crash! Crash! As the two cars collided, pieces As the two cars collided, pieces

of twisted metal filled the street.of twisted metal filled the street.

ImageryImagery

• Imagery- sensory details that help Imagery- sensory details that help the reader the reader hearhear, smell, , smell, seesee, taste, or , taste, or feel feel what is being describedwhat is being described

• Example:Example:• When she When she screechedscreeched her fingers across her fingers across

the blackboard, our the blackboard, our cat jumpedcat jumped into the into the air and air and chills ran up my spinechills ran up my spine. .

AllusionAllusion

An allusion is a reference made to An allusion is a reference made to another story, song, play, movie, etc. another story, song, play, movie, etc. that is not directly mentioned. that is not directly mentioned.

The reader might not notice or The reader might not notice or understand an allusion in a piece of understand an allusion in a piece of writing or a song if they are not writing or a song if they are not familiar with the story, song, movie, familiar with the story, song, movie, etc. being referenced.etc. being referenced.

Allusion- ExamplesAllusion- Examples

You’re standing here all set to You’re standing here all set to crucify- all set to find a scapegoat.crucify- all set to find a scapegoat.What story is this allusion referencing?What story is this allusion referencing?

You would have thought she was the You would have thought she was the wicked step-mother wicked step-mother had you seen had you seen the way she treated her little boy. the way she treated her little boy. What story is this allusion referencing?What story is this allusion referencing?

Allusion- ExamplesAllusion- Examples

Yes, the phone, the phone is ring-Yes, the phone, the phone is ring-ing… Can you please pick it up? I ing… Can you please pick it up? I don’t have all day.don’t have all day.What song does this allusion reference?What song does this allusion reference?

Yes, he broke up with me. But, trust Yes, he broke up with me. But, trust me, I’ll find my Romeo one day. It me, I’ll find my Romeo one day. It will just take me some time.will just take me some time.What story does this allusion reference?What story does this allusion reference?

OxymoronOxymoron

An oxymoron is a figure of An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two speech that combines two words that seemingly words that seemingly contradict each other.contradict each other.

Oxymoron ExamplesOxymoron Examples

My pants were My pants were a little biga little big, but I wore , but I wore them anyway.them anyway.

I know I know almost exactly almost exactly how much it will how much it will cost me. cost me.

I need an I need an exact estimate exact estimate of the cost.of the cost. I can get lost in I can get lost in virtual reality virtual reality for hours.for hours. I was all I was all alone in a crowd alone in a crowd of people. of people. That was That was awfully nice awfully nice of you to say.of you to say.

SymbolismSymbolismA symbol is a person, place, action, A symbol is a person, place, action,

object, or idea that stands for object, or idea that stands for something beyond itself. something beyond itself.

Examples:Examples:The man kissed the cross on his chain The man kissed the cross on his chain

before heading into the pit of snakes. before heading into the pit of snakes. The song The song I Hope You Dance I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann by Lee Ann

Womack is full of symbolism. The song isn't Womack is full of symbolism. The song isn't really about dancing at all ... dancing is a really about dancing at all ... dancing is a symbol for getting the most out of life. symbol for getting the most out of life.

Irony- the difference between what you expect to Irony- the difference between what you expect to happen and what actually does happenhappen and what actually does happen

Examples: Examples: The Titanic was promoted as being 100% unsinkable; but, in The Titanic was promoted as being 100% unsinkable; but, in

1912 the ship sank on its maiden voyage.1912 the ship sank on its maiden voyage. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Romeo finds In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Romeo finds

Juliet in a drugged state and he thinks she is dead. He kills Juliet in a drugged state and he thinks she is dead. He kills himself. When Juliet wakes up she finds Romeo dead and himself. When Juliet wakes up she finds Romeo dead and kills herself.kills herself.

A man who is a traffic cop gets his license suspended for A man who is a traffic cop gets his license suspended for unpaid parking tickets.unpaid parking tickets.

IronyIrony

SarcasmSarcasmSarcasm- a sharply ironical taunt; sneering Sarcasm- a sharply ironical taunt; sneering

or cutting remark: a review full of or cutting remark: a review full of sarcasms. sarcasms.

Examples:Examples: After walking into the classroom of misbehaving After walking into the classroom of misbehaving

students, the teacher thanks them for their respect and students, the teacher thanks them for their respect and excellent behavior while she was out of the room.excellent behavior while she was out of the room.

You are not the brightest star in the sky now, are you? You are not the brightest star in the sky now, are you? Yes, that’s a great example of exactly what not to do in Yes, that’s a great example of exactly what not to do in

the future. the future. I’m not naming any names, but people like Timmy I’m not naming any names, but people like Timmy

should really think before they speak.should really think before they speak.

ClichéClichéCliché- an overused word or expression Cliché- an overused word or expression

that is predictablethat is predictable Examples:Examples:

It happened just It happened just in the nick of time.in the nick of time. All is fair in love and warAll is fair in love and war.. I had the I had the time of my lifetime of my life last night. He really annoyed last night. He really annoyed

me at first, but I guess it’s true, me at first, but I guess it’s true, opposites attractopposites attract. . Chances are you won’t like everything about a Chances are you won’t like everything about a

person because person because every rose has its thornevery rose has its thorn.. You need to remember that You need to remember that what goes around comes what goes around comes

aroundaround..

ParadoxParadox

A paradox is a type of figurative A paradox is a type of figurative language that contains ideas that language that contains ideas that seem to contradict or to go against seem to contradict or to go against logic.logic.

Example:Example:People who exercise have more energy People who exercise have more energy

than people who don’t exercise.than people who don’t exercise.

AlliterationAlliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of similar Alliteration is the repetition of similar sounds at the beginning of words. sounds at the beginning of words. This technique is popular with poets, This technique is popular with poets, but other writers may also use it for but other writers may also use it for effect.effect.

Example:Example:He was determined to doubt and dared He was determined to doubt and dared

me to debate it.me to debate it.

Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is the use of a word Onomatopoeia is the use of a word that imitates a sound, such as buzz that imitates a sound, such as buzz or hiss.or hiss.

ExampleExampleThe bang, boom, screech outside my The bang, boom, screech outside my

window and the whirring of the window and the whirring of the chainsaw could mean only one thing; chainsaw could mean only one thing; the men were still working to remove the men were still working to remove the fallen tree.the fallen tree.