FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

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FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

• Developed by
• Yvonne Bradley
• Martin City Middle School

Teacher information
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This exercise is designed to reinforce the
concept of imagery in literature. In addition it
addresses the following strategies

• MAP Testing
• to identify examples of descriptive language on
  the Near Proficient level
• to interpret language using imagery Proficient
  level
• Show-Me standards, Communication Arts
• 2, reading and evaluating fiction, poetry and
  drama

• Show-Me Standards Goal 1
• comprehend and evaluate written, visual, and oral
  presentations and works.

• Show-Me Standards Goal 2
• review and revise communications to improve
  accuracy and clarity
• present perceptions and ideas regarding works of
  the arts, humanities and sciences.

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It is suggested that students keep a journal for
the writing prompts in each section. After time
has been allotted to complete these writing
prompts, the class should then discuss their
ideas. Students should read directly from their
journals, as this reinforces clear expression of
ideas.
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Figurative Language

• Figurative language is speech or written language
  that is not meant to be interpreted literally.
  It is used to project vivid impressions by
  creating comparisons between things that are not
  alike. Some frequently used figures of speech
  are metaphors, similes, and personifications.

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SIMILES One of the most frequently used figures
of speech is the simile. It is a comparison of
two different things using the words like, as, or
than to link them. For example, The old man
walked as slowly as a turtle creeping uphill, is
an example of a simile. The two objects being
compared are the man and a turtle to show how
slow the old man was. These two ideas are joined
by the word as. Another example of a simile
would be The bouquet was like a rainbow, bright
and full of color. The two things that are
being compared are bouquet and rainbow.
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METAPHORS Like a simile, a metaphor also
compares two objects to create a picture in the
readers mind. Unlike the simile, the comparison
is not directly stated, and the words like, as,
and then are not used. A simile might state that
The horses coat was like velvet, (comparing
coat and velvet) while a metaphor might say The
horses coat was soft velvet or The horses
coat was a sheet of velvet, which is an example
of a direct metaphor. The horses velvet coat
is an example of indirect metaphor.
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PERSONIFICATION Personification is a third type
of figurative language. This is a very
specialized comparison in which a non-human
thing, idea, or emotion is given human
characteristics. The tree waved happily at us
as we walked along the road is an example of
personification because the tree doesnt have
hands to wave or emotions to be happy. Another
example would be, Freedom called to me on the
last day of school gives a voice to the concept
of freedom.
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Practice 1

• The sun greeted us warmly!

Which is this an example of personification,
simile, or metaphor? Why? Respond in your
journal or on paper. (Click on the picture twice
for the answer)
Personification!
This is because the sun is being given the human
characteristic or emotion of being welcoming.
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Practice 2

• The day seemed as dull as a tarnished mirror.

Which is this an example of personification,
simile, or metaphor? Why? Respond in your
journal or on paper.
Simile!
This is because the two things being compared are
a day and a mirror, and they are linked by as.
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Practice 3

• The boy was a train crash waiting to happen,
  running madly about the room.

Which is this an example of personification,
simile, or metaphor? Why? Respond in your
journal or on paper. (Click on the picture twice
for the answer)
Metaphor!
This is because the boy is being compared to a
crash, and the two things are linked by was a
state of being verb.
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Practice 4

• I shrieked like a terrified bird at the man!

Which is this an example of personification,
simile, or metaphor? Why? Respond in your
journal or on paper. (Click on the picture twice
for the answer)
Simile!
This is because the two things being compared are
I and bird.
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Practice 5

• Even the rain cried sadly that day.

Which is this an example of personification,
simile, or metaphor? Why? Respond in your
journal or on paper. (Click on the picture twice
for the answer)
Personification!
This is because the rain is being given the human
characteristic or emotion of being sad.
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Practice 6

• The lawn is a smooth green carpet stretching out
  before us.

Which is this an example of personification,
simile, or metaphor? Why? Respond in your
journal or on paper. (Click for answers).
Metaphor!
This is because the two things being compared are
the lawn and a carpet, which are linked with
is.
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Read the following excerpts from Night by
William Blake and The Highway Man from Alfred
Noyes. Look for examples of figurative language.
Notice what two things are being compared . Now
in your journal make a graphic organizer showing
what type of figurative language each example is
and what two things are being compared.
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from Night by William Blake The sun descending
in the west The evening star does shine, The
birds are silent in their nest And I must seek
for mine, The moon, like a flower In heavens
high bower, With silent delight Sits and smiles
on the night.
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from The Highway Man by Alfred Noyes The wind
was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy
seas, The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the
purple moor, And the highwayman came
riding- Riding---riding-- The highwayman came
riding, up to the old inn-door.
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Share your graphic organizers with your
classmates.
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Your graphic organizer should be similar to this
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In your journal, explain why the poet might have
chosen comparisons using torrent, galleon, and
ribbon. What effect do you think he was trying
to achieve? Share your answer with your
classmates.
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Did you notice that the figurative language in
Night reinforced the idea that nature is
beautiful? Or in The Highwayman the essence of
a spooky night?
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Now look at the excerpt from the poem, A Windy
Day, by Andrew Young.
Write the figures of speech that you find and
tell what types of figures of speech they are.
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The wind brings all dead things to life, Branches
that lash like whips And dead leaves rolling in a
hurry Or peering in a rabbits bury Or trying to
push down a tree
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And from the poem The Moons the North Winds
Cookie by Vachel Lindsey The Moons the North
Winds cookie, He bites it, day by day Until
theres but a rim of scraps That crumble all away.
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Share your findings with the class.
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• You should have found these figures of speech
• Branches . . . like whips simile
• leaves in a hurry/peering/push personification
• Moon is cookie simile
• moon bites personification
• (refers to moon) until its but a rim of
  scraps metaphor

How do these figures of speech affect the mood of
the poem?
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