Figurative Language and the Skilled

Reader

Figurative Language and the Skilled

ReaderWhat is the purpose of figurative

language? It is used to make a point clearer, enhance a statement, or add beauty, color, and detail to language.

Denotation and Connotation

Denotation- the dictionary definition of a word.

Connotation-the thoughts, feelings, and images associated with a word.

imagerySame as “sensory words”. Words or

phrases that appeal to the 5 senses and conjure up mental images.

“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 had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.” Can you see him? Smell the smoke? Hear Christmas music? Taste the milk and cookies? Remember Christmas when you hear this story? Can you feel the fur on

his coat?

idiomAn expression that means

something different from what it says. (Idioms are culturally based)

Ex. He took to the road.They were all moved.… his hopes were high.Ms. Ellis has the best head for

planning.

Hyperbole-obvious exaggeration used to

emphasize a point

• Hyperbole dealing with fictional characters can go pretty far. Pecos Bill is said to have ridden a tornado like any other cowboy would ride a horse. His wife is said to have ridden a catfish as large as a whale.

Metaphor/Simile• Metaphor-A comparison that

uses no connecting word.• Simile-A comparison between

two seemingly unrelated things, using connecting words such as like, as, or seems in the comparison.

Oxymoron/Paradox• Oxymoron-A two-or three word

phrase that contains opposite words or ideas.(Jumbo shrimp, wise fool, act normally)

• Paradox- an extended (long) oxymoron.

From Ralph Waldo Emerson “Good men must not obey the laws too well”.

Personification• Giving human qualities or

actions to something that is not human. Animals, inanimate objects, and ideas can all be personified.

“The grass has so little to do-”“What has eyes but cannot see?”

allusionA reference to a book, movie, or

artistic work.

The Bible is the most alluded to work in the English language.

Alliteration• The repeating of beginning

consonant sounds in a group of words. Alliteration refers to the first sound rather than the first letter. So “city slicker” is an example of alliteration.

“Cows craving cuisine crunch crops”

Onomatopoeia-words that make the sound

they describe• Words such as plop, buzz, fizz, snap, whose sound suggests its meaning.

Repetition and refrainRepetition- words or phrases

repeated in writings to produce emphasis, rhythm, and a sense of urgency.

Refrain- the repetition of a word, phrase, line or lines in a poem, song, or speech.

Rhyme-the repetition of end sounds in words.

• Hark, hark, the dogs do bark! The beggars are coming to town

Some in rags and some in tags,And one in a velvet gown.

Rhythm-the pattern of beats or stresses

in language. It creates a musical quality in speech.

Dialogue- conversations

between characters

Flashback-an interruption of a story

to tell about events that happened in the

past.

Foreshadowing-Hints about events that will occur further in the

story.

Irony- a contradictory statement or

situation.Verbal irony occurs when a

character says one thing but means the opposite. Dramatic irony occurs when the reader has information that one or more of the characters does not have.

Theme- Indirectly expressed insights.

Most literary works have a least one theme.

Themes in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott include the independence of the human spirit and positive ties of family.

Narrator- The voice telling the story.

Narration keeps a story moving, filling in details and description between

dialouge.

HomophonesHomophones are words that sound alike, but

have different meanings and spellings.

Examples of common homophones include: their and there hear and

here,to, too, and two

Homographs

• Homographs are words that are spelled the same, but have different meanings and may have different pronunciations.

• Examples of common homographs include:

• does and doesHe does like to run.Does are female deer.