Figurative Language

1
Figurative Language
What is figurative language?
2
Figurative Language

• Figurative language refers to any language that
  helps to create mental images or language that
  makes different kinds of comparisons.
• Figurative language helps an audience (reader)
  better understand the story or text.
• What are some examples of figurative language?

3
Types of Figurative Language

• Simile
• Metaphor
• Hyperbole
• Idiom
• Personification
• Onomatopoeia
• Imagery

4
Simile

• A simile is a description that compares
  characteristics of two unlike things to one
  another, using the words like or as.
• The sea was as smooth as glass.
• That day, her smile was like the rainbow after
  the rain.

5
Metaphor

• A metaphor compares characteristics of unlike
  things without using the words like or as.
• My face was a beet. I couldnt believe I had
  fallen in front of the whole school.
• The clouds were fluffy cotton balls floating
  through the sky.

6
Hyperbole

• A hyperbole is an extreme, obvious exaggeration
• Her hair was as tall as a skyscraper. It must
  have taken a gallon of hairspray to fix it.
• Yes, I know. Youve said that a thousand
  times already.

7
Idiom

• Idioms use words or phrases in a way that is
  different from its usual or dictionary meaning.
• An idiom is a phrase that should not be taken for
  its literal meaning.
• Would you please stop channel surfing?
• Can you lend me a hand with this ladder?
• The little girl was the apple of her daddys
  eye.

8
Personification

• Personification- giving human qualities to
  inanimate objects
• The trees danced in the wind storm.
• The sun greeted the young girl as it peeked in
  her window.

9
Onomatopoeia

• Onomatopoeia- when a word is used to suggest a
  sound that would normally be heard
• The bzzzzz of the bee was driving me
  crazy.
• Crash! As the two cars collided, pieces of
  twisted metal filled the street.

10
Imagery

• Imagery- sensory details that help the reader
  hear, smell, see, taste, or feel what is being
  described
• When she screeched her fingers across the
  blackboard, our cat jumped into the air and
  chills ran up my spine.

11
More about figurative language

• Connotation/ Denotation
• Allusion
• Oxymoron
• Symbolism

12
Connotation vs. Denotation

• The denotation of a word is the literal meaning
  of the word that can be found in the dictionary.
• The connotation of a word is a meaning suggested
  by the context of the sentence or paragraph that
  is different from its dictionary definition. It
  is often attached to emotional or cultural
  understandings.

13
Connotation vs. Denotation

• Words can often have the same dictionary meaning.
  However, the meaning suggested by the use of one
  may have positive connotation and the either a
  negative connotation.
• Sometimes, even the same word used in two
  different sentences could have a different
  connotation.

14
Connotation vs. Denotation Examples

• Examples The words home, house, residence and
  dwelling all have the same denotation, but the
  connotation of each word is very different.
• Denotation  Where a person lives at any given
  time.
• ConnotationHome cozy, loving,
  comfortableHouse the actual building or
  structureResidence cold, no feelingDwelling
  primitive or basic surroundings

15
Connotation vs. Denotation Examples

• Thin and Skinny have the same denotation, or
  dictionary meaning. However, the connotations can
  be very different depending on the sentence.
• The thin model walked down the runway with poise
  and style.
• The skinny girl waited patiently to be chosen for
  a team.

16
Connotation vs. Denotation Examples

• Which word in each pair below has a
• positive connotation to you?
• Plain / natural
• Chef / cook
• Slender / skinny
• Smile / smirk
• Clever / Sly

17
Allusion

• An allusion is a reference made to another story,
  song, play, movie, etc. that is not directly
  mentioned.
• The reader might not notice or understand an
  allusion in a piece of writing or a song if they
  are not familiar with the story, song, movie,
  etc. being referenced.

18
Allusion- Examples

• Youre standing here all set to crucify- all set
  to find a scapegoat.
• What story is this allusion referencing?
• You would have thought she was the wicked
  step-mother had you seen the way she treated her
  little boy.
• What story is this allusion referencing?

19
Allusion- Examples

• Yes, the phone, the phone is ring-ing Can you
  please pick it up? I dont have all day.
• What song does this allusion reference?
• Yes, he broke up with me. But, trust me, Ill
  find my Romeo one day. It will just take me some
  time.
• What story does this allusion reference?

20
Oxymoron

• An oxymoron is a figure of speech that
  combines two words that seemingly contradict each
  other.

21
Oxymoron Examples

• My pants were a little big, but I wore them
  anyway.
• I know almost exactly how much it will cost me.
• I need an exact estimate of the cost.
• I can get lost in virtual reality for hours.
• I was all alone in a crowd of people.
• That was awfully nice of you to say.

22
Symbolism

• A symbol is a person, place, action, object, or
  idea that stands for something beyond itself.
• Examples
• The man kissed the cross on his chain before
  heading into the pit of snakes.
• The song I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack is
  full of symbolism. The song isn't really about
  dancing at all ... dancing is a symbol for
  getting the most out of life.

23
Other types of Figurative Language

• Irony- the difference between what you expect to
  happen and what actually does happen
• Sarcasm- a sharply ironical taunt sneering or
  cutting remark a review full of sarcasms.
• Cliché- an overused word or expression that is
  predictable

24
Resources

• Kemper, Dave , Verne Meyer, and Patrick Sebranek.
  Write Source A Book for Writing, Thinking, and
  Learning. Wilmington, MA Houghton Mifflin, 2006.
• McCarthy, Tara. Spotlight on Literary Elements
  Teachers Guide. New York Scholastic, 2004.