Name____________________________________
Period_____
Date _____
Figurative Language Playlist
Task: You will choose 7 different songs that use figurative language to create imagery. If you like spoken word
or poetry, you may use that as well. With each song you will need to identify the figurative language used and
analyze its deeper meaning.
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Simile: a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind,
used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., you are as brave as a lion, crazy like a fox).
Metaphor: a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing to show or suggest that
they are similar (e.g., you are a peach).
Hyperbole: an extreme kind of exaggeration in speech is the literary device known as hyperbole. (e.g.,
I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse).
Idiom: an expression used by a particular group of people with a meaning only known through common
use (e.g., don’t beat around the bush, and it is raining cats and dogs).
Anaphora: is the deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. (e.g.,
Every breath you take. Every move you make. Every bond you break. Every step you take).
Alliteration: is the repetition of the same sound at the start of a series of words in succession whose
purpose is to provide an audible pulse that gives a piece of writing a lulling, lyrical, and/or emotive
effect (e.g., Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers).
Personification: is when an inanimate object, idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is
spoken of as if it were human (e.g., Lightning danced across the sky).
Onomatopoeia: is a word that looks like the sound it makes, and we can almost hear those sounds as we
read (e.g., slam, splash, bam, babble, warble, gurgle, mumble, and belch).
Allusion is a figure of speech, in which an object or circumstance from unrelated context is referred to
covertly or indirectly. It is left to the audience to make the direct connection (e.g., Chocolate is his
Kryptonite. In this example, the word “kryptonite” alludes to, or hints at, the hero Superman).
Pun: is a play on words; an exploitation of the possible meanings of a word, or a play on different words
that sound the same- usually used in humor. (e.g., the duck said to the waitress, put it on my bill).
You will write a short answer for each song selection that explains:
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Reason why you chose this song
What figurative language you identified within the text?
What imagery was the artist trying to create by using each piece of figurative language?
You must explicitly (word for word) cite the lyrics as textual evidence to support your findings.
Please provide the title of each song and the artist. YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THE SONG LYRIC
AND TITLE YOU USE ARE APPROPRIATE!!!
Spotify Playlist: You will create a Spotify playlist cover page for your analysis of songs that reflects the overall
project. Be creative! This is your chance you shine!
Song, artist, and Lyric
Figurative Lang.
Literal Meaning
Peer Check
Rubric:
Songs
Selected
Title,
Artist,
Cited
Lyrics
Exemplary (4)
7 songs have been
selected that have
clear, identifiable
figurative language.
Includes all the
following:
-Title of the Song
-Artist(s) Name
-Lyrics cited to
support finding
(word for word)
Explanat
ory
paragrap
hs
Each song has a
short answer that
thoroughly explains
the following:
-Selection Rationale
-Fig. Lang.
identified
-Deeper meaning
behind fig. lang.
Album
Cover
The playlist cover is
original, appropriate,
creative, and neatly
presented.
Proficient (3)
6 songs have been
selected that have
clear, identifiable
figurative language.
Includes all the
following:
-Title of the Song
-Artist(s) Name
-Lyrics cited to
support finding
(not cited word for
word)
Each song has a short
answer that explains
the following:
-Selection Rationale
-Fig. Lang. identified
-Deeper meaning
behind fig. lang.
Emerging (2)
5 songs have been
selected that have clear,
identifiable figurative
language.
Includes 2 of the
following:
-Title of the Song
-Artist(s) Name
-Lyrics cited to support
finding
(word for word)
Incomplete (1)
4 or less songs have been
selected that have clear,
identifiable figurative
language.
Includes 1 of the
following:
-Title of the Song
-Artist(s) Name
-Lyrics cited to support
finding
(word for word)
Some answers are
missing one the
following:
-Selection Rationale
-Fig. Lang. identified
-Deeper meaning behind
fig. lang.
Many short answers are
missing one or more of
the following:
-Selection Rationale
-Fig. Lang. identified
-Deeper meaning behind
fig. lang.
The playlist cover is
mostly original,
appropriate, and
creative but is not
neatly presented.
The playlist cover lacks
originality and may not
be appropriate or neat
The playlist cover is
sloppy, not original, or
neat