Figurative Language
Figurative Language is a tool that
an author uses to help the reader
visualize (or see) what is
happening in a story or a poem.
Simile
A simile is a comparison using like or as. It
compares two dissimilar objects.
Example…His feet were as big as boats.
We are comparing the size of feet to boats.
Metaphor
A metaphor states that one thing is something
else. It is a comparison, but it does NOT use
like or as to make the comparison.
Example…Her hair is silk.
The sentence is comparing (or stating) that
hair is silk.
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is the imitation of natural
sounds in word form. Sometimes the word
names a thing or action by copying the sound.
Example…The basketball went swish through
the net.
Personification
Personification is giving human qualities,
feelings, action, or characteristics to inanimate
(non-living) objects.
Example…. The window winked at me.
The verb, wink, is a human action. A window
is an inanimate object. Therefore, we have a
good example of personification.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repeating of the initial
consonant in neighboring words.
Example… The slippery snake squirmed
through Samson Street.
The repeated sound is “s”
Idiom
Idiom – An expression used in a special
manner.
Example…Cat got your tongue?
Some Popular Idioms
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Button your lip
He has a green thumb
Monkey Business
Hit the hay
Do you have ants in your pants?
Head in the clouds
Cold feet
Under the weather
Some Popular Idioms Continued
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Green with envy
In the dog house
A drop in the bucket
Leave a bad taste in your mouth
In a pickle
Music to my ears
Hyperbole
Hyperbole – An extreme exaggeration.
Example…I am so hungry I could eat a
horse.
Decide whether the following examples are…
1. Simile
2. Metaphor
3. Onomatopoeia
4. Idiom
5. Alliteration
6. Personification
7. Hyperbole
The ceramic cup
crashed on the
coffee colored
counter.
The ceramic cup
crashed on the
coffee colored
counter.
Alliteration
Brian was a wall,
stopping every
shot that came his
way.
Brian was a wall,
stopping every shot
that came his way.
Metaphor
Hold your horses.
Hold your horses.
Idiom
The advertisement
called out to the
viewers watching
TV.
The advertisement
called out to the
viewers watching
TV.
Personification
I am so hungry I
could eat a horse.
I am so hungry I
could eat a horse.
Hyperbole
The bee went
buuzzzzz around the
flower.
The bee went
buuzzzzz around the
flower.
Onomatopoeia
Those two girls
are like peas in a
pod.
Those two girls
are like peas in a
pod.
Simile
Bill was as nervous
as a cat with a long
tail in a room full of
rocking chairs.
Bill was as nervous
as a cat with a long
tail in a room full of
rocking chairs.
Simile
Let’s go on a scavenger hunt…
1. You and a partner will try to find 1 example of
each of the following types of figurative
language.
2. Write the example, book title, and page number.
3. Also, explain how the example fits the type of
figurative language you identify it as. For
example, if it is a simile, explain what is being
compared.
4. You may use any book in the room including
your SSR book, SS or Science texts, or any book
from the classroom library.