Figurative Language

Figurative LanguageBy Kathy Winter

1Figurative Language

What is figurative language?What is the opposite of figurative language?Who uses figurative language?When would one use figurative language?Why do they use figurative language?

Okay, lets just take one question at a time!

2What is figurative language?

Figurative language is language or speech that describes something using comparisons to make something more clear to the reader or listener by creating an image in their head.

I think this guy is still confused. What do you think we should do to help him understand?

3Opposite of Figurative Language

Sometimes it helps to know the opposite of something to understand the meaning of it. The opposite of figurative language is4

Literal languageLiteral language is the opposite of figurative language. Should you believe your friend when she says, I literally ate 4 hot dogs for lunch.

5Literal LanguageYes, you should believe her. Heres why. Literal language means that one is using the exact meaning of the words they are speaking. It also means that they are not exaggerating or embellishing.

Okay, wait, I thought this was a lesson on figurative language. Why are we still talking about hot dogs and literal language. Ill be right back, Im getting hungry!

6Types of figurative language

Simile a comparison using the word like or as

Hyperbole an exaggeration

Personification giving human features to an inanimate object

7Simile comparison using like or asExamples of similes:I love hot dogs as much as I love summer vacation.

Ice cream is like heaven.

When Josh gets hungry, he is like a bear.

Alicia was laughing as loud as a hyena.

8

Simile The squirrel ran across the telephone wire like a circus tight rope walker.

What are the 2 things being compared?

9Simile - comparisonCorrect, a squirrel and a tight rope performer at a circus.

10Hyperbole an exaggerationExamples of hyperbole usage:

My ice cream cone was a mile high!

Dave hit the baseball into the next county!

Kristins shirt was so bright I needed sunglasses.

11Hyperbole - exaggeration

Im so hungry I could eat a horse!

What is the exaggeration in this statement?

12HyperboleNobody could eat a whole horse no matter how hungry they are!!

13Personification- giving a human characteristic to a non-human thingExamples of personification:The sun smiled on our picnic.

The squirrel reprimanded the chipmunk for stealing his food.

The daisies danced in the breeze.

14Personification The mother duck led the parade of ducklings across the road.

How was the mother duck like a person?

15PersonificationShe led a parade like a grand marshal of a parade.

16Figurative LanguageWho uses it and why do they use it?

Remember way back in the beginning of the powerpoint, we asked these burning questions?

Have you figured out why writers would use figurative language?

17WHY???? Why would we use figurative language such as similes, hyperbole and personificationmakes writing more interesting. gives the reader a picture in their mind.creates an image to compare something to.

Now you can practice what we have learned

18Similes comparison using like or asFill in the blank.The baby is as cute as _______________________.

Brianna is as tired as ________________________.

When Marissa yawns, she looks like a _______________.

Ryan ran the race like ________________________.19Hyperbole - exaggerationFill in the blank with a word or a phrase.

I told you _______________times not to exaggerate.

She is so smart she could ________________________.

Chris is so funny he _____________________________.

The trees were so tall they ________________________.20Personification giving a non-human thing human featuresFill in the blank with a word or phrase.

The pig was so neat she __________________________.

The car horn _______________________through the traffic.

The lightning bugs ____________________on a summer night.21Choose simile, hyperbole or personification.Last night I slept like a baby.

similehyperbolepersonification22Choose simile, hyperbole or personification.The snow blanketed the horizon.

Similehyperbolepersonification23Choose simile, hyperbole or personificationThe rotten food smelled so horrible, I thought I would die!

similehyperbolepersonification24Practice WritingUsing the picture below as inspiration, write a paragraph describing the setting using at least one type of figurative language.You may go back to the previous slides to review or go to the next slide for a brief review.

25 Great job!Remember, creative writers use many forms of figurative language in their writing to make it more interesting and enjoyable to read.Next time you write a paragraph or story use a simile to compare two things using the words like or asuse a hyperbole to exaggerate a behavior or appearanceuse personification to give an inanimate object a feature that a human could have

26