LITERAL vs. FIGURATIVE
LITERAL
1. adhering strictly and concisely to the basic meaning of a word or text; not figurative or
metaphorical
2. true to fact; not exaggerated; actual or factual
3. factual and unimaginative – simple in an unimaginative way that sticks solely to the facts
FIGURATIVE
1. not literal; metaphorical; using or containing a nonliteral sense of a word
2. representational
3. using or filled with figures of speech
Choose TWO of the following figurative statements below and—for each one--do the following:
A) Copy the statement and underline the part of the sentence that is figurative.
B) Decode the figurative language—interpret the idea the writer is expressing and write it as a sentence.
(Suck all the poetry out of the figurative language and use simple, straight forward language.)
C) Draw a picture that depicts the strict literal meaning of the words (if we were not being figurative.)
Example:
A)At age 101, Harry finally kicked the bucket.
This underlined part is figurative
B)Decoded (idea expressed) – At age 101, Harry died.
The idea this figure of speech expresses
C)Drawing of literal, absurd meaning (if we were not
being figurative.)
Drawing that depicts the strict, literal meaning of these words.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
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17.
18.
The new game system is loaded with bells and whistles.
She accidentally let the cat out of the bag.
Jan ate the hot dog despite the arguments it posed to her digestive system.
I’d give my right arm to meet Justin Bieber.
Not writing a figurative statement is trickier
Rage followed me home each day.
than we might imagine.
Fred is a real snake when it comes to women.
My brain is Cheese Whiz today.
Even something as simple as…
Drugs locked the door and wouldn’t let him leave.
I didn’t finish; time ran away from me.
“Connor would do anything to get his driver’s
Her words wore boxing gloves.
license.”
After lifting weights, my arms were noodles.
Would he really do anything? Would he kill
An army of children showed up at the restaurant.
100 kittens? Would he eat four pounds of
It was so cold I saw polar bears wearing jackets and mittens.
dog poop? That word “anything” is
My face looks like a wedding cake left out in the rain.
hyperbole. It’s figurative rather than literal.
She walked into my office like a centipede with 98 missing legs.
The baby was an octopus, grabbing everything in sight.
After my fifth time working the physics problem, the light finally went on in my head.
After the cold fall and winter, spring showed up, wanting to be my girlfriend.