Figurative LanguageWORDS THAT DON’T MEAN WHAT THEY MEAN

Similes

Comparison of two unlike objects using “like” or “as”.

Examples: Shae is as brave as lion.Cox glared like a furious dragonThe waves lapped the shore like a kitten licking

milk

Metaphors

Comparison of two unlike things without using like or as

Examples The quiz was a walk in the park. His girlfriend could be a real tiger. The cafeteria pizza was a soggy, droopy piece of

cardboard.

Personification

Giving human qualities to nonhuman objects Examples

The wind whispered softly through the trees. My dog looked at me asked what was wrong. After a long, hard day, Emma’s bed beckoned her. The bullet screamed out my name and smacked my

shoulder with a thud.

Onomatopoeia

A word from a sound that is associated with the word

Examples: Cuckoo

Whoosh

Burp

Boom

Clash

beep

Pun

A play on words, either on different senses of the same word or on the similar sense or sound of different words.

Examples:

Florist Gump: a flower shop

Tequila Mockingbird: restaurant

A red-headed mattress: Shakespeare’s description of King Henry’s mistress

“Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.” Groucho Marx

You were right, so I left.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial sounds or letters Examples:

Peter Piper picked a peck…

A big bully beats a baby boy.

Dunkin’ Donuts

Fred Flintstone

“Helplessly hoping her harlequin hovers nearby”

Better butter makes a better batter.

Symbolism

Use of symbols to represent an idea or quality Examples

A dove is the symbol of peace; a hawk, for war

Red rose = love

Wedding ring = a lasting union

Olympic rings = the five continents

50 stars on flag = fifty states

Stars and Stripes = the Republic

Imagery

Using language to represent objects or ideas that appeal to our senses

Examples It was dark and dim in the forest.

The girl’s hand smoothed the soft, silky material.

He whiffs the aroma of coffee and salivates.

The boys screamed and shouted after the goal.

The fresh and juicy oranges were cold and sweet.