Go Figure!

Figurative Language

Sherwood BrooksDriftwood Middle School

Recognizing Figurative Language The opposite of literal language is figurative

language. Figurative language is language that means more than what it says on the surface.

It usually gives us a feeling about its subject. Poets use figurative language almost as

frequently as literal language. When you read poetry, you must be conscious of the difference. Otherwise, a poem may make no sense at all.

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.

What is figurative language?

Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else,

you are using figurative language.

Types of Figurative Language

Imagery Simile Metaphor Alliteration Personification Onomatopoeia Hyperbole Idioms Euphemisms

Oxymoron Pun Irony

Imagery Language that appeals to the senses.

Descriptions of people or objects stated in terms of our senses.

• Sight • Hearing • Touch • Taste • Smell

Simile A figure of speech which involves a

direct comparison between two unlike things, usually with the words like, as or than. Example: The muscles on his brawny

arms are strong as iron bands.

I am as hungry as a horse.

                                                       

You run faster than a rabbit.                                                                                                                                            

He is sneaky like a snake.

She is as happy as a clam.

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 desert.

The sofa is fertile soil for a couch potato.

But my heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill. - William Sharp, The Lonely Hunter

The girl was a fish in the water.

The clown was a feather floating away.

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.

                                                            

Stan the strong surfer saved several swimmers on Saturday.

Tiny Tommy Thomson takes toy trucks to Timmy’s on Tuesday.

She sells sea shell by the sea shore.

Don't delay dawns disarming display.

Dusk demands daylight. - Paul MccanSara's seven sisters slept soundly in sand.

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 flowers danced in the wind.

The friendly gates welcomed us.

The Earth coughed and choked in all of the pollution.

Onomatopoeia

The use of words that mimic sounds. Example: The firecracker made a

loud ka-boom!Yeeeeee Ahhhhhhhh

Chug chug chug!!

Swish swish swish

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'm so busy trying to accomplish ten million things at once. - I'm trying to accomplish several things at one time.

Your dog is so ugly, we had to pay the fleas to live on him. - Here the hyperbole has been used as an insult.

Idioms An idiom or idiomatic expression is one

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.

Euphemism Substitution of a mild, inoffensive term for one

considered offensive, explicit, or politically correct. Ethnic cleansing Enhanced interrogation Pre-owned Mentally challenged Chemical dependency

We have to let you go. Read: You're fired. You're well fed. Read: You're fat.

OxymoronThe use of two words that are

opposite in meaning Walking dead Honest thief Pretty ugly Plastic glass

Loners clubA stripper's dressing roomI'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!

Irony - the contrast between what is expected and what actually isVerbal irony – the difference between

what is said and what is meantSituational irony – what is happening

is the opposite of what is expectedDramatic irony – the audience or

reader knows more than the characters do

Irony Bill Gates winning a computer. - Situational Irony (He is

the owner of the world's largest software company.) Having a fight with your best friend just before your

birthday, and commenting -"Great, this is just what I needed". - Verbal Irony (It is probably the worst thing that could happen before your birthday.)

In Romeo and Juliet, when Juliet is drugged, Romeo assumes her to be dead, and kills himself. Upon waking up Juliet finds him dead, and kills herself. - Dramatic Irony (mainly based on miscommunication and misunderstanding)

A Pun is a play on words

I bet the butcher the other day that he couldn't reach the meat that was on the top shelf. He refused to take the bet, saying that the steaks were too high.

Santa's helpers are subordinate Clauses What is a prisoner’s favorite punctuation mark?. Usually used in jokes and riddles

Multiple meaning words Homophones Homographs