Go Figure!

Figurative LanguageMrs. Nikki Spiller

7th Grade Language Arts

Recognizing Literal Language

Language that means exactly what is said

Literal means "exact" or "not exaggerated"

Most of the time, we use literal language

“I’ve eaten so much I feel as if I could literally burst!”

In this case, the person is not using the word literally in its true meaning.

By pretending that the statement is not exaggerated, the person stresses how much he has eaten.

What is figurative language?

Figurative language is language that means more than what it says on the surface.

Recognizing Figurative Language

The opposite of literal language

Describing something by comparing it with something else

Usually gives us a feeling about its subject

Poets use figurative language almost as frequently as literal language When reading poetry, you must be

conscious of the difference. Otherwise, a poem may make no sense at all.

Types of Figurative Language

Simile Metaphor Idiom Alliteration Personification Onomatopoeia Hyperbole Analogy Symbols- Symbolism Imagery

Simile

Involves a comparison between two unlike objects, usually with the words like or as

Example: The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.

Metaphor

Involves an comparison between two unlike objects using a form of be (linking verbs)

Comparison is not announced with like or as

Example: The road was a ribbon wrapped through the desert.

Idiom

An expression that has a meaning apart from its individual words

The words don’t really mean what the words are saying

Idioms cannot be matched or directly translated word-for-word in another language

Example: She has a bee in her bonnet.• Meaning she is obsessed • Cannot be literally translated into another

language word for word

Alliteration

Repeated consonant sounds usually occurring at the beginning of words

Used to emphasize words Must be two repeating to be alliteration

Example: She was wide-eyed and wondering while she waited for Walter to waken.

Personification

Giving the qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea

Example: The wind yells while blowing. The wind cannot yell. Only a living thing can yell.

Four Ways to Create Personification

Use verbs that describe human actions Love remembers the good times. The old car complained loudly when it started to climb

the hill. Write with adj. generally used to describe people

The happy spoon dove into the hot fudge sundae. Worried peas glanced at the boiling water.

Refer to an object, idea, or quality using personal pronouns I coaxed my motorcycle, but he still wouldn’t start. I called out to the ocean, and she waved back at me.

Give things human body parts The truck blinded its eyes. War raised its head.

Personification in Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKexdSZNiLc

How to Personify Objects

Sun The sun greeted me this morning.

Trees The trees danced in the breeze.

Cake The cake screamed “eat me”.

Table Group Work

Table 1- star(s)

Table 2- bed(s)

Table 3- flower(s)

Table 4- cookie(s)

Table 5- soccer ball(s)

Table 6- car(s)

Table 7- controller(s)

Onomatopoeia

The use of words that mimic (imitate) sounds

Example: The firecracker made a loud ka-boom!

Onomatopoeias at Work

http://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2011/01/26/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r94AJzJZZaU

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement used to heighten effect

Not used to mislead the reader, but to emphasize a point

Sometimes looks like a simile/metaphor

Example: She’s said so on several million occasions.

Analogy

A comparison between two things that seem dissimilar, in order to show the ways in which they might be similar

A pair of words that has the same relationship with another pair. Example- love: hate:: war: ________

Ways to Solve an Analogy: Relationship Phrase- phrase used to show the

connection of the two words in an analogy Bridge map; find relating factor

peace

AnalogyCommon Relating Factors

Synonyms- happy: joyful:: sad: depressed

Antonyms- go: stop:: first: last

Rhyme- cat: broom:: hat: groom

Spelling- rides: goes:: riding: going

Cause/effect- late work: zero:: hurricane: flood

Homophones- too: to:: bail: bale

Sequence- third: fourth:: eighth: ninth

Whole/part- school: students:: family: parents

Part/whole- running back: point guard:: football team: basketball

team

“Kind of” or “Type of” something- vegetable: peas:: fruit: strawberry

Symbolism

Using an object or action for something that means more than its literal meaning

Representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships

Symbolism and Holidays

Symbolism in Sports

Symbolism in Movies

Good vs. Evil

Group Work

Table 1: CrossTable 2: Night OwlTable 3: Sunrise/Ray of lightTable 4: DoveTable 5: BooksTable 6: Snake/SerpentTable 7: Thumbs-Up

Color Symbolism

Red excitement, energy, love, danger, violence, war

Yellow joy, happiness, hope, betrayal, dishonesty, hazard

Blue peace, unity, trust, depression, cold, water, sky

Orange enthusiasm, balance, warmth

Green nature, good luck, spring, jealousy, misfortune, envy

Brown Earth, comfort, outdoors, reliability, stability

White pure, birth, cleanliness, youth, snow, winter

Black power, mystery, fear, death, evil, anger, sadness

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses Descriptions of people or objects stated in

terms of our senses

Smell Sight Touch Hearing Taste

Examples of Creating Imagery

Smell- The fragrance of the flowers filled the room.

Sight- We need a homerun to win; keep your fingers crossed.

Touch- The cement was extremely hot that my feet lit up in flames as I walked on it.

Hearing- Tommy jumped to the ground when he heard a pop, pop, pop! He is deathly afraid of firecrackers.

Taste- After eating spinach, my mouth tasted like a garbage truck.

Examples of Personification

Oreo: Milk’s favorite cookie. Hey Diddle, Diddle, the cat and the fiddle.

The cow jumped over the moon; the little dog laughed to see such a sport. And the dish ran away with the spoon. ~Mother Goose

The camera loves me. Opportunity is knocking. Snow had wrapped a white blanket around

the city.