Figurative Language—Language taken beyond its literal ordinary meaning. Imagery—-Language that appeals to the five senses—sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. Personification—-Giving human characteristics to non human things. For example: Examples: The tree cradled and gently rocked the baby birds to sleep. Mother Nature took revenge on all who ventured out that day. Connotation: The emotional, imaginative, cultural, or traditional associations surrounding a word, as opposed to its strictly, literal dictionary definition. Denotation: The strict dictionary definition of a word, presented objectively and without emotional associations Metaphor– a direct comparison between two unlike things. Ex-He is a pillar of strength. Simile— a direct comparison between two unlike things using the words like or as. ExShe is a sweet as pie.-or– Her smile is like the sun. Hyperbole-an extreme exaggeration. Oxymoron-Contradiction of terms. Ex-jumbo shrimp, bitter sweet, sweet agony. Onomatopoeia-word that imitate the sound. Ex-buzz, boom, bang, crash Examples of beefing up writing with description From this: To this: Her brown skin was sweaty. Her velvety chocolate skin glistened like dew drops. From this: Her white face looked surprised. To this: Her chalky pale visage was stricken with fear as she looked on in utter astonishment. From this: To this: The sky is blue. The azure sky is like a deep mysterious ocean above us