Figurative Language

Objective
I will be able to identify styles of
figurative language

I will be able to use styles of figurative

language in my descriptive writing
What is Figurative Language?
Figurative language:
Is expressing ideas indirectly;
Is language used in a special way to
create a special effect made up of words
and phrases which don’t mean what
they first appear to mean
Makes writing more interesting
Many Styles of Figurative Language

Simile Onomatopoeia
Metaphor Hyperbole
Personification Idioms
Alliteration Cliches
Many Styles of Figurative Language
We will be concentrating on these 4:

Simile Onomatopoeia
Metaphor Hyperbole
Personification Idioms
Alliteration Cliches
Personification
Is when an object (or animal) is given
human-like qualities or characteristics.
Examples of Personification
“The stars danced playfully in the
moonlit sky.”
“The thunder grumbled like an old
man”
What is the simile in this example?
“The popcorn leapt out of the bowl.”
“Time creeps up on you.”
“I tripped because the curb jumped out
in front of me.”
Personification in Pop Music
Nicki Minaj, “Super Bass”
“Boy you got my heart beat running away”

Owl City, “Fireflies”

“Cuz’ I get a thousand hugs from ten
thousand lightning bugs, as they try to
teach me how to dance.”
Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a word that makes

the sound of the word it is describing.
Examples of Onomatopoeia
Snap, crackle, pop Boom
Clang Clash
Honk Munch
Plop Poof
Splat Swoosh
Thump Wham
Zip Zoom
Onomatopoeia in Pop Music
Katy Perry, “Firework”
“Boom, boom, boom, even brighter
than the moon, moon, moon.”
Simile
A comparison of two like things

A simile uses the words “like” or “as” to

compare one object or idea with
another to suggest they are alike
Simile Examples
Example:

Simile Meaning
“as busy as a bee” Very busy
“as big as a bus” Pretty big!
“as silent as the dead” Completely silent
“as quick as lightning” ?
Similes in Popular Music
Rihanna, “Diamonds”

“Shine bright like a diamond”

Selena Gomez, “Year without Rain”

“A day without you is like a year

without rain”
Metaphor
Is a comparison of unrelated subjects.
A comparison of two (or more) unlike
things without using the words “like” or
“as”;
Usually uses the words “is” or “are”
Metaphor Examples
Metaphor Meaning
“the assignment was a The assignment was
breeze” easy
“it is going to be clear Things are going to be
skies from now on” better
“Her voice is music to I really enjoy listening
my ears” to her voice
Metaphors in Popular Music
One Directions, “One Thing”

Shot me out of the sky

You're my kryptonite
You keep making me weak
Yeah, frozen and can't breathe
Writing Activity using Figurative
Language
Turn to page 39 in your packet
Using what you have learned about
figurative language, write a descriptive
paragraph about the following image.
Image this is what you see as you are
flying over New York City.