Interpreting Figures of Speech

1. Interpreting Figures of Speech • “She’s as busy as a bee.” • “Hard work is the key to success.” • “Fate tempted him.” • “I died of embarrassment.” • “After he lost the election, there was no fight left in him.”

2. Definition of Figures of Speech • Figures of speech are non-literal ways of saying things; that is, the words have to be interpreted in order to understand the author’s intended meaning. Literal = the basic meaning of the words without any further interpretation Interpreting Figures of Speech

3. In this chapter, you will learn about five very common figures of speech: • Simile • Metaphor • Personification • Hyperbole • Metonymy Interpreting Figures of Speech

4. Simile • A simile is a comparison between two things which, in most respects, are totally unlike, but which actually are alike in some significant way. • Similes often use the words “like” and “as.” Interpreting Figures of Speech

5. Examples of Simile • “The construction worker’s hands were as rough as sandpaper.” --Hands and sandpaper are being compared. --How they are alike: they are both rough. --Interpretation: The construction worker’s hands are very rough. • “Marie’s eyes are like diamonds. --Eyes and diamonds are compared. --How they are alike: Both sparkle; both are bright. --Interpretation: Marie’s eyes sparkle. Marie has bright eyes. Interpreting Figures of Speech

6. Metaphor • A metaphor implies a comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things by saying that one of them is the other. • Although the two things seem dissimilar, they are alike in some significant way. Interpreting Figures of Speech

7. Examples of Metaphor • Aunt Sophie is a pack rat. --Aunt Sophie is being compared to a pack rat. --How they are alike: Both collect things and never discard any of them. --Interpretation: Aunt Sophie accumulates things and never gets rid of any of them. • My Great Dane is a bottomless pit. --My Great Dane (dog) and a bottomless pit are being compared. --How they are alike: Neither can be filled up. --Interpretation: My Great Dane eats an enormous amount of food. Interpreting Figures of Speech

8. Hyperbole • A hyperbole is a figure of speech in which the author makes an obvious exaggeration for emphasis or in order to create some other specific effect (such as humor, emphasis, or surprise). Interpreting Figures of Speech

9. Examples of Hyperbole Tiger Woods hit the golf ball into the next county! --The exaggeration: into the next county --Interpretation: Tiger Woods hit the ball very far. When I received my college diploma I told everyone I knew or had ever met! --The exaggeration: I told everyone I knew or had ever met. --Interpretation: I was very excited and proud when I received my college diploma. Interpreting Figures of Speech

10. Personification • Personification is speaking about nonhuman or nonliving things as if they were human. In other words, it is giving human characteristics or qualities to nonliving things. Interpreting Figures of Speech

11. Examples of Personification • The vacuum cleaner ate my socks. --What is being personified: vacuum cleaner --Way in which it is like a person: It “ate” something. --Interpretation: The vacuum cleaner sucked up my socks. (My socks were sucked up by the vacuum cleaner.) • The TV remote control managed to hide from us for an entire week. --What is being personified: the TV remote control --Way in which it is like a person: It “hid” from us. --Interpretation: We couldn’t find the TV remote control for a week. (The TV remote control was lost for a week.) Interpreting Figures of Speech

12. Metonymy • Inmetonymy, a closely related term or symbol is substituted for what it represents, or some concrete term is used for a more abstract idea. Interpreting Figures of Speech

13. Examples of Metonymy • Jack Frost came to town earlier than usual this year. --Metonymy: Jack Frost --What is represents: winter; cold weather --Interpretation: Winter came earlier than usual this year. Cold weather came earlier than usual this year. • Could you please give me a hand? --Metonymy: hand --What it represents: help; assistance --Interpretation: Could you please help me? Interpreting Figures of Speech

14. The Edge: Pointers from the Coach • “Figures of speech” and “figurative language” are different names for the same thing. • Figures of speech must be interpreted; they do not literally mean what they say. • Understanding the meaning of a figure of speech is more important than identifying the type of figure of speech. • There are more than 250 types of figures of speech. Interpreting Figures of Speech