Name:______________________
Figurative Language Review/ Study Guide Packet
Figurative language is a tool that an author uses, to help the reader visualize, or
see, what is happening in a story or poem.
Simile is a comparison using like or as. It usually compares two unlike objects.
Example: His feet are as big as boats. Feet and boats are being compared.
Metaphor states that one thing is something else. It is a comparison, but does
NOT use like or as to make the comparison. Example: Her hair is silk. Hair and
silk are being compared.
Personification is giving human qualities, feelings, actions, or characteristics to inanimate
(not living) objects. Example: The house stared at me with looming eyes. The verb, stared,
is a human action. A house is a non-living object. Therefore, we have a good example of
personification.
Alliteration is the repetition of the initial consonant. There should be at least two
repetitions in a row. Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Onomatopoeia is the imitation of natural sounds in word form. These words help us
form mental pictures, or visualize, things, people, or places that are described.
Sometimes a word names a thing or action by copying the sound. Example: Bong!
Symbolism occurs when one thing stands for or represents something else.
Example: The dove symbolizes peace.
Hyperbole is intentionally exaggerated figures of speech.
Example: It was raining cats and dogs.
Imagery involves one or more of your five senses – the abilities to hear, taste,
touch, smell, and see. An author uses a word or phrase to stimulate your memory
of those senses and to help create mental pictures.
Idioms An expression that means something other than the literal meanings of its
individual words. They are overused expressions.
Definitions: Simile is a comparison using like or as. It usually compares two unlike
objects.
Metaphor states that one thing is something else. It is a comparison, but does
NOT use like or as to make the comparison.
Directions:
1. Circle the items being compared.
2. On the line write if it is a metaphor or a simile.
1. Megan was as happy as a bug in a rug. __________________
2. This house is an icebox this morning. __________________
3. That movie about the talking monkey was a barrel of fun. ____________
4. You look like the cat that swallowed the canary. _____________
5. That black cloud appeared out of nowhere like a rabbit out of a hat.
__________________
6. You dance like a dream. __________________
7. The sand was a glitter of diamonds in the bright sun. _____________
8. See if you can be as quiet as a mouse. __________________
9. The blanket of fog lay across London. __________________
10.As crazy as a cuckoo, the clown laughed and cried. ___________
Personification
“Person----ification”
Definition: is giving human qualities, feelings, actions, or characteristics to
inanimate (not living) objects.
Directions:
1. Circle what OBJECT is being personified
2. Underline the human ACTION
1. The pencil danced across my paper.
2. The reaching fingers of the tree caught my coat.
3. The tulips welcomed spring with open arms.
4. The cooking stew sang its song of comfort as it bubbled.
5. The windblown leaves raced me home.
6. The automobile’s alarm screamed endlessly through the night.
7. The fire danced in the open hearth.
8. Darkness swallowed the mysterious strangers.
9. The brook sang to the lonely boy and comforted him.
10.
That stubborn door sticks when I am desperate to get in!
Alliteration
Definition: is the repetition of the initial consonant. There should be at
least two repetitions in a row.
Directions: Circle the repeating letter.
1. We Willie Winkle went to bed.
2. Tattling tongues tell tales too often.
3. Suddenly Sally sat up and stretched.
4. A cracked cup crashed to the floor.
Directions: Complete each sentence by writing an alliterating word on the line.
1. Funny Fran found five______________________________.
2. Laughing ____________________won lots of lemon trees.
3. Tomatoes on twisted vines looked _______________________.
4. The curling cat coiled on a ____________________________.
Definition: is the imitation of natural sounds in word form
Directions: Write each sound next to the sound maker.
Sound-Maker
1. Electric saw ____
Sounds
2. Frog leaping in the water ___
Beep beep!
3. Sound of a door closing___
Splash!
4. Alarm clock ___
Ha ha ha ha!
5. Someone laughing___
Zzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzz
6. A mad cat___
7. A howling wolf___
8. A train going up a hill___
9. Doorbell___
10.Someone with a cold___
Slam!
Sniffle sniffle!
Chug chug chug!
Hsst! Hsst! Hsst!
Ow-oooooo!
Ding dong!
Symbolism
Definition: occurs when one thing stands for or represents something else.
Directions: Match the following symbols to their meaning:
___1. Uncle Sam
a. United States
b. Poison
___2.a red rose
c. Luck
d. Youth
e. Life
f. Love
___3. A skull and cross bones
___4. Springtime
___5. A long path
___6. A horseshoe
Hyperbole
Definition: is intentionally exaggerated figures of speech.
Definition:
1.Underline the hyperbole in each sentence.
2. On the line underneath, explain what it really means.
1. Look, I said no a million times, so please don’t ask me again.
______________________________________________
2. It’s going to take a year to straighten out this confusion.
______________________________________________
3. We’ve got the juiciest oranges, the smoothest yogurt, and the
tastiest treats in the world!
______________________________________________
4. That man is seventy feet tall!
______________________________________________
5. Eliza brings enough lunch to feed twenty people.
______________________________________________
Imagery
Definition: involves one or more of your five senses. An author uses a word or phrase to stimulate
your memory of those senses and to help create mental pictures.
Directions: Using the picture above, create an example of imagery for at least three of the
following senses.
Sight________________________
Touch________________________
Sound________________________
Smell________________________
Taste________________________
What sense is being used in the following example?
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he hand flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
Answer: _______________
Idioms
Definition: An expression that means something other than the literal meanings of
its individual words. They are overused expressions.
Directions: Explain what each idiom means.
1.When the politician was caught stealing from the taxpayers, everyone thought he
would receive a severe punishment, but all he got was a slap on the wrist.
What is the meaning of this idiom?__________________________________
2. We thought that our neighbor’s, the Jones family, were rich beyond our wildest
dreams, but it turns out that we’re all in the same boat.
What is the meaning of this idiom?__________________________________
3. If Kim thinks that I’m going to let her copy my math homework, she’s barking
up the wrong tree.
What is the meaning of this idiom?__________________________________
4. The Vikings thought that they would easily beat the other team, but when it
was tied with a minute left in the fourth quarter, they knew that this game was
really coming down to the wire.
What is the meaning of this idiom?__________________________________
5. Tom wanted to get down to brass tacks, but the lawyer kept chatting about
the weather.
What is the meaning of this idiom?__________________________________
6. Don’t get so worked up, buddy. She’s only pulling your leg.
What is the meaning of this idiom?__________________________________
HONORS Figurative Language
Reminders
Test: Wednesday 9/26
*BE ABLE TO MATCH FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE VOCAB
TO THE CORRECT DEFINITION
Figurative Language – tool that an author uses to help the reader
visualize, or see, what is happening in a story/poem
Simile – comparison using like or as, compares 2 unlike objects.
Metaphor – states that one this is something else
Personification – gives human qualities, feelings, actions, or
characteristics to non human objects
*Hint: the word PERSON is in personification
Alliteration – repetition of initial consonant sound; at least 2 in a row
Onomatopoeia – imitation of natural sounds in word form
Imagery – word/phrase to stimulate your memory of the 5 senses
*Hint: Imagery is close to IMAGINE. You use your 5 senses to
imagine something
Hyperbole – intentionally exaggerated figures of speech
Symbolism – one thing stands for or represents something else
*Hint – Symbolism has the word SYMBOL in it
Idioms– expression that means something other than the literal meaning
of its individual words; over-used expressions
*BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY EXAMPLES OF FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE*
Simile – He was as tall as a giraffe.
Metaphor – The dog was a wild animal.
Personification – The night sky kissed me with drops of rain.
Alliteration – Sally sells seashells by the seashore.
Onomatopoeia – Snap! Crackle! Pop!
Imagery – As I walked through the dark forest towards our campsite, I
could hear the crackling of the campfire and smell the aroma of juicy
steaks cooking on the grill.
Hyperbole – I’ve watched that show a million times!
Symbolism – Dove represents peace; Yellow Double Arches represents
McDonalds
Idiom– Break a leg! This idiom means good luck!
*BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT TWO THINGS ARE BEING
COMPARED IN SIMILES AND METAPHORS*
Examples:
Simile – He was as tall as a giraffe. The boy (he) is being compared to
a giraffe.
Metaphor – The dog was a wild animal. The dog is being compared to
the wild animal.
*BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHICH OBJECT IS BEING
PERSONIFIED IN PERSONIFICATION*
Example:
Personification – The night sky kissed me with drops of rain. The object
being personified is the sky.