Figurative Language

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Figurative Language
making writing come ALIVE!
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Simile
A comparison using like or as
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Her eyes were shining like stars.
4
After the race, Bryan panted like a dog in hot
weather.
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METAPHOR
A direct comparison which states that something
is another thing and does not use like or as.
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The childs smile was a ray of sunshine.
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Her face seemed to be a firecracker, exploding
with embarrassment.
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ALLITERATION
Repeating the same sound at the beginning of
several words in a series
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The snake slithered silently through the open
field.
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The vulture soared silently, searching for prey.
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HYPERBOLE
Using a very exaggerated statement for emphasis
or effect
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The child cried an ocean of tears.
13
Last year, I received millions of Valentines from
all of my friends.
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Personification
Giving human or lifelike qualities to inanimate
(nonliving) or non-human things
15
The wind whistled through the trees.
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The sun smiled happily at us all during the
picnic.
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IMAGERY
Using words which form a clear picture in the
readers mind. . .
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. . . Imagery words appeal to any of the senses
sight, touch, smell, etc.
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Watch what happens when you include imagery in
your writing. . .
The tired runner won the race.
becomes . . .
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Dripping with sweat, the runner dragged himself
exhausted across the finish line. Every muscle
throbbed as he slowly forced one foot in front of
the other.
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When he collapsed onto the rough pavement of the
track, he suddenly heard the tumultuous roar of
thousands of voices from the stands. Only then
did he realize he had crossed the finish line
first.
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ONOMATOPOEIA
Using words which imitate sounds
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Quack
buzz
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tick
plop
click
zoom
pop
snap
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IDIOM
An expression whose whole meaning is different
from the literal meaning of the individual words.
26
The homework was over his head.
(The homework was too difficult.)
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My little sister drives me up the wall sometimes.
(My little sister irritates me sometimes.)
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She hit the nail on the head.
(She has the right answer.)
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APOSTROPHE
Speaking to an absent person, place, or thing as
if it were present.
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O Summer! Why did you pass so quickly?
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Oh Susan, why did your family have to move so far
away?
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BATHOS
An abrupt change from the grand, eloquent, and
majestic to the ordinary or trivial.
33
He was filled with love, devotion . . .
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. . .and a hunger for Pop-Tarts.
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The beach was filled with crystal white sand,
elegant palm trees, an azure blue sky that
stretched for an eternity, and the smell of
rotting fish.