Figurative LanguageThursday, September 30th

Figurative Language

Not meant to be taken literally

Figurative Language

Not meant to be taken literally

Relies on creative use of wordplay

Figurative Language

Not meant to be taken literally

Relies on creative use of wordplay

Enhances meaning

Figurative Language

Not meant to be taken literally

Relies on creative use of wordplay

Enhances meaning

Helps the reader make connections

Similes

A comparison between two things using LIKE or AS

Similes

Example

Life is like fighting a dinosaur.

Similes

Example

Life is like fighting a dinosaur.

What is the comparison being made?

Hmmm…let’s break it down…

Life is like fighting a dinosaur.

Life is like fighting a dinosaur.

Fighting a dinosaur would be really difficult.

Life is like fighting a dinosaur.

Life is like fighting a dinosaur.

Fighting a dinosaur would be really difficult. They’re gigantic and extinct.

Life is like fighting a dinosaur.

Life is like fighting a dinosaur.

Fighting a dinosaur would be really difficult. They’re gigantic and extinct.

So that means that if I say life is like fighting a dinosaur, that means that life can be really difficult. Hello comparison!

Life is like…

Brainstorm other possible comparisons we could use to show that life is difficult. Think to yourself, what else would be really difficult?

Write these in your notebook.

Life is like… a dinosaur

1)

2)

Life is like…

Share out with your partner!

Write down one of the two examples your partner wrote. This means, you’ll have FOUR, yes four, similes illustrating that life is difficult.

Life is like… a dinosaur

1) [awesome, original simile]

2) [awesome, original simile, part deux]

3) [awesome, original simile from your partner]

Family is like water.

Family is like water.

What is the comparison?

Family is like water.

Family is like water.

What is the comparison? Water: you need it to live, but too much can kill

you.

Family is like water.

Brainstorm other possible comparisons we could use to show that family is necessary, but too much is a bad thing. Ask yourself, “Self, what is something I need, yet too much of this item can be a bad thing?”

Write these in your notebook.

Family is like…water

1)

2)

Metaphor

Metaphor: a comparison between two things NOT using like or as.

Metaphors

Example

Love is a dodgeball.

Metaphors

Example

Love is a dodgeball.

Comparison: You try your best to avoid a dodgeball, and it still hits you in the face.

Another example:

Life is a pile of crap.

Another example:

Life is a pile of crap. On fire.

Another example:

Life is a pile of crap. On fire.

Comparison: A pile of crap is not a good thing.

Therefore, events in life are not always good.

Life is …

Write down TWO other comparisons we could make about life and how sometimes it sucks.

Life is… 1) [something that’s bad]

2) [something else that’s bad]

Life is…

Share and swap one example with your partner!

Be ready for a whip-around of other examples!

Quick Recap

Simile: makes a comparison using LIKE or AS

Metaphor: makes a comparison NOT using like or as

So…

Quick Recap

Simile MetaphorLove is like a

battlefield.Love is a

battlefield.Love is like a

dodgeball.Love is a

dodgeball.Life is like a pile

of crap.Life is a pile of

crap.

Euphemism

Euphemism: words that hide, downplay, or understate the importance or severity of something.

Euphemism

Example

When I asked the doctor about my gunshot wound to the face, he said it was just a scratch.

If you know what movie this still frame is from, you are my new favorite student.

Euphemism

Example

When I asked the doctor about my gunshot wound to the face, he said it was just a scratch.

Euphemism

When I asked the doctor about my gunshot wound to the face, he said it was just a scratch.

Severity of something: gunshot wound

Downplay: just a scratch

Euphemism

When I scored a 3% on a test, I told my mom that I almost passed.

What is the severe situation?

How is it downplayed?

Write down the sentence and your answers…

Euphemism

When I scored a 3% on a test, I told my mom that I almost passed.

What is the severe situation?

3% on a test

How is it downplayed?

Saying I almost passed. Not. Even. Close.

Euphemism

1) Write down a situation that is severe or highly important.

Euphemism

1) Write down a situation that is severe or highly important.

2) Switch notes with your partner. You will now write a euphemism for the sever situation he/she wrote. Think to yourself, what is one way I can downplay this severe situation…

Be ready to share out…

Personification

What does this word look like?

Personification

What does this word look like?

PERSONification

So why does this matter?

Personification

Personification: attributing human qualities to nonhuman beings or inanimate objects

Personification

Examples

My car hates me.

My car hates me.

Miss, a car can’t hate! It’s inanimate!

My car hates me.

Miss, a car can’t hate! It’s inanimate!

You’re right! It IS inanimate, but we are giving it a human quality

(hate). That’s why it is PERSONIFICATION.

Another example? Okay!

My mirror is trying to make me feel bad about myself.

Another example? Okay!

My mirror is trying to make me feel bad about myself. That jerk.

What is the inanimate object?

Another example? Okay!

My mirror is trying to make me feel bad about myself. That jerk.

What is the inanimate object? The mirror.

Another example? Okay!

My mirror is trying to make me feel bad about myself. That jerk.

What is the inanimate object? The mirror.

What is the human attribute?

Another example? Okay!

My mirror is trying to make me feel bad about myself. That jerk.

What is the inanimate object? The mirror.

What is the human attribute? Making me feel bad about myself. And being a jerk.

Personify this!

Step 1: Pick an inanimate object.

Step 2: Pick a human attribute.

Personify this!

Step 1: Pick an inanimate object.

Step 2: Pick a human attribute.

Step 3: Pick a partner. And by “pick,” I mean look at the person next to you. Assign one person “1” and one person “2”

Personify this!

Step 1: Pick an inanimate object.

Step 2: Pick a human attribute.

Step 3: Pick a partner. And by “pick,” I mean look at the person next to you. Assign one person “1” and one person “2”

Step 4: Create TWO examples of personification.

1) Use the object of person 1 and the human attribute of person 2.

2) Use the object of person 2 and the human attribute of person 1.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole: a deliberate and obvious exaggeration.

Hyperbole

Example

I ate 40 pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving.

Hyperbole

Example

I ate 40 pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving.

There is no way I could eat 40 pounds of turkey. I used this form of figurative language to really prove a point.

My point: I ate a lot. Not quite 40 pounds, but a lot.

Hyperbole

I had to wait a year for you to show up.

What is the exaggeration here? Tell it to your partner.

Hyperbole

My cat weight 300 pounds.

Hyperbole

My cat weight 300 pounds. And she eats people. Nom nom nom…

Your turn! Hyperbolize it!

Practice creating hyperboles!

Step 1: think of something

Your turn! Hyperbolize it!

Practice creating hyperboles!

Step 1: think of something

A person

A place

A thing

Oh hey! Those are nouns!

Your turn! Hyperbolize it!

Practice creating hyperboles!

Step 2: exaggerate it

Use your adjectives!

Reference its Size

Color

Timing/frequency

Number/weight