Understanding figurativelanguage day 1

Understanding Figurative Language

Essential Questions

• What is figurative language?

• How can I interpret figurative language?

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.


The wind whispered through the trees

• Can wind really whisper?

• What is the author trying to tell us about wind?


• 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?


The teacher glared like a furious dragon.

• Was the teacher really a dragon?

• What is the author trying to tell us about the teacher?


• 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

Kinds of figurative language

Similes Metaphors Personification

There are actually many kinds of figurative language. In this presentation, we’ll focus on three

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


Personification is a kind of figurative language

• Personification means to give human thoughts and qualities to nonhuman objects


The tree stood tall and proud by the curving path

• How does this sentence show personification?



• How is this sentence showing the tree doing something that trees don’t really do?



• That’s right! Trees can’t really feel proud. This is an example of personification.



• What is the author trying to tell us about the tree?


The leaves danced as they fell from the trees

• What are the leaves doing that leaves can’t really do?


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?

Let’s Review!


• What is personification?


• A simile is another kind of figurative language

• A simile is a comparison between two unlike objects using “like” or “as”


The four students sat down at the cafeteria table and ate like pigs

• What is being compared in this simile?



• What is being compared in this simile?



• That’s right! The author is comparing the students to pigs



• What is the author trying to say about the way that the students are eating?


The waves licked the shore like a kitten lapping milk

• What is the author comparing in this simile?



• That’s right! The waves are being compared to a kitten lapping milk



• What is the author trying to say about the waves—that they are rough and fierce, or small and gentle?

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


• A metaphor is another kind of figurative language

• A metaphor is a comparison that does not use “like” or “as”


• The school was a maze of hallways and passages

• What is being compared in this metaphor?



• That’s right! The school is being compared to a maze



• What idea is the author trying to express with this metaphor?


The math test was a walk in the park

• What is being compared in this metaphor?



• That’s right! The math test is being compared to a walk in the park



• What is the author trying to tell us about the math test?

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

Let’s Review

• Which kind of figurative language makes a comparison without using “like” or “as”?

• Metaphor

Practice

• Read the examples on the next few slides

• Which kind of figurative language do they show?

• How can you interpret the figurative language?

Example #1

The airplane landed as gracefully as a ballerina

• Personification• Simile• Metaphor

Example #1


• Simile

Example #1


Interpret the simile• What is the author

comparing?• What is the author

trying to tell us?

Example #1


Interpret the simile• What is the author

comparing?• What is the author

trying to tell us?

Example #2

The water smashed angrily against the rocks


Example #2


• Personification

Example #2


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?

Example #3

My brother’s room was a dark, mysterious cave


Example #3


• Metaphor

Example #3


Interpret the metaphor!• What is the author

comparing?• What is the author trying

to show about the brother’s room?

Essential Questions

Can you answer these questions?


• How can I interpret figurative language?

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.

Date post:	19-Nov-2014
Category:	Technology
Upload:	emily
View:	2,605 times
Download:	0 times

Understanding figurativelanguage day 1

Technology