Figurative Language

Figurative Language Figuring it Out

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

Simile Comparison of two things using “like” or “as.” Examples The metal twisted like a ribbon. She is as sweet as candy.

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.

Metaphor Two things are compared without using “like” or “as.” Examples All the world is a stage. Men are dogs. She has a stone heart.

Personification Giving human traits to objects or ideas. Examples The sunlight danced. Water on the lake shivers. The streets are calling me.

Hyperbole Exaggerating to show strong feeling or effect. Examples I will love you forever. My house is a million miles from here. She’d kill me.

Foreshadowing The use of clues or hints to suggest events that will occur later in the plot. Foreshadowing is used to build suspense or anxiety in the reader or viewer. EXAMPLE Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. The were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense.

Irony When what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected Dramatic Irony- occurs when the audience knows something that the characters do not Example Bill Gates, the inventor of Microsoft, uses an Apple computer. King Duncan comments on how pleasant and welcoming Macbeth’s castle appears.

Imagery Use of language that appeals to the five senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, sound) to help readers imagine create a clear and vivid image EXAMPLE: The apple pie bubbled in the oven, the crust slowly turning a deep golden brown. The heavy, spicy aroma wafted up the stairs.

Repetition Where a specific word, phrase, line or sentence is repeated for emphasis. EXAMPLE: When I was a child I thought The new moon was a cradle The full moon was a granny’s round face The new moon was a banana The full moon was a big cake

Apostrophe Figure of speech in which a character or narrator directly addresses (speaks to) an absent, imaginary, nonhuman, or deceased figure, such as an object, a ghost, or a feeling (love, guilt) EXAMPLES: Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are Lady Macbeth speaks to spirits in 1.5, Macbeth talks to the dagger in 2.1

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

1 He drew a line as straight as an arrow.

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

3 Can I see you for a second?

4 The sun was beating down on me.

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

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

7 Ravenous and savagefrom its longpolar journey,the North Windis searchingfor food—

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

9 Can I have one of your chips?

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

11 Oh, lovely orange, you golden treat, Tell me why You aren’t easy to eat?

12 In “Romeo and Juliet,” the audience knows that Juliet is not dead, but Romeo does not know that. Romeo kills himself out of grief, thinking that his beloved has died.

13 “Beware of Farmer McGregor,” warned Mother Rabbit. “Ha!” laughed Peter Rabbit. “He is too old and slow to catch me!”

Answers • Simile • Metaphor • Understatement • Personification • Simile • Hyperbole • Personification • Metaphor • Understatement • Metaphor • Apostrophe/irony • Dramatic irony • Foreshadowing

Figurative Language