AUTHOR’S CRAFT

1. AUTHOR’S CRAFT FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

2. Metaphor • A metaphor is a figure of speech comparing two unlike things that have something in common. The comparison is made without using like or as. • Joe is a nut. • His stomach tightened into a series of rolling knots and his breath came in bursts… • The boy was a rigid post.

3. Personification • Personification is when an author gives an idea, object, or animal qualities or traits of a person. • The paddlepounded the ball. • The plane went into a glide, a very fast glide that ate altitude, and suddenly there weren’t any lakes. • Be asleep, his mindscreamed at the pilot.

4. Simile • A simile is a comparison between two unlike things that have something in common. A simile always uses like or as to make a comparison. • Bob swam like a fish. • He wiped his mouth and tried to move his leg, which had stiffenedlikewood. • Then back to work, the sun on his back, until at last he had a ball of fluff as big as a grapefruit.

5. Alliteration • Alliteration is the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words. • The flying feathers flutter freely. • Shining black and silky the seven foot bear stood on its hind legs, half up, and studied Brian. • He closed his eyes and slept, dreamless, deep and down.

6. Onomatopoeia • Onomatopoeia is the imitation of natural sounds in word form. These words help us form mental pictures about the things, people or places that are described. • Bang! The rifle echoed in the air. • Then the bird started again, and some kind of buzzing insect, and then a chattering and a cawing. • “Don’t know, kid…” The pilot’s words were a hiss, barely audible.

7. Hyperbole • Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect. It may be confused with a simile because it often compares two items. The difference is that with a hyperbole the comparison is an exaggeration. • I nearly died laughing. • But the hatchet missed, his leg was instantly torn with pain, as if a hundred needles had been driven into it. • His eyes were as round as saucers.

8. Repetition • Repetition is when one or more words are repeated to show urgency or importance. • Hello, hello, hello! • He was alone. In the roaring plane no pilot he was alone. Alone. • Divorce. A breaking word, an ugly breaking word. Divorce.

9. Foreshadowing • Foreshadowing is when the author gives a hint as to what is coming.

10. Oxymoron • An oxymoron is a combination of two contradictory words. • Deafening silence • A definite possibility • Cold sweat