Figurative Language: Imagery Notes
1. Simile: A figure of speech used to ________________ two unlike things, using the words _________ or ______.
Example: The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.
Practice using similes: Fill in the blank with a noun. Create a simile that is original; avoid clichés!
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The baby was as pure as ____________________.
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Jane worked as hard as ___________________.
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She was agile like a ________________________.
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The girl sang like a _______________________.
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The soda can exploded like a _________________.
2. Metaphor: A figure of speech used to ______________ two unlike things using a form of the verb be (____,
____, _____, _____, ______, ______, ______, _____). The comparison is not announced by like or as. Example:
The road was a ribbon of moonlight.
Practice using metaphors: Fill in the blank with a noun. Create a simile that is original; avoid clichés!
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My legs were ___________________ as I raced for the tape.
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Faced with failure, I felt my heart become a (an) __________________.
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As the audience listened in shocked silence, my fingers became ___________________, stumbling over the
keys.
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My feet were _____________________ as I set out to investigate the peculiar noises coming from the attic.
3. Imagery: Using words that appeal to the senses and create a __________in the reader’s mind. There are seven
types of imagery:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
_________________ Imagery: something that you could see.
 An example from Robert Frost’s poem “Once by the Pacific”:
 the clouds were low and hairy…like locks blown forward in the gleam of eyes.
_________________ Imagery: something that you could hear.
 An example from Robert Frost’s poem “An Old Man’s Winter Night”:
 the roar of trees, the crack of branches, beating on a box.
_________________ Imagery: something that you could smell.
 An example from Robert Frost’s poem “Unharvested”:
 A scent of ripeness from over a wall… smelling the sweetness in no theft.
_________________Imagery: something that you could taste.
 An example from Robert Frost’s poem “A Record Stride”:
 the walking boots that taste of Atlantic and Pacific salt.
_________________ Imagery: something that you could touch.
 An example from Robert Frost’s poem “The Witch of Coos”:
 the bed linens might just as well be ice and the clothes snow.
________________ Imagery: an internal sensation or a feeling (ex. hunger, thirst, fatigue, fear).
 An example from Robert Frost’s poem “Storm Fear”:
 My heart owns a doubt, it costs no inward struggle not to go.
________________ Imagery: something that moves or has tension.
 An example from Robert Frost’s poem “Ghost House”:
 the black bats tumble and dart.
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4. Alliteration: Repeated consonant sounds occurring at the ___________of words or ________ words.
Alliteration is used to create melody, establish mood, call attention to important words, and point out
similarities and contrasts. Example: wide-eyed and wondering while we wait for others to waken.
Practice using alliteration: Fill in the blank with words to finish the alliteration. Use sixth grade words!
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__________________ aunt ate _________________ and _________________ around ___________________.
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Becky’s __________________ __________________ and _____________, becoming ______________ for Billy.
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__________________ cat clawed her ___________________, creating ______________________.
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The _________________ dog _________________ in the _____________, while drinking _____________ water.
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A _____________________ eagle eats ___________________, enjoying each __________________ of eating.
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Fred’s ______________________ fried ____________________ for ______________________ food.
5. Personification: A figure of speech which gives ___________ traits to an ________, an ______, or an
_______. Example: The trees bowed to the ground. – the author is using an action verb associated
with humans to describe the motion of the trees.
Practice using personification: Fill in the blank s to finish the personification phrase. Use sixth grade vivid verbs!
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The flowers ____________________________ for water.
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The wind ____________________ as it raced around the house.
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Lightning ____________________ across the sky.
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The carved pumpkin__________________________ at me.
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The vines __________________________ their fingers together to form a braid.
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The wind ________________________ softly in the night.
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The stars ___________________________at me.
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The radio ______________________ to life at the touch of a button.
6. Onomatopoeia: The use of words that mimic ________________. They appeal to our sense of hearing
and they help bring a description to life. Example: Boom!
Practice using onomatopoeia: Fill in the chart. Think of as many sounds as you can for each letter.
A
B
C
D
E
clap
G
H
F
fizz
I
J
K
L
gurgle
2
M
N
O
P
Q
R
V
W
X
phew
S
slurp
T
U
tsk
Y
Z
zap
7. Hyperbole: An _____________ statement used to heighten effect. It is not used to mislead the reader,
but to ______________ a point. Example: She’s said so on several million occasions.
Practice using hyperbole: Fill in the blanks to finish the hyperbole phrase. Use sixth grade words and avoid clichés!
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I'm so hungry, I could ______________________.
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You snore louder than ______________________.
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He sleeps like _________________.
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She is ________________ than the hills.
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That joke is so old, the last time I heard it I was __________________________.
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_______________________, I will die of embarrassment.
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______________________ weighs a ton!
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His smile was a ________________________.
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Her eyes were as _______________________.
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_____________________ cats and dogs.
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He was as big as ___________________!
8. Idioms: A word or phrase that means something _______________ than the dictionary definition of the
word or phrase. Listed below are some of the most common idioms and their meanings.
A Chip On Your Shoulder:
Being upset for something that happened in the past.
An Arm And A Leg:
Very expensive. A large amount of money.
A Dime A Dozen:
Anything that is common and
Apple of My Eye:
Someone who is cherished above all others.
A Leopard Can't Change His Spots:
You cannot change who you are.
At The Drop Of A Hat:
Willing to do something immediately.
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A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned:
By not spending money, you are saving money (little by
little).
A Picture Paints a Thousand Words:
A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.
A Piece of Cake:
A task that can be accomplished very easily.
A Slap on the Wrist:
A very mild punishment.
A Taste Of Your Own Medicine:
When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat
others.
A Toss-Up:
A result that is still unclear and can go either way. easy
to get.
Add Fuel To The Fire:
Whenever something is done to make a bad situation
even worse than it is.
Against The Clock:
Rushed and short on time.
All Bark And No Bite:
When someone is threatening and/or aggressive but not
willing to engage.
All In The Same Boat:
When everyone is facing the same challenges.
Give Him The Slip:
To get away from. To escape.
Cross Your Fingers:
To hope that something happens the way you want it to.
Cry Over Spilt Milk:
When you complain about a loss from the past.
Back To Square One:
Having to start all over again.
Barking Up The Wrong Tree:
A mistake made in something you are trying to achieve.
Beating Around The Bush:
Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the
issue.
Bend Over Backwards:
Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything.
Between A Rock And A Hard Place:
Stuck between two very bad options.
Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:
To take on a task that is way to big.
Bite Your Tongue:
To avoid talking.
Blood Is Thicker Than Water:
The family bond is closer than anything else.
Blue Moon:
A rare event or occurance.
Break A Leg:
A superstitious way to say 'good luck' without saying
'good luck', but rather the opposite.
Crack Someone Up:
To make someone laugh.
Get Your Walking Papers:
Get fired from a job.
Go Out On A Limb:
Put yourself in a tough position in order to support
someone/something.
Cry Wolf:
Intentionally raise a false alarm.
Graveyard Shift:
Working hours from about 12:00 am to 8:00 am. The
time of the day when most other people are sleeping.
Curiosity Killed The Cat:
Being Inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.
Head Over Heels:
Very excited and/or joyful, especially when in love.
Don't Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth:
When someone gives you a gift, don't be ungrateful.
Hit The Books:
To study, especially for a test or exam.
Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket:
Do not put all your resources in one possibility.
Hit The Hay:
Go to bed or go to sleep.
Down To The Wire:
Hit The Nail on the Head:
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Something that ends at the last minute or last few
seconds.
Do something exactly right or say something exactly
right.
Drive someone up the wall:
To irritate and/or annoy very much.
Hold Your Horses:
Be patient.
Dropping Like Flies:
A large number of people either falling ill or dying.
Icing On The Cake:
When you already have it good and get something on top
of what you already have
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining:
Be optomistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.
Everything But The Kitchen Sink:
Almost everything and anything has been included.
Foam at the Mouth:
To be enraged and show it.
From Rags To Riches:
To go from being very poor to being very wealthy.
Get Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed:
Someone who is having a horrible day.
Put a sock in it:
To tell noisy person or a group to be quiet.
Raining Cats and Dogs:
A very loud and noisy rain storm.
Smell A Rat:
To detect somone in the group is betraying the others.
Spitting Image:
The exact likeness or kind.
The Ball Is In Your Court:
It is your decision this time.
The Last Straw:
When one small burden after another creates an
unbearable situation, the last straw is the last small
burden that one can take.
Keep your chin up:
To remain joyful in a tough situation.
Kick The Bucket:
Die.
Knock On Wood:
Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid some bad luck.
Know the Ropes:
To understand the details.
Lend Me Your Ear:
To politely ask for someone's full attention.
Let The Cat Out Of The Bag:
To share a secret that wasn't suppose to be shared.
Like a chicken with its head cut off:
To act in a frenzied manner.
Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You:
Don't hurt anyone that helps you.
On Pins And Needles:
Anxious or nervous, especially in anticipation of
something.
On The Fence:
Undecided.
Over My Dead Body:
When you absolutely will not allow something to happen.
Tie the knot:
To get married.
Pull the plug:
To stop something. To bring something to an end.
Til the cows come home:
A long time.
Pulling Your Leg:
Tricking someone as a joke.
When Pigs Fly :
Something that will never ever happen.
You Are What You Eat:
In order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods.
To Steal Someone's Thunder:
To take the credit for something someone else did.
Under the weather:
Feeling ill or sick.
Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve:
To openly and freely express your emotions.
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