Figurative LanguagePoetry

Definition

Figurative language is a word or phrase that departs from everyday

literal language for the sake of comparison, emphasis, clarity, or

freshness.

Table of Contents

SimileMetaphor

PersonificationIdiom

Simile

A simile is a comparison between two things using like or as.

Like or As

He ran as fast as a cheetah.

Her lips are as red as cherries.

AS

Figurative Language Song

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http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=42ea9ea36bfb5ad4157b

Metaphor

Metaphors are comparisons that show how two things that are not alike in

most ways are similar in one important way. Metaphors are a

way to describe something. Authors use them to make their writing

more interesting or entertaining.

Examples

Life is a journey.

Driving a Rover is 'like' having a lion as a pet.

Fifth of July My family is an expired firecracker

set off by the blowtorch of divorce. We layscattered in many directions.

My father is the wick, badly burntbut still glowing softly.

My mother is the blackened paper fluttering down,blowing this way and that, unsure where to land.

My sister is the fallen, colorful parachute,lying in a tangled knot, unable to see the beauty she

holds.My brother is the fresh, untouched powder that

was protected from the flame. And I,I am the singed, outside papers, curled away

from everything, silently cursingthe blowtorch.

By: John

Excerpted from Writing Process Activities Kit.

Personification

Giving human-like attributes or personal nature to inanimate or non-

human things

Example: The trees danced in the wind.A tree is an inanimate object that may sway in the wind, but it cannot get up and dance. mate object

Examples

The lightning lashed out with anger.Opportunity knocked on the door.The sky was full of dancing stars.

The moon smiled at me from the sky.

April Rain Songby Langston Hughes

Let the rain kiss you Let the rain beat upon your head with silver

liquid drops Let the rain sing you a lullaby The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk The rain makes running pools in the gutter The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof

at night And I love the rain.

Idioms

A phrase whose meaning cannot be determined by the literal definition of the phrase itself, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only through common use.

Common Examples

A dime a dozen. -anything that is common or easy to get.

A piece of cake. -a task that can be accomplished very easily.

Common Examples

Cup of Joe. – a cup of coffee.

From rags to riches. –to go from being very poor to wealthy.

Now Let’s Review!

Figurative Language Song

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http://www.educationalrap.com/74/figurative-language.html

Figurative Language SongSometimes what you mean is not exactly what you say

That’s figurative language, using words in different waysPersonification, alliteration, assonance, hyperbole

Onomatopoeia, metaphor, and simileWhen Sally seems to sit somewhere separate from Sonia, Or Caleb calls Chris ‘cause he’s coming to California It’s called alliteration: that’s what occurs When you got the same sound at the start

of every wordBut when you’ve got a vowel sound that keeps sounding the same That’s a figure called

assonance, yeah, that’s its name It’s what I’m trying to define by providing this example But I cannot deny that assonance can be a handful

A simile is something that you use to compareTwo unrelated things with an element that’s shared My mind is like an ocean; it’s as smooth as

jazz But it’s only a simile if it uses “like” or “as”A metaphor is similar, but watch out! Be careful ’cause you’ve got to leave “like” and “as” out My

mind is an ocean; my words are a river, So keep your ears open as I continue to deliver

Now if the sun’s smiling down, or the boat hugged the shore That’s personification, nothing less, nothing more

But with a buzz or a ding or a hiss or a roar That’s onomatopoeia that we’re using for sureHyperbole: man, that’s like a million times harder!

Take something true, then exaggerate it way fartherNow you’ve heard this song from beginning to the finishNow you’ve got some tools to draw your literary image