Figurative Figurative LanguageLanguage

Mrs. GatzMrs. Gatz English 9English 9

Figurative Figurative language is a language is a

great way to make great way to make your writing more your writing more

descriptive.descriptive.

Six common types Six common types of figurative of figurative language:language:

idiomidiom similesimile

metaphormetaphor personificationpersonification

hyperbolehyperbolepunpun

IdiomAn expression whose meaning is

not predictable from the usual meanings of its individual words.

I feel like a million dollars whenever I win a race.

SimileSimileA comparison using A comparison using the word “like” or the word “like” or

“as.”“as.”Her sunburned face Her sunburned face

looked looked likelike a a strawberry.strawberry.

MetaphorMetaphorA comparison saying A comparison saying one thing one thing isis another another

thing.thing.He was so He was so

embarrassed his face embarrassed his face waswas a strawberry. a strawberry.

PersonificationPersonificationGiving human qualities Giving human qualities to an object, animal, to an object, animal,

or idea.or idea.The angry sea The angry sea

swallowed up the tiny swallowed up the tiny boat.boat.

HyperboleHyperboleAn exaggeration used An exaggeration used

to make a point.to make a point.My backpack weighedMy backpack weighed

a ton.a ton.

PunPunFigurative language that Figurative language that

purposely and deliberately purposely and deliberately exploits similarities and exploits similarities and

ambiguities between words. They ambiguities between words. They can be pretty funny.can be pretty funny.

I used to have a fear of I used to have a fear of hurdles, but I got over it.hurdles, but I got over it.

Practice Practice See if you can See if you can

correctly identify correctly identify the following the following

types of figurative types of figurative language.language.

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?My stomach My stomach

growled.growled.

PersonificationPersonificationThe sentence The sentence

gives a stomach gives a stomach human qualities human qualities

(growling).(growling).

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?Bob was so scared Bob was so scared he turned white as he turned white as

a ghost.a ghost.

SimileSimileThe sentence The sentence

compares Bob to compares Bob to a ghost using a ghost using

the word “as.”the word “as.”

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?She nearly died She nearly died

laughing.laughing.

HyperboleHyperboleThe sentence The sentence

exaggerates to exaggerates to prove a point prove a point

(she didn’t (she didn’t really almost really almost

die).die).

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?My stomach is a My stomach is a bottomless pit.bottomless pit.

MetaphorMetaphorThe sentence The sentence compares two compares two

things by saying things by saying my stomach my stomach isis a a bottomless pit.bottomless pit.

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?This couch is as This couch is as hard as a rock.hard as a rock.

SimileSimileThe sentence The sentence compares the compares the

couch to a rock couch to a rock using the word using the word

“as.”“as.”

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?I’m so hungry I I’m so hungry I

could eat a horse.could eat a horse.

HyperboleHyperboleThe sentence The sentence

exaggerates to exaggerates to prove a point (I prove a point (I couldn’t really couldn’t really eat a horse).eat a horse).

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?Mary is an angel.Mary is an angel.

MetaphorMetaphorThe sentence The sentence compares two compares two

things by saying things by saying Mary Mary isis an an

angel.angel.

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?I have a fear of I have a fear of needles. They needles. They

really get under really get under my skin.my skin.

PunPunIt’s “punny” because It’s “punny” because

needles really do get under needles really do get under your skin, but the phrase your skin, but the phrase

can also mean that can also mean that something is creepy.something is creepy.

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?The two large oak The two large oak trees guarded the trees guarded the

path.path.

PersonificationPersonificationThe sentence The sentence

gives the trees gives the trees human qualities human qualities (guarding the (guarding the

path).path).

What kind of figurative

language is this?Ernest and Julie decided

not to plan their presentation before its due date; they figured

they would play it by ear.

Idiom“Play it by ear” is an

expression. It does not mean to actually use your ear to play

something.

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?The cabin was a The cabin was a

freezer during the freezer during the winter.winter.

MetaphorMetaphorThe sentence The sentence compares two compares two

things by saying things by saying the cabin the cabin waswas a a

freezer.freezer.

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?The wind howled The wind howled

through the trees.through the trees.

PersonificationPersonificationThe sentence The sentence

gives the wind gives the wind human qualities human qualities

(howled).(howled).

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?I tried calling him I tried calling him a million times.a million times.

HyperboleHyperboleThe sentence The sentence

exaggerates to exaggerates to prove a point (I prove a point (I didn’t really call didn’t really call a million times).a million times).

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?Jason ran like a Jason ran like a

cheetah.cheetah.

SimileSimileThe sentence The sentence

compares Jason compares Jason to a cheetah to a cheetah

using the word using the word “like.”“like.”

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?That poem really That poem really

spoke to me.spoke to me.

PersonificationPersonificationThe sentence The sentence

gives the poem gives the poem human qualities human qualities

(the poem (the poem speaking).speaking).

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?The test was a The test was a piece of cake.piece of cake.

Metaphor/IdiomMetaphor/IdiomThe sentence compares The sentence compares two things by saying the two things by saying the test test waswas a piece of cake, a piece of cake,

but it also uses the but it also uses the expression “piece of expression “piece of

cake,” meaning “easy.”cake,” meaning “easy.”

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?Her hair flowed Her hair flowed

over her shoulders over her shoulders like a golden river.like a golden river.

SimileSimileThe sentence The sentence compares her compares her

hair to a golden hair to a golden river using the river using the

word “like.”word “like.”

What kind of What kind of figurative figurative

language is this?language is this?““I’ve been waiting I’ve been waiting

forever!” she forever!” she exclaimed.exclaimed.

HyperboleHyperboleThe sentence The sentence

exaggerates to exaggerates to prove a point prove a point

(she didn’t (she didn’t really wait really wait forever).forever).