Understanding Figurative Language

1
Understanding Figurative Language
2
Essential Questions

• What is figurative language?
• How can I interpret figurative language?

3
Language Types

• Were going to look at two types of language

figurative language
and literal language
4
More on Literal

• To be literal is to mean what you say.

For example
If I tell you to sit down! I mean it literally
sit down, as in sit in your seat now, please.

• My meaning is exactly what I say.

5
2nd Figurative

• To be figurative is to not mean what you say but
  imply something else.

For example
If, I tell you We need to be as quiet as
church mice!

• Im not asking you become mice. I want you to
  be quiet.

6
Figurative vs. Literal

• Confused?
• Think of it this way
• Literal as real
• Figurative as imaginary

7
Why Figurative Language?

• Figurative language creates images for the
  reader. It helps the reader imagine what it
  looks like, feels like, taste like, sounds like,
  etc.

8
Why Figurative Language?

• Figurative language is more descriptive then
  literal language and it is more interesting to
  read.

9
Kinds of figurative language
There are actually many kinds of figurative
language. In this presentation, well focus on
three
Personification
Similes
Alliteration
10
How can I interpret figurative language?

• To interpret figurative language means to
  understand what the author is trying to say
• To interpret figurative language, its important
  to understand how different kinds of figurative
  language work

11
How can I interpret figurative language?

• Personification is a kind of figurative
  language
• Personification means to give human thoughts and
  qualities to nonhuman objects

12
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The tree stood tall and proud by the curving
  path
• How does this sentence show personification?

13
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The tree stood tall and proud by the curving
  path
• How is this sentence showing the tree doing
  something that trees dont really do?

14
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The tree stood tall and proud by the curving
  path
• Thats right! Trees cant really feel proud.
  This is an example of personification.

15
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The tree stood tall and proud by the curving
  path
• What is the author trying to tell us about the
  tree?

16
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The leaves danced as they fell from the trees
• What are the leaves doing that leaves cant
  really do?

17
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The leaves danced as they fell from the trees
• Thats right! Leaves cant dance
• This is an example of personification
• What is the author trying to tell us about the
  leaves?

18
Lets Review!

• What is figurative language?
• What is personification?

19
How can I interpret figurative language?

• A simile is another kind of figurative language
• A simile is a comparison between two unlike
  objects using like or as

20
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The four students sat down at the cafeteria
  table and ate like pigs
• What is being compared in this simile?

21
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The four students sat down at the cafeteria
  table and ate like pigs
• What is being compared in this simile?

22
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The four students sat down at the cafeteria
  table and ate like pigs
• Thats right! The author is comparing the
  students to pigs

23
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The four students sat down at the cafeteria
  table and ate like pigs
• What is the author trying to say about the way
  that the students are eating?

24
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The waves licked the shore like a kitten
  lapping milk
• What is the author comparing in this simile?

25
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The waves licked the shore like a kitten
  lapping milk
• Thats right! The waves are being compared to a
  kitten lapping milk

26
How can I interpret figurative language?

• The waves licked the shore like a kitten
  lapping milk
• What is the author trying to say about the
  wavesthat they are rough and fierce, or small
  and gentle?

27
Alliteration

• Alliteration is a sentence or phrase that begins
  with the same sound.  Tongue twisters are
  generally alliterations.
• For example  busy batters bat baseballs by
  bases.

28
Alliteration

• Fast Rabbits
• Rabbits running so very fastIn the field of
  green, green grass.Sniffing for scents of snack
  time treats,Hippity Hopping on their happy bunny
  feet.When carrots and other foods are foundThe
  rabbits prance and pounce.

Can you find the alliteration?
29
Alliteration

• Fast Rabbits
• Rabbits running so very fastIn the field of
  green, green grass.Sniffing for scents of snack
  time treats,Hippity Hopping on their happy bunny
  feet.When carrots and other foods are foundThe
  rabbits prance and pounce.

30
Alliteration

• Alliteration can also be as small a couple
  words
• Mr. Mercer
• Mara Mercer
• Alliteration is about sound not letters
• Fancy phones is an example of alliteration
• What can cs alliterate with? How about gs?

31
Which type of figurative language uses like or as
to make comparisons?

1. Simile
2. Alliteration
3. Personification

32
Which type of figurative language repeats the
same beginning sound?

1. Personification
2. Alliteration
3. Simile

33
Which type of figurative language gives human
qualities to non-human things?

1. Simile
2. Alliteration
3. Personification

34
The airplane landed as gracefully as a ballerina.
Which type of figurative language?

1. Personification
2. Simile
3. Alliteration

35
What does it mean?

• The airplane landed as gracefully as a
  ballerina
• Interpret the simile
• What is the author comparing?
• What is the author trying to tell us?

36
What does it mean?

• The airplane landed as gracefully as a
  ballerina
• Interpret the simile
• What is the author comparing?
• What is the author trying to tell us?

37
The water smashed angrily against the rocks. This
is an example of?

1. Personification
2. Simile
3. Alliteration

38
What does it mean?

• The water smashed angrily against the rocks
• Interpret the personification!
• What is the water doing that water doesnt really
  do?
• What is the author trying to tell us about the
  water?

39
Essential Questions

• Can you answer these questions?
• What is figurative language?
• How can I interpret figurative language?