Figurative Language

In Poetry

Figurative Language• A writer’s tool• It helps the reader

to visualize (see) what the writer is thinking.

• It puts a picture in the reader’s mind.

Gonna cuss the morning when it comesCause I know that the rising sunAin’t no good for meCause you’ll have to leave

I don’t want this night to end

Rhyme

Rhyme

“Surrounded by ever lie that wont come true, now you wanna take the time but why would you,

think your gonna make it right but how could you.”

A simile is a comparison of two unlikethings using the words like or as.

He sings like a blue bird.

Simile• Krissy is as pretty

as a picture.• Her hair shines

like the sun.• Her eyes sparkle

like the stars in the sky.

Simile• Marty’s feet

smell like rotten fish.

                                                       

You run like a rabbit.

                                                                                                                                           

He is as sneaky as a snake.

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,Drifting through the windWanting to start again?Do you ever feel, feel so paper thinLike a house of cards,One blow from caving in?

Katy Perry Simile

C H A L K O U T L I N E

Simile“you left me here like a chalk outline on the side walk waiting for the rain to wash away”

Far East Movement

“Like a G6”

Feeling so fly like a G6

Simile

I don’t want this night to end

– Luke Bryan

Simile:

“Your pretty little eyes so blue, are pulling me in like the moon on your skin”

SimileRihanna :Diamonds

“Shine Bright Like a Diamond”

A metaphor compares two unlike things without using words such as “like” or “as”.

The paintbrush was a magic wand in his hand.

Metaphor• John’s mind is a computer.• My mom is a workhorse.• Bob is a snake in the grass.

Metaphor

• “Life is a highway” by Rascal Flats

                                                            

The flowers danced in the wind.

The Earth coughed and choked in all of the pollution.

The friendly gates welcomed us.

Personification

• Song by Nomy...Cocaine :

Now it's too late, too late to liveand my conscience killing me

                                                            

Stan the strong surfer saved several swimmers on Saturday.

Tiny Tommy Thomson takes toy trucks to Timmy’s on Tuesday.

Alliteration Song by The Beatles... come togetherHe one holy rollerHe got hair down to his knee

Barenaked Ladies

Alliteration

Chickity China the Chinese Chicken

YOU better LOSE yourself in the MUsic, the momentYou own it, you BETter NEVer LET it GOYou only get one SHOT, do NOT miss your chance to BLOWThis opportunity comes once in a lifetime YO

AssonanceLose Yourself Eminem:

On Fire Alicia Keys

“Everybody stands as she goes by, cause they can see the flame that's in her eyes.”

Assonance

Jingle Bells-Santa (anyone)

Onomatopoeia/Alliteration“Jingle Bells Jingle bells Jingle bells

rock!

ON

OM

ATOPEIA

Justin Drew Bieber

“ When I met You my heart went knock knock”

One Time

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia

• Boom Boom Pow by Black eyed peas

                                               

Chug

Swish

Ahhhhhhhh

Gulp

Whirl slam crack

pop

Hyperbole isExaggeration

“I died laughing.” “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

Kanye West STRONGER

“Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”

Repetition & Parallel Structure

Dreams by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams For if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snow.

Questions

1. “Dreams” is one of Langston Hughes’ most popular poems. Why do you think it is so popular and famous?

2. Do you agree that happiness in life is impossible for people who give up their dreams? Explain and give examples.

3. Are the metaphors in each of the two stanzas effective? Why or why not?

4. Write a third stanza that could be added to the poem. Follow the pattern of abcb rhyme with the last two lines being the metaphor. Create a slide that we will add to this.

Davies, R & Hodgson, R http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k3JVfxluFU

The Logical Song

When I was youngIt seemed that life was so wonderful

A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magicalAnd all the birds in the trees

Well they'd be singing so happilyJoyfully, playfully watching me

But then they send me awayTo teach me how to be sensibleLogical, responsible, practical

And then they showed me a worldWhere I could be so dependable

Clinical, intellectual, cynical

There are times when all the world's asleepThe questions run too deep for such a simple man

Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned?I know it sounds absurd but please tell me who I am

I say, "Now what would you say for they calling you a radicalLiberal, fanatical, criminal?"

Won't you sign up your name? We'd like to feel you'reAcceptable, respectable, presentable, a vegetable

Oh, ch-ch-check it out yeah

At night when all the world's asleepThe questions run so deep for such a simple man

Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned?I know it sounds absurd but please tell me who I am

Who I am, who I am, who I am

Read the following sentences and speculate on the meaning of the words.

1. PracticalE.g. It is not practical for him to drive there after school to pick up the package when he has to be back there again tonight for rehearsal.

2. Logical E.g. It is logical to suppose that he will not come to the movie this time. Itstarted almost an hour ago. It will soon finish in 30 minutes.

3. Radical E.g. His ideas of political, economic or social reforms are radical. 4. Intellectual E.g. Mozart is an intellectual person. He was good at writing beautiful music.

5. Liberal E.g. For an old geezer, it is surprising to hear George talk about such liberal ideas. Usually old people are not so willing to discard their traditional values.

6. IntellectualE.g. Mozart is an intellectual person. He was good at writing beautiful music.

7. Fanatical E.g. She is fanatical about strawberries. Everything she owns seems to have a strawberry theme.

8. Cynical E.g. John is a cynical person. In his eyes, people in the world only do things for themselves rather than for helping others. Everyone just cares about their own advantages.

9. Clinical E.g. She is so clinical in her perspective in life; even her romantic relationships are so objective and realistic. She analyzes everything. What happened to just emotion when you are in love?

Questions

1. Give an example of parallel structure in the lyrics.

2. Give an example of personification from the lyrics.

3. choose one line from the song (poem) that you think is important to the song’s message. Why is this one word so important?

4. What two important questions remain unanswered for the speaker?

5. How should he go about finding an answer to each question?

6. What is the contrast in the way the speaker’s describes the three parts of his life?

Childhood

teen

young adult)

7. Write a poem in which you define who you are. Include at least one metaphor, simile and example of personification.