Improving​ ​Your
Written​ ​Expression
with​ ​Figurative​ ​Language
PAINT​ ​VIVID​ ​IMAGES​ ​&​ ​MOVIES​ ​IN​ ​YOUR​ ​READER’S​ ​MIND.
​ ​_________________
Writer’s​ ​Name:​
hook​ ​=​ ​grabs​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reader
Simile​
​ ​=​ c​ omparing​ ​two​ ​unlike​ ​things​ ​while​ ​using
like​
the​ ​words:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​
as​
● I​ ​am​ ​ ​ ​
as​​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​or​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​
as​
​ ​hungry​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
in​ ​your​ ​sentence.
​ ​an​ ​elephant.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​I​ ​am​ ​very​ ​hungry​ ​and​ ​can​ ​eat​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​food.
like​​ ​ ​ ​ ​a​ ​star​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sky.
● The​ ​boy​ ​is​ ​ ​ ​ ​
MEANING​ ​=​ ​The​ ​boy​ ​is​ ​popular​ ​and​ ​famous.
like​​ ​ ​ ​a​ ​female​ ​Michael​ ​Jordan.
● She​ ​is​ ​ ​ ​ ​
MEANING​ ​=​ ​She​ ​plays​ ​basketball​ ​really​ ​well.
as​​ ​​ ​far​ ​and​ ​powerful​ ​ ​ a
​ s​​ ​​ ​a​ ​kangaroo.
● She​ ​jumps​ ​ ​ ​
MEANING​ ​=​ ​She​ ​is​ ​very​ ​strong​ ​and​ ​can​ ​jump​ ​far.
hook​ ​=​ ​grabs​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reader
Metaphor​
​ ​=​ ​comparing​ ​two​ ​unlike
things​ ​while​ ​using​ ​the​ ​TO​ ​BE​ ​verb:​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
is
am​​ ​are​​ ​was​​ ​were
● The​ ​turtle​ ​ ​ ​
is​​ ​ ​ ​a​ ​beautiful​ ​flower.
● Her​ ​horses​ ​ ​ ​
MEANING​ ​=​ ​The​ ​turtle​ ​is​ ​colorful​ ​and​ ​pretty.
were​​ ​ ​ ​bolts​ ​of​ ​lightning.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​Her​ ​horses​ ​were​ ​very​ ​fast.
● You​ ​ ​ ​
are​​ ​ ​ ​my​ ​anchor​ ​in​ ​my​ ​life.
● The​ ​crowd​ ​of​ ​fans​ ​ ​ ​
concert​ ​stadium.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​You​ ​keep​ ​me​ ​safe.
is​​ ​ ​sand​ ​covering​ ​every​ ​inch​ ​of​ ​the
MEANING​ ​=​ ​The​ ​concert​ ​was​ ​overcrowded.
hook​ ​=​ ​grabs​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reader
PERSON​ification​
​ ​=
HUMAN​
gives​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ ​ ​ ​qualities​ ​to​ ​animals​ ​&​ ​objects.​ ​It
also​ ​allows​ ​the​ ​reader​ ​to​ ​infer​ ​the​ ​emotions​ ​of​ ​the​ ​characters.
.
cheered​ ​and​ ​danced​​ ​with
● The​ ​horses​ ​
joy​ ​when​ ​the​ ​oats​ ​arrived.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​The​ ​horses​ ​were​ ​excited​ ​and​ ​happy.
smiling​​ ​down​ ​on​ ​me​ ​when​ ​I​ ​was​ ​laying​ ​out
● The​ ​sun​ ​was​ ​
on​ ​the​ ​beach.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​The​ ​sun​ ​was​ ​warm​ ​and​ ​giving​ ​me​ ​a​ ​tan.
angrily​ ​smacking​​ ​me​ ​with​ ​its​ ​light
● The​ ​sun​ ​is​ ​
rays​ ​while​ ​I​ ​was​ ​hiking.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​The​ ​sun​ ​was​ ​hot​ ​and​ ​giving​ ​me​ ​a​ ​sunburn.
● The​ ​raindrops​ ​were​ ​
drove​ ​to​ ​school.
dancing​​ ​on​ ​the​ ​car​ ​roof​ ​as​ ​we
MEANING​ ​=​ ​It​ ​was​ ​raining.​ ​The​ ​people​ ​are​ ​in​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​mood.
hook​ ​=​ ​grabs​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reader
ALL​iteration​
​ ​=​ t​ he​ ​repetition​ ​of
ALL​
​ ​beginning​ ​sounds​ ​of​ ​at​ ​least​ ​two​ ​words​ ​in​ ​a​ ​row.
.
majestic​ ​mountains
● From​ ​far​ ​away,​ ​the​ ​
was​ ​a​ ​sight​ ​to​ ​behold.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​The​ ​mountains​ ​were​ ​beautiful.
dancing​ ​daffodils​​ ​swayed​ ​back​ ​and
● The​ ​
forth​ ​in​ ​the​ ​wind.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​It​ ​was​ ​so​ ​windy​ ​the​ ​daffodils​ ​were​ ​moving​ ​a​ ​lot.
nightly​ ​gnomes​​ ​glowed​ ​bright​ ​yellow​ ​under
● The​ ​
the​ ​faint​ ​moonlight.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​The​ ​lawn​ ​gnomes​ ​lights​ ​up​ ​the​ ​lawn​ ​at​ ​night.
●
Certain​ ​serious​ ​cereal​-eaters​ ​left
behind​ ​a​ ​trail​ ​of​ ​marshmallows​ ​from​ ​the​ ​kitchen​ ​to​ ​the
bedroom.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​Specific​ ​kids​ ​snuck​ ​their​ ​Lucky​ ​Charms​ ​to​ ​their​ ​bedroom.
Sandy​ ​sells​ ​seashells​.
●​​
MEANING​ ​=​ ​Sandy​ ​was​ ​making​ ​money​ ​at​ ​the​ ​beach.
hook​ ​=​ ​grabs​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reader
HYPERbole​
​ ​=​ b
​ eyond​ ​real;
an​ ​exaggeration;​ ​not​ ​to​ ​be​ ​taken​ ​as​ ​actually​ ​happening.​ ​You​ ​will
also​ ​see​ ​other​ ​literary​ ​devices​ ​being​ ​used​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sentence.​ ​It​ ​also
allows​ ​the​ ​reader​ ​to​ ​make​ ​inferences​ ​about​ ​what’s​ ​going​ ​on​ ​in​ ​the
story.
.
● It​ ​was​ ​so​ ​cold,​ ​even​ ​the​ ​polar​ ​bears​ ​were​ ​wearing​ ​North​ ​Face
jackets.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​It​ ​was​ ​freezing​ ​cold​ ​outside.​ ​Infer​ ​that​ ​it​ ​was​ ​below​ ​freezing.
● We​ ​stood​ ​in​ ​line​ ​for​ ​a​ ​million​ ​hours​ ​to​ ​get​ ​movie​ ​tickets​ ​for​ ​the
new​ ​movie.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​We​ ​waited​ ​in​ ​line​ ​for​ ​a​ ​very​ ​long​ ​time.​ ​Infer​ ​that​ ​it’s​ ​opening​ ​night.
● I​ ​stayed​ ​up​ ​so​ ​late​ ​at​ ​the​ ​sleepover​ ​that​ ​my​ ​eyes​ ​were​ ​on​ ​fire
and​ ​about​ ​to​ ​fall​ ​out​ ​of​ ​my​ ​head.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​I​ ​am​ ​extremely​ ​tired​ ​and​ ​sleepy.
● My​ ​teacher​ ​forced​ ​us​ ​to​ ​write​ ​all​ ​morning​ ​that​ ​my​ ​hand​ ​almost
fell​ ​off.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​My​ ​hand​ ​hurts​ ​so​ ​much​ ​from​ ​writing.​ ​Infer​ ​that​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​like​ ​to​ ​write.
● The​ ​audience​ ​cheered​ ​so​ ​loud​ ​that​ ​the​ ​people​ ​in​ ​the​ ​next​ ​state
could​ ​hear​ ​the​ ​clapping​ ​and​ ​supportive​ ​shouting.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​The​ ​audience​ ​was​ ​very​ ​loud.
hook​ ​=​ ​grabs​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reader
onomatopoeia​
​ ​=​ ​a​ ​word​ ​or
group​ ​of​ ​words​ ​that​ ​imitates​ ​the​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​sound​ ​they​ ​are​ ​describing.
.
●
Swish!​
​ ​The​ ​basketball​ ​slipped​ ​through​ ​the​ ​net
effortlessly​ ​after​ ​the​ ​girl​ ​took​ ​a​ ​jump​ ​shot​ ​from​ ​outside​ ​the
perimeter​ ​of​ ​three-point​ ​land.
●
●
●
Boom!​
Crack!​
Zoom!​
​ ​The​ ​thunderstorm​ ​was​ ​extra​ ​loud​ ​tonight.
​ ​The​ ​baseball​ ​player​ ​hit​ ​a​ ​homerun.
​ ​The​ ​boys​ ​and​ ​girls​ ​dashed​ ​out​ ​the​ ​door​ ​for
recess.
●
●
Whiz!​
Bam!​
​ ​The​ ​bee​ ​flew​ ​by​ ​my​ ​ear.
​ ​The​ ​books​ ​fell​ ​on​ ​the​ ​floor.
hook​ ​=​ ​grabs​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reader
Idiom​
​ ​=​ ​a​ ​common​ ​phrase​ ​made​ ​up​ ​of​ ​words​ ​that
can’t​ ​be​ ​understood​ ​by​ ​their​ ​literal​ ​or​ ​actual​ ​meanings.
.
● Before​ ​going​ ​onstage​ ​to​ ​perform​ ​my​ ​ballet​ ​debut,​ ​my​ ​friend​ ​to
me​ ​to​ ​
break​ ​a​ ​leg​.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​Good​ ​luck.
raining​ ​cats​ ​and​ ​dogs​,​ ​I​ ​had​ ​to
● Since​ ​it​ ​was​ ​
wait​ ​in​ ​my​ ​house​ ​before​ ​going​ ​out​ ​to​ ​play.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​It​ ​was​ ​raining​ ​really​ ​hard​ ​outside.
spilled​ ​the​ ​beans​​ ​to​ ​the​ ​birthday​ ​boy​ ​about​ ​the
● She​ ​
planned​ ​surprise​ ​party.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​Tell​ ​a​ ​secret.
● Peyton​ ​Manning​ ​was​ ​the​ ​quarterback​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Super​ ​Bowl​ ​50
winning​ ​team,​ ​the​ ​Denver​ ​Broncos,​ ​because​ ​he​ ​
got
back​ ​up​ ​on​ ​the​ ​horse​​ ​after​ ​they​ ​lost​ ​Super
Bowl​ ​48​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Seattle​ ​Seahawks.
MEANING​ ​=​ ​Don’t​ ​give​ ​up.​ ​Keep​ ​trying.
hook​ ​=​ ​grabs​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reader
Dialogue​
​ ​=​ c​ onversation​ ​in​ ​a​ ​story
between​ ​characters.​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Indent​ ​when​ ​a​ ​new​ ​person​ ​speaks.
.
●
●
●
●
"Where​ ​is​ ​my​ ​book?"​​ ​asked​ ​John.
"Boys​ ​and​ ​girls,"​​ ​Mrs.​ ​Allen​ ​would​ ​say​ ​every​ ​day​ ​after​ ​passing​ ​out​ ​a​ ​paper​,
"write​ ​your​ ​first​ ​name,​ ​last​ ​name,​ ​number,
and​ ​date."
My​ ​mom​ ​yelled​
,​ ​“Get​ ​down​ ​here​ ​right​ ​this​ ​instant!"
"My​ ​dog​ ​ruined​ ​it,"​​ ​cried​ ​Matthew.
“The​ ​new​ ​Spiderman​ ​movie​ ​is​ ​playing​ ​at​ ​the
movie​ ​theater,”​​ ​Sam​ ​shouted​ ​with​ ​glee.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​summertime​ ​and​ ​the​ ​fifth​ ​graders
were​ ​promoted​ ​from​ ​elementary​ ​school.
,​ ​“OMG!​ ​I​ ​can’t​ ​believe​ ​that
Marvel​ ​movie​ ​is​ ​already​ ​out!”
“Do​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​go​ ​see​ ​it​ ​tonight?”​​ ​Sam​ ​asked.
“Let’s​ ​see​ ​if​ ​Briany,​ ​Abby,​ ​and​ ​Yama​ ​want​ ​to
join​ ​us,”​​ ​replied​ ​Sarah.
Responding​ ​to​ ​her​ ​friend,​ ​Sarah​ ​said​