2. Recognizing Figurative Language
The opposite of literal language is figurative language.
Figurative language is language that means more than
what it says on the surface.
It usually gives us a feeling about its subject.
Poets use figurative language almost as frequently as
literal language. When you read poetry, you must be
conscious of the difference. Otherwise, a poem may
make no sense at all.
3. Recognizing 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. Literal means "exact"
or "not exaggerated." By pretending that the
statement is not exaggerated, the person stresses
how much he has eaten.
Literal language is language that means exactly
what is said.
Most of the time, we use
literal language.
4. What is figurative language?
Whenever you describe something by
comparing it with something else,
you are using figurative language.
5. Types of Figurative Language
Imagery
Simile
Metaphor
Alliteration
Personification
Onomatopoeia
Hyperbole
Idioms
6. Imagery
Language that appeals to the senses.
Descriptions of people or objects stated
in terms of our senses in the reader’s
mind.
• Sight
• Hearing
• Touch
• Taste
• Smell
7. sight: the rose is bright red
hearing: it sounds like the chirping of
several birds, with their high voices.
smell: the air smells like going to the
countryside. fresh and green. no smell
of smoke but the fresh waters and the
leaves.
touch: it feels bumpy yet gives off a
welcoming warmth
taste: it tastes sweet yet spicy at once,
with a tinge of orange taste.
8. Simile
A figure of speech which involves a
direct comparison between two unlike
things, usually with the words like or as.
Example: The muscles on his brawny arms
are strong as iron bands.
9. Metaphor
A figure of speech which involves an implied
comparison between two relatively unlike things
using a form of be. The comparison is not
announced by like or as.
Example:
The road was a ribbon wrapped through the desert.
10. AlliterationRepeated consonant sounds occurring at the
beginning of words or within words.
Example:
1. She was wide-eyed and wondering while
she waited for Walter to waken.
2. She sells seashells by the seashore'.
11. Personification
A figure of speech which gives 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.
12. Hyperbole
An exaggerated statement used to
heighten effect. It is not used to mislead
the reader, but to emphasize a point.
Example: She’s said so on several million
occasions.
13. Onomatopoeia
The use of words that mimic
sounds.
Example:
The firecracker made a loud ka-
boom!
14. Idioms
An idiom or idiomatic expression refers to a
construction or expression in one language
that 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.
15. Choose the best answer.
The sea licked the grass at the
edge of the shore.
1. The sentence above is an
example of a/an
a. simile
b. personification
c. metaphor
d. idiom
16. You're just throwing money down
the drain.
2. The above sentence is an
example of a/an
a. metaphor
b. idiom
c. personification
d. simile
17. These walls have ears.
3. The sentence above is an example
of a/an
a. simile
b. personification
c. metaphor
d. idiom
18. His room was a junk pile.
4. The sentence above is an
example of a/an
a. simile
b. metaphor
c. personification
d. idiom
19. The train was an angry animal
roaring down the tracks.
5. The above sentence is an example
of a/an
a. metaphor
b. simile
c. idiom
d. personification
20. The mother is a tigress in
defending her children.
6. The above sentence is an
example of a/an
a. idiom
b. metaphor
c. simile
d. personification
21. The baby's skin was like a rose
petal.
7. The above sentence is an
example of a/an
a. personification
b. idiom
c. metaphor
d. simile
22. 8. His pen flew across the page,
frantically trying to catch up to
what the teacher was saying.
The above sentence is an example
of a/an
a. personification
b. metaphor
c. idiom
d. simile
23. The moonless night was dark as
black velvet.
9. The above sentence is an
example of a/an
a. simile
b .metaphor
c. idiom
d. personification
24. The sheets hanging on the
clothesline danced in the wind.
10. The above sentence is an
example of a/an
a. simile
b. personification
c. idiom
d. Metaphor
25. The hungry waves grabbed our
sand castle and pulled it into the
foamy sea.
11. The above sentence is an
example of a/an
a. idiom
b. simile
c. metaphor
d. personification
26. The bacon was sizzling in the frying
pan.
12. The above sentence is an example
of a/an
a. personification
b. hyperbole
c. onomatopoeia
d. Metaphor
27. Some students would rather eat
dirt and die than have to sit down
and read a book.
13. The above sentence is an
example of a/an
a. onomatopoeia
b. hyperbole
c. idiom
d. personification
28. Jovial Jake joined Judy for juice.
14. The above sentence is an
example of a/an
a. onomatopoeia
b. hyperbole
c. personification
d. alliteration
29. Pop bottle, pop bottles in pop
shops.Pop bottles, pop bottles, little
Pops drops
15. The above sentence is an
example of a/an
a. alliteration
b. hyperbole
c. personification
d. alliteration
30. Answers
1. b 6. b 11. b
2. b 7. d 12. c
3. b 8. a 13. b
4. b 9. a 14. d
5. a 10. b 15. a
31. Teaching Similes and MetaphorsAlliteration Lesson Plan and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/1allitera.htm
Hyperbole- Lesson Plans and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/10lesson.htm
Idiom Lesson Plan
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/6lesson.htm
Imagery- Lesson Plans and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/imagery2.htm
Lesson Plan for Puns
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/5lesson.htm
Onomatopoeia- Lesson Plans and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/9lesson.htm
Personification Lesson Plans and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/7lesson.htm
Proverbs- Lesson Plans and Resources
http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/proverbs2.htm