Figurative Language:
Passages taken from
Holes
Personification
Personification is when an author gives
an idea, object, or animal qualities or
traits of a person.
Examples
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smiling moon
CD player sang a tune
car ran
Oreo: Milk’s favorite cookie
My computer hates me.
The camera loves me.
Opportunity knocked on the door.
The sun greeted me this morning.
Snow had wrapped a white blanket over the city.
Time never waits for anyone.
Trees were dancing with the wind.
The TV sprang to life.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of usually
initial consonant sounds in two or
more neighboring words or syllables.
When writers want to emphasize
certain words, they may use
alliteration. (same beginning sound)
Examples
down in the dumps
 do or die
 right as rain
 sink or swim
 pay the price
 Coca-Cola
 back to the basics
 green as grass
 live the life

Directions:
For each of the following slides decide whether each
sentence contains a simile, a metaphor,
alliteration, or personification.
Circle your choice- and compare your answer
with the slide that follows
GO SLOWLY- This is to help you know what you do
and don’t know.
You are on the HONOR system- do not cheat!
If simile or metaphor, what is being compared?
If personification what object is being personified?
BE SURE TO EXPLAIN YOUR
ANSWER!!!
PRACTICE SAMPLE:
page 72
The other bodies in the room were
little more than bags of flesh and
bones, dumped across broken
chairs and couches.
PRACTICE SAMPLE ANSWER:
page 72
The other bodies in the room were
little more than bags of flesh and
bones, dumped across broken
chairs and couches.
Page 72
Personification
Simile
Metaphor
alliteration
Explain: bodies
were bags of flesh
BEGIN with the next slide
numbered #1
1. Camp Green Lake once danced in
the heart of Texas.
What figure of speech is it?
Why?
Camp Green Lake once danced in
the heart of Texas.
1. personification
2. Trout's feet smelled like dead fish.
Trout's feet smelled like dead fish.
2. simile
3. The dark and dreary days were
depressing.
The dark and dreary days were
depressing.
3. alliteration
4. Elya fought his way to America after
forgetting to fulfill a promise.
Elya fought his way to America after
forgetting to fulfill a promise.
4. alliteration
5. Mr. Yelnats thought old smelly
sneakers were his ticket to success.
Mr. Yelnats thought old smelly
sneakers were his ticket to
success.
5. metaphor
6. The rain stopped, and the lake said
good bye.
The rain stopped, and the lake said
good bye.
6. personification
7. The trees beckoned the campers to
its shade.
The trees beckoned the campers to
its shade.
7. personification
8. Clyde Livingston's shoes were as
smelly as blue cheese.
Clyde Livingston's shoes were as
smelly as blue cheese.
8. simile
9. Katherine kept cold memories in her
heart.
Katherine kept cold memories in her
heart.
9. alliteration
10. The hundred year curse was
dynamite to Stanley's family.
The hundred year curse was
dynamite to Stanley's family.
10. metaphor
11. Stanley seldom seemed satisfied.
Stanley seldom seemed satisfied.
11. alliteration
12. The wind sang its sad tune.
The wind sang its sad tune.
12. personification
13. Derrick Dunne did dirty deeds.
Derrick Dunne did dirty deeds.
13. alliteration
14. Magnet claimed, "My fingers are
like little magnets."
Magnet claimed, "My fingers are like
little magnets.“
14. simile
15. Sam ran like the devil with Charles
Walker chasing after him.
Sam ran like the devil with Charles
Walker chasing after him.
15. simile
16. The cameras were windows for the
Warden to see into the boys' lives.
The cameras were windows for the
Warden to see into the boys' lives.
16. metaphor
17. The nail polish with rattlesnake
venom was as lethal as nuclear
waste.
The nail polish with rattlesnake
venom was as lethal as nuclear
waste.
17. simile
18. The onions were miracle drugs.
The onions were miracle drugs.
18. metaphor
19. The camp sang when Stanley and
Zero were set free.
The camp sang when Stanley and
Zero were set free.
19. personification
Practice
Read your assigned pages from Maniac
Magee.
Identify the literary devices. Write the
sentence in quotes (because you are borrowing
the words from Jerry Spinelli)
Page #:____
“ Passage from
text”
Type of literary
device: simile,
metaphor or
hyperbole
Explain what is
being compared
and why?