Figurative language uses comparisons to describe people, objects, or ideas in non-literal ways. There are three main types: personification gives human qualities to non-human things; similes use "like" or "as" to compare two unlike things; and metaphors state a comparison without using "like" or "as". Interpreting figurative language involves understanding the comparison being made and what the author aims to convey about the topic.

1. Understanding Figurative Language

2. Essential Questions What is figurative language? How can I interpret figurative language?

3. What is figurative language? Here are some examples. What do you think figurative language means? The wind whispered softly through the trees. The cafeteria pizza was a soggy, droopy piece of cardboard. The teacher glared like a furious dragon.

4. What is figurative language? The wind whispered through the trees Can wind really whisper? What is the author trying to tell us about wind?

5. What is figurative language? The cafeteria pizza was a soggy, droopy piece of cardboard. Is the pizza really cardboard? What is the author trying to tell us about the pizza?

6. What is figurative language? The teacher glared like a furious dragon. Was the teacher really a dragon? What is the author trying to tell us about the teacher?

7. What is figurative language? Figurative language expresses an idea that goes beyond the actual meaning of the words Wind can’t whisper…but the expression gives you an idea of how the wind sounds

8. Kinds of figurative language There are actually many kinds of figurative language. In this presentation, we’ll focus on three Personification Similes Metaphors

9. How can I interpret figurative language? To interpret figurative language means to understand what the author is trying to say To interpret figurative language, it’s important to understand how different kinds of figurative language work

10. How can I interpret figurative language? Personification is a kind of figurative language Personification means to give human thoughts and qualities to nonhuman objects

11. How can I interpret figurative language? The tree stood tall and proud by the curving path How does this sentence show personification?

12. How can I interpret figurative language? The tree stood tall and proud by the curving path How is this sentence showing the tree doing something that trees don’t really do?

13. How can I interpret figurative language? The tree stood tall and proud by the curving path That’s right! Trees can’t really feel proud. This is an example of personification.

14. How can I interpret figurative language? The tree stood tall and proud by the curving path What is the author trying to tell us about the tree?

15. How can I interpret figurative language? The leaves danced as they fell from the trees What are the leaves doing that leaves can’t really do?

16. How can I interpret figurative language? The leaves danced as they fell from the trees That’s right! Leaves can’t dance This is an example of personification What is the author trying to tell us about the leaves?

17. Let’s Review! What is figurative language? What is personification?

18. How can I interpret figurative language? A simile is another kind of figurative language A simile is a comparison between two unlike objects using “like” or “as”

19. How can I interpret figurative language? The four students sat down at the cafeteria table and ate like pigs What is being compared in this simile?

20. How can I interpret figurative language? The four students sat down at the cafeteria table and ate like pigs What is being compared in this simile?

21. How can I interpret figurative language? The four students sat down at the cafeteria table and ate like pigs That’s right! The author is comparing the students to pigs

22. How can I interpret figurative language? The four students sat down at the cafeteria table and ate like pigs What is the author trying to say about the way that the students are eating?

23. How can I interpret figurative language? The waves licked the shore like a kitten lapping milk What is the author comparing in this simile?

24. How can I interpret figurative language? The waves licked the shore like a kitten lapping milk That’s right! The waves are being compared to a kitten lapping milk

25. How can I interpret figurative language? The waves licked the shore like a kitten lapping milk What is the author trying to say about the waves—that they are rough and fierce, or small and gentle?

26. Let’s Review! What is it called when an author gives human thoughts and feelings to non-human objects? Personification What is a comparison using “like” or “as”? Simile

27. How can I interpret figurative language? A metaphor is another kind of figurative language A metaphor is a comparison that does not use “like” or “as”

28. How can I interpret figurative language? The school was a maze of hallways and passages What is being compared in this metaphor?

29. How can I interpret figurative language? The school was a maze of hallways and passages That’s right! The school is being compared to a maze

30. How can I interpret figurative language? The school was a maze of hallways and passages What idea is the author trying to express with this metaphor?

31. How can I interpret figurative language? The math test was a walk in the park What is being compared in this metaphor?

32. How can I interpret figurative language? The math test was a walk in the park That’s right! The math test is being compared to a walk in the park

33. How can I interpret figurative language? The math test was a walk in the park What is the author trying to tell us about the math test?

34. Let’s Review Which kind of figurative language makes a comparison using “like” or “as”? Simile Which kind of figurative language gives human thoughts and qualities to non-human objects? Personification

35. Let’s Review Which kind of figurative language makes a comparison without using “like” or “as”? Metaphor

36. Practice Read the examples on the next few slides Which kind of figurative language do they show? How can you interpret the figurative language?

37. Example #1 The airplane landed as gracefully as a ballerina Personification Simile Metaphor

38. Example #1 The airplane landed as gracefully as a ballerina Simile

39. Example #1 The airplane landed as gracefully as a ballerina Interpret the simile What is the author comparing? What is the author trying to tell us?

40. Example #1 The airplane landed as gracefully as a ballerina Interpret the simile What is the author comparing? What is the author trying to tell us?

41. Example #2 The water smashed angrily against the rocks Personification Simile Metaphor

42. Example #2 The water smashed angrily against the rocks Personification

43. Example #2 The water smashed angrily against the rocks Interpret the personification! What is the water doing that water doesn’t really do? What is the author trying to tell us about the water?

44. Example #3 My brother’s room was a dark, mysterious cave Personification Simile Metaphor

45. Example #3 My brother’s room was a dark, mysterious cave Metaphor

46. Example #3 My brother’s room was a dark, mysterious cave Interpret the metaphor! What is the author comparing? What is the author trying to show about the brother’s room?

47. Essential Questions Can you answer these questions? What is figurative language? How can I interpret figurative language?

48. You try it! Can you describe yourself using a simile? Example: Ms. Pearson runs like the wind. Try using a metaphor to describe a football game. Example: The game was a bloody battle. Now use personification to describe an object in the room. The chair groaned when I sat on it.