FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE
IS EVERYWHERE
Ms. German
HOW IT WORKS
Use the symbols at the bottom of the
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presentation. Click word links on the home
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WORKS
CITED
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
SOL 8.4
The student will apply knowledge of word
origins, analogies, and figurative language to
extend vocabulary development within
authentic texts.
a) Identify and analyze an author’s use of
figurative language.
alliteration
metaphor
allusion
symbolism
QUIZ
WORKS CITED
 http://www.vappingo.com/word-blog/idioms-in-music-lady-gaga-lyrics-explained/
 http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/lil-wayne-settles-20-million-lollipop-lawsuit
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cage_the_Elephant_%28album%29
 http://www.glynn.k12.ga.us/BHS/academics/junior/durham/qgraham120285/home.htm
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l
http://www.true-magazine.com/2011/12/true-throwback-busta-rhymes-gimme-somemore/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Dreams_%28Beyonc%C3%A9_Knowles_song%2
9
http://www.yorapper.com/ringtone-of-the-day-timbaland-feat-one-republic-apoligizeringtone/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tik_Tok
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/01/thriller-musica.html
http://idobi.com/news/2012/08/owl-city-the-midsummer-station/
Allusion
Reference to
cultural figure,
place, or literature
outside the text
These references
can be biblical,
political, or from
popular culture
Idioms
A popular, common
expression that has
an agreed-upon
meaning that
differs from its
literal, or actual,
meaning
Symbolism
The use of concrete
and recognizable
things to represent
ideas
Alliteration
Repetition of
beginning word
sounds
It doesn’t have to
be the same letter,
just make the same
sound
Hyperbole
Intentional
exaggeration
Metaphor
A direct
comparison,
usually using a
form of “to be”
like WAS or IS
Simile
An indirect
comparison,
usually using
LIKE or AS to link
the two objects
Onomatopoeia
The use of a
word whose
sound suggests
its meaning
Personification
Applies human
characteristics to
non-human
objects
These can be
living or non-living
objects
Puns
A joke exploiting
the different
possible meanings
of a word or the
fact that there are
words that sound
alike but have
different
meanings
ALLUSION IN ACTION
Lil Wayne’s
“John”
“If I die today,
remember me like
John Lennon”
Explained:
John Lennon was an iconic
musician. Lennon died, but he
will live on forever in
everyone’s memory,
By referencing him, Lil Wayne
is positively comparing himself
to this icon and implying that
he hopes to achieve this same
kind of artistic immortality.
IDIOMS IN ACTION
Lady Gaga’s
“Wonderful”
“Looking for
something crazy,
beautiful, nothing.
Now I'm talking in
circles again.”
Explained:
Lady Gaga is using a common
expression, “talking in circles,”
to illustrate that she keeps
talking and talking, but really
isn’t communicating anything
ALLITERATION IN ACTION
Tupac Shakur’s
“Am I Right?”
“I'm sick of
psychotic society.
Somebody save
me.”
Explained:
The repetition of the sounds
forces the listener to pay more
attention to the lyrics, so Tupac
is audibly reinforcing the idea
that he is unhappy with the
world today.
SYMBOLISM IN ACTION
Cage the Elephant’s
“Ain’t No Rest for the
Wicked”
“I saw a preacher man
in cuffs taking money
from the church.
He stuffed his bank
account with righteous
dollar bills”
Explained:
The image of the preacher in
handcuffs symbolizes the
downfall of society’s morals
and ethics.
PERSONIFICATION IN ACTION
Michael Jackson’s
“Thriller”
“You start to freeze
as horror looks you
right between the
eyes”
Explained:
By personifying horror as
looking him in the eyes,
Jackson is reinforcing the idea
of the horrific situation
(zombies) being so close to him
PUNS IN ACTION
Owl City’s
“Dental Care”
“I’ve been to the
dentist a thousand
times, so I know
the drill”
Explained:
Owl City is making a pun by
playing off the idea of dental
drills at the dentist and playing
off the idiom “know the drill,”
which means knowing the
process
ONOMATOPOEIA IN ACTION
Ke$ha’s
“Tik Tok”
“Tick, tock on the
clock, but the
party don’t stop”
Explained:
Using onomatopoeia furthers
the time imagery, showing
that Ke$ha will not stop her
party even though she hears
the time passing by
METAPHOR IN ACTION
Beyonce’s
“Sweet Dreams”
“You could be a
sweet dream or a
beautiful
nightmare”
Explained:
This comparison makes
Beyonce’s point more
interesting.
She is saying that her
boyfriend could either be
perfect, like a sweet dream, or
seemingly perfect but really
bad, like a beautiful
nightmare.
SIMILE IN ACTION
One Republic ft.
Timbaland’s
“Apologize”
“I need you like a
heart needs a
beat”
Explained:
This comparison shows the
importance of the person the
song is about. A heart will not
survive without a beat, and
apparently, he will not survive
without her.
HYPERBOLE IN ACTION
Busta Rhymes’
“Arab Money”
“A rap trillioniare,
I control heat. I’m
about to buy the
ozone layer”
Explained:
Busta Rhymes is exaggerating
his wealth; he is not a
“trillionaire” nor is it even
possible to buy the ozone
layer, but he is implying he is
rich enough to do that.