Figurative Language
Two Main Types of Language:
Literal and Figurative
• Literal language is explicit, obvious, out in the open and
plainly stated. It is a major part of non-fiction texts, but
can also be found in fiction.
• Figurative language infers or suggests things rather than
stating them. It creates a picture in your mind, it is
imagery. Figurative language can give a text more
richness and depth. It is often found in fiction texts and
autobiographies, but can also be found in non-fiction.
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
• Personification
• Hyperbole
• Idioms
Imagery
• Language that appeals to the senses.
Descriptions of people or objects
stated in terms of our senses.
• Sight
• Hearing
• Touch
• Taste
• Smell
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
dessert.
Metaphor
•A metaphor compares two unlike things. "My baby sister's a
doll," you might say, compares your sister's size and
sweetness to that of the perfection of a doll. At another
time you might say, "My brother is a rat." This compares
your brother to the nastiest little creature you can think
of. In both cases you would be making a metaphor - a form
of comparison that directly compares two unlike things. A
metaphor wastes no time in getting to the point.
•Metaphors are used to compare two things. A metaphor
says that one thing IS another thing.
•For example: She is a pig. I am comparing her to a pig. I
probably mean she has a big appetite and likes to eat!
Me Metaphors
• Write a poem about yourself. Your poem does not have
to rhyme, but it does need to paint a picture of you! It
should be at least five lines long. The first line should be
only the word me. The last line is your name. The
second, third, and fourth lines should be metaphors
describing you! Here is an example:
Me
I am a cloud floating in a hot air balloon.
I am a flower growing toward the sun.
I am a book sharing what I know.
Mary
Simile
• A figure of speech
which involves a direct
comparison between
two unlike things,
usually with the words
like or as.
Example: The muscles
on his brawny arms are
strong as iron bands.
Similies
Look at this picture of The
Boating Party, by Mary
Cassatt, from the National
Gallery of Art. Write a
paragraph describing what
you see. Be sure to include at
least three similes in your
description. Compare what
you see in the picture to
other objects or feelings.
Write some silly similes about
your teacher! Make a list of
at least five!
Mary Cassatt
The Boating Party, 1893/1894
Chester Dale Collection
1963.10.94
Music Video
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.
Personification
•One of the most
familiar kinds of
comparison is
personification--that is, speaking of
something that is not
human as if it had
human abilities and
human reactions.
Similes
Do you remember who
said, "Life is like a box
of chocolates?" Forrest
Gump was comparing
life to a box of
chocolates. He meant
that we never know
what life has planned
for us.
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.
Idioms
• An idiom or idiomatic expression refers to a construction
or expression in one language 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.
Idiom
•Idioms are groups of
words whose meaning is
different from the ordinary
meaning of the words. The
context can help you
understand what an idiom
means. For example: "Put
a lid on it." Our teacher
tells us to put a lid on it.
She's not really telling us
to put a lid on something
but to be quiet and pay
attention.
Idioms
Idiom Website
Flocabulary Idiom Song
1.It's time to use a little elbow grease and find out
about idioms. (What idiom is in that first sentence?)
2. You'll be an old hand at idioms if you complete the
Body Parts Idioms activity!
3. If you want more practice with idioms, try the
Change Idioms to Plain English activity.
4. A little bird told me that there was a fun Animal
Idiom activity for you to complete!
Flocabulary Idiom Song
Intro
We pulled out all the stops, took it up a notch,
Stepped it up, so we're over the top.
I’m married to hip-hop till I die,
So I tied the knot…
You flip-flopped, changed your mind
So you get dropped.
"Hip-Hop is dead..."
That’s nonsense,
Stop talking, put a sock in it.
If you don’t have a sock, use a stocking,
We rockin’ it.
Like a quarry,
A diamond in the rough, no need to worry.
Now you know what’s up.
I’m off the record, off the beat, and off the cuff,
I’m off the top, I’m just making it up,
I’m caught with my pants down,
But my hands are up.
We're in your face like your nose is,
So go slow kids.
When you walk through life,
Don’t forget to smell the roses.
And I think that you know this.
Whoa, hold your horses.
You call me a chump ‘cause I’m serving verses?
Y’all know what the mouth of the horse is.
It’s the place where you hear it first kids.
It could be raining cats and dogs,
Big drops that hit when they fall.
Flocab’ll put the pedal to the metal,
If you meddle with my levels,
I’m gonna stir it up like Steve Biko, never settle.
They say the devil’s in the details,
So if you're making a beat,
Never overlook the treble.
I'll be selling this retail,
Like Sally at the seashore selling seashells.
Followers ride our coattails,
We cut them off each week like toenails.
Oh yeah, Flocab up on that,
Crews who be chewing the fat,
Talking bout this and bout that,
Oh, now we up on the map.
Whoa, hold your horses.
You call me a chump ‘cause I’m serving verses?
Y’all know what the mouth of the horse is.
It’s the place where you hear it first kids.
This is news for all you new crews,
Keep your kids close like Kangaroos do.
I could eat a horse, or an animal,
So hungry I can’t stand it though.
I see red when I’m mad like the Red Sea,
Or the color other than blue on your Pepsi,
Who are you to test me?
Hold your horses like a jockey,
Cause it’s impossible to stop me…
Whoa, hold your horses.
You call me a chump ‘cause I’m serving verses?
Y’all know what the mouth of the horse is.
It’s the place where you hear it first kids.
Review Video
Quizzes – Click on the link and test
your figurative skill level!
• Figurative Language – Find out what you know