What is Figurative Language

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What is Figurative Language?
A type of descriptive language where the meaning
of the phrase is not to be taken literally or
word for word. The phrase has a deeper or more
abstract meaning.
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An example of figurative language is The skier
flew down the hill, cutting the snow like a
razor.
An example of literal language is The skier
skied quickly down the hill.
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Which of these sentences involves figurative
language?

• The river cut through the blanket of snow.
• I watched the river.
• Life is a river with many twists and bends before
  it finally runs free.

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Types of Figurative Language
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From our airplane seats the land below us looked
like a patchwork quilt.
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From our airplane seats the land below us looked
like a patchwork quilt.
This piece of writing involves the use of a
simile
A simile is a comparison of objects using the
words like or as. The appearance of the land
is being compared to the appearance of a quilt.
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A simile is a type of figurative language that
involves a comparison between two objects using
the words like or as.
Which of the examples below involves the use of a
simile?

• The sleeping child looked like an angel from
  above.
• The child slept peacefully.
• The babys cries pierced the air like a siren.
• The fog crept upon the countryside as quietly as
  a cat.

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The man was a silver bullet shooting back and
forth emptying the contents of the burning barn.
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The man was a silver bullet shooting back and
forth emptying the contents of the burning barn.
This piece of writing involves the use of a
metaphor
A metaphor is a comparison of objects that is
suggested or inferred. The speed of the man is
being compared to the speed of a bullet.
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A metaphor is a type of figurative language that
involves a comparison between two objects that is
suggested, not specifically stated.
Which of the examples below involves the use of a
metaphor?

• Life can be full of obstacles we have to
  overcome.
• Life is a river with many twists and bends before
  it runs free.

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A simile is a type of figurative language that
involves a comparison between two objects using
the words like or as. A metaphor is a type
of figurative language that involves a comparison
between two objects that is suggested, not
specifically stated.
Be careful not to confuse similes and metaphors.

• Susans personality is like a ray of sunshine
  is an example of a ________.

Simile

• Susan is a real ray of sunshine in my life is
  an example of a ________.

Metaphor
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That giant sunflower that I nursed from a seed is
now the size of our house!
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That giant sunflower that I nursed from a seed is
now the size of our house!
This piece of writing involves the use of a
hyperbole
A hyperbole is a gross exaggeration of events or
things. The size of the sunflower is exaggerated
so that it is the size of a house.
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The wind caught the kite in its arms tossing it
back and forth in its own private game of catch.
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The wind caught the kite in its arms tossing it
back and forth in its own private game of catch.
This piece of writing involves the use of a
personification
A personification is a situation in which an
animal is given human-like qualities or an object
which is inanimate is brought to life. In this
sentence, the wind is being brought to life.
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A personification is a type of figurative
language where an inanimate object is given
living qualities or an animal is given human-like
qualities.
Which of the examples below involves the use of a
personification?

• In Charlottes Web by E.B. White, Charlotte
  greets Wilbur with the word, Salutations.
• During the flood, the river gobbled up the houses
  along its bank.
• The child cried crocodile tears.

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Silently Sally slipped through the sliding door,
and suddenly splashed triumphantly into the
serene pool.
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Silently Sally slipped through the sliding door,
and suddenly splashed triumphantly into the
serene pool.
This piece of writing involves the use of an
alliteration
In an alliteration a sound or letter is repeated
in a group of words. In this example, we hear the
repetition of the /s/ sound.
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The decrepit car radiator hissed, sputtered,
finally spewing hot steam throughout the garage.
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The decrepit car radiator hissed, sputtered,
finally spewing hot steam throughout the garage.
This piece of writing involves the use of
onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia occurs when a word is pronounced and
it copies or imitates the actual sound. In the
example, the onomatopoeia occurs in hissed,
sputtered, and spewing.
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Go to a Power Point Presentation on Similes and
Metaphors