Figurative Language
and
Imagery
Metaphors, Similes,
Hyperbole, Personification,
and Idioms
Figurative Language
• is a writer’s tool
• helps the reader to
visualize (see) what
the writer is thinking
• puts a picture in the
readers mind
Imagery
What are your five senses?
An image gives us a:
-a visual picture
-a sound
-a feeling of touch
-a taste, or an odor
An “image” is a word or sequence of
words that refers to any experience of
the five senses.
The pillow was a cloud when I put my head upon it
after a long day.
Simile (SIH-muh-lee) is a comparison
between two or more things using the words
like or as.
I move fast like a cheetah on the Serengeti.
We were as quiet as frightened mice.
What is being compared?
Metaphor (MET-uh-for) is a comparison
between two or more things that doesn't use
the words like or as.
You are an ant, while I'm the lion.
John’s mind is a computer.
What is being compared?
Personification (per-son-if-ih-KAY-shon)
is giving an animal or object human-like
characteristics.
The sky misses the sun at night.
The flames ate hungrily at the burning house.
Personification is another kind of comparison.
Animals, elements of nature, and abstract ideas
are given human qualities.
The stars smiled down on us.
An angry wind slashed
its way across the island.
Hyperbole (hy PER bo lee) is intentional
exaggeration or overstating, often for
dramatic or humorous effect.
His smile was a mile wide.
I tried a thousand times.
Hyperbole is common in humorous poetry.
It can make a point in a light-hearted way. It can
be used to poke fun at someone or something.
Read this description of a town in the poem,
“The People, Yes” by Carl Sandburg.
It's a slow burg—I spent a couple of weeks
there one day.
Describe the town.
Idiom (ID-ee-um) Idioms are phrases
which people use in everyday language
which do not make sense literally but we
understand what they mean.
It was a piece of cake to
install the new kitchen faucet.
An idiom is an expression that has a meaning
apart from the meanings of its individual
words.
• For example:
• It’s raining cats and dogs.
• Its literal meaning suggests that cats and
dogs are falling from the sky.
• We interpret it to mean that it is raining
hard.
• To stick your neck out is to say or do something
that is bold and a bit dangerous.
A similar idiom is to "go out on a limb.“
In both idioms, the idea is that you
put yourself in a vulnerable position.
• To break the ice is to be the first one to say or do
something, with the expectation that
others will then follow.
Another idiom that means something
similar is "get the ball rolling."
What’s what?
Simile?
Metaphor?
Personification?
Hyperbole?
Idiom?
Simile or Metaphor?
• The baby was like an octopus, grabbing at
all the cans on the grocery store shelves.
• The giant’s steps were thunder as he ran
toward Jack.
EXAMPLES of __________:
• The sailboat danced gracefully past us.
• The once-proud trees bent meekly before
the storm.
• The broad, flat rock lay sunning itself by
the stream.
?
Sometimes a writer will give human
characteristics to nonhuman things such as
objects, ideas, places, or animals.
It helps the writer create an exciting picture in
the reader’s mind.
"The town where I grew up is so
isolated....
“It makes ghost towns look popular.”
"I don't even know where it is!"
“The only friend I had was a duck."
"We had to drive to the city for gossip."
“Paper, scissors, rock' is considered a hightech game!"
“Even insects won't live there."
busy as a bee - busy
a beehive of activity - a busy place, a room full
of working people
make a beeline - go straight towards
the bee's knees - the best, superior, the cat's
meow
having bees in one's bonnet - to be up in a tizzy
about something
To get long in the tooth means to get
old. The expression was originally used
when referring to horses since gums
recede with age. So the longer the teeth a
horse has, the older it is said to be.
__________ is common in tall tales.
Here is an example:
At three weeks, Paul Bunyan got his family
into a bit of trouble kicking around his little
tootsies and knocking down something like
four miles of standing timber.
mile-high ice-cream cones
This is an ad for
a play.
It is an example
of ____________.
Simile or Metaphor?
• I feel like a limp dishrag.
• The bar of soap was a slippery eel during
the dog’s bath.
• Ted was as nervous as a cat with a long tail
in a room full of rocking chairs.
The lights blinked in the distance.
Your computer hates me.
I nearly died laughing.
• To have a chip on one's shoulder is usually
an expression to describe a person who acts,
as you say, rudely or aggressively, but also in
a manner that could be described as
"aggressively defensive." The person seems
always ready for a fight.
• Those girls are like two peas in a pod.
• The fluorescent light was the sun during our
test.
__________ are phrases which people
use in everyday language which do not
make sense literally but we understand
what they mean.
cat's meow - the top of the line
play cat and mouse - to play with a person or
animal in a cruel or teasing way
fraidy cat or scaredy cat - a person who is
afraid, a coward
grin like a Cheshire cat - to have a big smile
because of something you're really happy you did
What does this mean really?
Time marches on.
It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.
I was hopping mad.
They ran like greased lightning.
He's got tons of money.
I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
I have told you a million times not to lie!