Musical Figurative Language
Kristina Cana
Simile
• Comparing two things using like or as
• Mirror by Justin Timberlake
• Ex: “Aren’t you somethin’ to admire, cause
your shine is somethin’ like a mirror…”
Metaphor
• Comparing two things without using like or as
• My Heart’s a Stereo by Gym Class Heroes
• Ex: “ My Heart’s a Stereo, it beats for you so
listen close…”
Alliteration
• The use of the same consonant at the beginning of
each word or each stressed syllable in a line of verse
• So Sick by Neyo
• Ex: “ Said I’m so sick of love song, so sad and slow…”
Hyperbole
• Obvious and intentional exaggeration
• 50 Ways to Say Goodbye by Train
• Ex: “ I wanna live a thousand lives with you…”
Onomatopoeia
• The formation of a word from a sound
associated with what is named
• Boom Boom Pow by Black Eyed Peas
• Ex: “Boom, boom, boom…”
Imagery/Sensory Details
• The Words or phrases a writer uses to create a
certain picture in the reader’s mind. Imagery
is usually based on sensory details.
• Somewhere Only We Know by Keane
• Ex: “ I came across a fallen tree, it felt the
branches of it looking at me…”