Figurative Language
Figurative vs. Literal Language
Literal: words mean exactly what they say.
- The car is blue.- He caught the
football.
Figurative: meaning is different from what is says.
- I’ve got your back.- You’re a doll.
Figures of Speech
____ 1. Eric thinks doing schoolwork is one big video game.
____ 2. Lauren has decided to volunteer every Tuesday after school.
____ 3. Thinking about summer camp makes me feel like a bundle of joy and
sunshine.
____ 4. As I delivered my speech, my voice sounded as if I’d swallowed rocks
and sand.
____ 5. Emma may seem clumsy, but onstage she dances like a gazelle.
____ 6. Jacob expresses many feelings through his photography.
____ 7. My teammate is a snail and a turtle combined!
____ 8. Before the soccer match, both teams attended a sportsmanship program.
____ 9. I have a ton of paperwork to do before I can enjoy the sun this summer.
____ 10. Sometimes I have to be my little brother’s brain.
Figurative vs. Literal Language
__F__ 1. Eric thinks doing schoolwork is one big video game.
__L__ 2. Lauren has decided to volunteer every Tuesday after school.
__F__ 3. Thinking about summer camp makes me feel like a bundle of joy and
sunshine.
__F__ 4. As I delivered my speech, my voice sounded as if I’d swallowed rocks
and sand.
__F__ 5. Emma may seem clumsy, but onstage she dances like a gazelle.
__L__ 6. Jacob expresses many feelings through his photography.
__F__ 7. My teammate is a snail and a turtle combined!
__L__ 8. Before the soccer match, both teams attended a sportsmanship program.
__F__ 9. I have a ton of paperwork to do before I can enjoy the sun this summer.
__F__ 10. Sometimes I have to be my little brother’s brain.
Figurative vs. Literal Language
1. SimileCompares two unlike things,
using “like” or “as.”
Examples:
- The metal twisted like a ribbon.
- It was as dark as night.
• Underline like and as.• What is being compared?
Important:Using “like” or “as” doesn’t make a simile -
a comparison must be made.
- I like pizza.
- The moon is like a pizza.
2. MetaphorCompares two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”
Examples:
- All the world is a stage.
- Men are dogs.
- Her heart is stone.
• What is being compared?
Simile or Metaphor?
He drew a line as straight as an arrow.
Simile or Metaphor? Knowledge is a kingdom and all who
learn are kings and queens.
Simile or Metaphor?The wheat field was a sea of gold.
Simile or Metaphor?She was as white as a ghost.
3. PersonificationGiving human traits to objects or ideas.
Examples:
- The sunlight danced.
- Water on the lake shivers.
- The streets are calling me.
• What is being given humanqualities?
4. HyperboleExaggeration to show strong
feeling or effect.
Examples:
- I will love you forever.- My house is a million
miles away.- She is going to kill me.
5. IdiomA saying specific to a language or group of
people that does not mean what is says.
Examples:
- You are such a stick in the mud.
- I have an ace up my sleeve.
- Charlotte is the apple of my eye.
Personification, Hyperbole, or Idiom?
The sun was beating down on me.
Personification, Hyperbole, or Idiom?
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Personification, Hyperbole, or Idiom?
I would rather wrestle a shark than do homework.
Personification, Hyperbole, or Idiom?
The North Wind is nipping at our noses.
Personification, Hyperbole, or Idiom?
I am so tired, I could sleep forever.
Personification, Hyperbole, or Idiom?
She has plenty of skeletons in her closet.
Figurative Language PracticeDirections: Read each sentence and determine what kind of figurative language is being used.
Write S for simile, M for metaphor, P for personification, H for hyperbole, and I for idiom.
Figurative Language PracticeIs it a comparison between two things?
YES NO
Does it use “like” or “as”? Is it exaggerating?
YES NO
Simile
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Idiom
NO
Personification
YES NO
YES
Object or idea doing human things?
Figurative Language Practice1. H - Hyperbole Nobody listens to that song anymore.
2. P - Personification The moon turned over to face the day.
3. S - Simile Her hands are soft as a nesting dove.
4. M - Metaphor Her eyes are windows to her soul.
5. I - Idiom Candace does not want to burn bridges when
she leaves her job.
6. H - Hyperbole Old Mr. Johnson has been teaching here since
the Stone Age.
7. I - Idiom Jayvon could have played basketball until the
cows came home but he was called to dinner.
Figurative Language Practice8. S - Simile She hung her head like a dying flower.
9. H - Hyperbole These shoes are killing me.
10. I - Idiom Marcos wants to break up with Sierra, but that is
another can of worms.
11. M - Metaphor My dreams are flowers to which you are a bee.
12. P - Personification Thunder grumbled and raindrops reported for
duty.
13. M - Metaphor My words are chains of lead.
14. P - Personification One unhappy icicle wasted away in the day.
15. S - Simile The bottle rolled off the table like a teardrop.