Understanding Figurative and Literal Language in English
This comprehensive guide explains the concepts of figurative and literal language, with examples of similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, and understatement. Learn how these devices add depth and creativity to writing.
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FIGURATIVE AND LITERAL LANGUAGE FIGURATIVE AND LITERAL LANGUAGE Literally: words function exactly as defined Literally: words function exactly as defined The car is blue. The car is blue. He caught the football. He caught the football. Figuratively: figure out what it means Figuratively: figure out what it means I I ve got your back. ve got your back. It s raining cats and dogs. It s raining cats and dogs.
SIMILE SIMILE Comparison of two things using Comparison of two things using like like or or as. as. Examples: Examples: The The metal metal twisted like a twisted like a pretzel She She is as sweet as is as sweet as candy He He eats eats like a like a pig pig. . pretzel. . candy. .
IMPORTANT! Using Using like A comparison must be made. A comparison must be made. like or or as as doesn doesn t make a simile. t make a simile. Not a Simile: Not a Simile: I like pizza. I like pizza. Simile: Simile: The moon is like a pizza. The moon is like a pizza.
METAPHOR Two things are compared without using Two things are compared without using like as as. . like or or Examples: Examples: All the All the world My My brother brother is a She has a She has a stone heart stone heart. . world is a is a pig is a stage stage. . pig. .
PERSONIFICATION Giving human traits to objects or ideas. Giving human traits to objects or ideas. Examples: Examples: The The sunlight sunlight danced Water Water on the lake on the lake shivers The The streets streets are are calling danced. . shivers. . calling me. me.
HYPERBOLE Exaggerating to show strong feeling or effect. Exaggerating to show strong feeling or effect. Examples: Examples: This class is taking This class is taking forever My house is a My house is a million miles She She d d kill kill me. me. forever. . million miles from here. from here.
UNDERSTATEMENT Making something seem smaller or less significant. Making something seem smaller or less significant. The opposite of hyperbole. The opposite of hyperbole. EXAMPLES: EXAMPLES: I I ll be there in ll be there in one second I I kind of kind of forgot my homework. forgot my homework. This This won t won t hurt hurt a bit. one second. . a bit.
QUIZ On a separate sheet of paper On a separate sheet of paper 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Write your Write your NAME I will give an example. I will give an example. You will write what type of figurative language it is. You will write what type of figurative language it is. (i.e. simile) (i.e. simile) NAME and and CLASS CLASS (i.e. 6A) (i.e. 6A) * *Spelling counts Spelling counts. . 4. You 4. You MAY MAY use your notes. use your notes.
1 He drew a line as straight as an arrow. He drew a line as straight as an arrow. Is it simile metaphor personification hyperbole understatement
2 Knowledge is a kingdom and all who learn Knowledge is a kingdom and all who learn are kings and queens. are kings and queens. Is it simile metaphor personification hyperbole understatement
3 Can I see you for a second? Can I see you for a second? Is it simile metaphor personification hyperbole understatement
4 The sun was beating down on me. The sun was beating down on me. Is it simile metaphor personification hyperbole understatement
5 The flag flies like a kite in the sky. The flag flies like a kite in the sky. Is it simile metaphor personification hyperbole understatement
6 I'd rather take baths I'd rather take baths with a man with a man- -eating shark, eating shark, or wrestle a lion or wrestle a lion alone in the dark, alone in the dark, eat spinach and liver, eat spinach and liver, pet ten porcupines, pet ten porcupines, than tackle the homework, than tackle the homework, my teacher assigns. my teacher assigns. Is it simile metaphor personification hyperbole understatement
7 Ravenous and savage Ravenous and savage from its long from its long polar journey, polar journey, Is it simile metaphor personification hyperbole understatement the North Wind the North Wind is searching is searching for food for food
8 The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Is it simile metaphor personification hyperbole understatement
9 Can I have one of your chips? Can I have one of your chips? Is it simile metaphor personification hyperbole understatement
10 In a house the size of a postage stamp In a house the size of a postage stamp lived a man as big as a barge. big as a barge. His mouth could drink the entire His mouth could drink the entire river river You could say it was rather large You could say it was rather large For dinner he would eat a trillion beans would eat a trillion beans And a silo full of grain, grain, Washed it down with a tanker of milk Washed it down with a tanker of milk As if he were a drain. were a drain. lived a man as Is it simile metaphor personification hyperbole understatement For dinner he And a silo full of As if he
LETS REVIEW Correct any answers you got wrong. Correct any answers you got wrong.
1 He drew a line as straight as an arrow. He drew a line as straight as an arrow. It is simile Define Define
2 Knowledge is a kingdom and all who learn Knowledge is a kingdom and all who learn are kings and queens. are kings and queens. It is metaphor Define Define
3 Can I see you for a second? Can I see you for a second? It is understatement Define Define
4 The sun was beating down on me. The sun was beating down on me. It is personification Define Define
5 The flag flies like a kite in the sky. The flag flies like a kite in the sky. It is simile Define Define
6 I'd rather take baths I'd rather take baths with a man with a man- -eating shark, eating shark, or wrestle a lion or wrestle a lion alone in the dark, alone in the dark, eat spinach and liver, eat spinach and liver, pet ten porcupines, pet ten porcupines, than tackle the homework, than tackle the homework, my teacher assigns. my teacher assigns. It is hyperbole Define Define
7 Ravenous and savage Ravenous and savage from its long from its long polar journey, polar journey, It is personification the North Wind the North Wind is searching is searching for food for food Define Define
8 The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is metaphor Define Define
9 Can I have one of your chips? Can I have one of your chips? It is understatement Define Define
10 lived a man as It is hyperbole In a house the size of a postage stamp In a house the size of a postage stamp lived a man as big as a barge. big as a barge. His mouth could drink the entire His mouth could drink the entire river river You could say it was rather large You could say it was rather large For dinner he would eat a trillion beans would eat a trillion beans And a silo full of grain, grain, Washed it down with a tanker of milk Washed it down with a tanker of milk As if he were a drain. were a drain. For dinner he And a silo full of As if he Define Define
PRACTICE ACTIVITY With a With a partner partner, you will create , you will create two of each five types of figurative language. five types of figurative language. two of each of the of the * You will be * You will be sharing one of each sharing one of each with the class. * They can be phrases you have heard before, but they * They can be phrases you have heard before, but they can t be can t be ones we used as ones we used as examples learning about them. learning about them. with the class. examples when we were when we were
REMINDERS Simile: Simile: Comparison using like or as Comparison using like or as Metaphor: Metaphor: Comparison WITHOUT like or as Comparison WITHOUT like or as Personification: Personification: Giving human traits to objects or ideas. Giving human traits to objects or ideas. Hyperbole: Hyperbole: Using exaggeration to express strong emotion. Using exaggeration to express strong emotion. Understatement: Understatement: Making something seem smaller or Making something seem smaller or less significant. (Opposite of Hyperbole.) less significant. (Opposite of Hyperbole.)
