Figurative Language

1. Figurative Language It’s NOT Greek!

2. Understanding the Concept Painting a picture with WORDS! • Language used by writers to produce images in readers' minds and to express ideas in fresh, vivid, and imaginative ways; painting pictures with words. • Figurative language can be found in poetry where the writing appeals to the senses. • It compares two things in such a way that you find the comparison interesting or even a bit surprising.

3. Categories of Figurative Language • Imagery • Metaphor • Simile • Analogy • Irony • Alliteration • Personification • Onomatopoeia • Hyperbole • Euphemism • Oxymoron • Idioms

4. Imagery • Language used by writers to produce images in readers' minds and to express ideas in fresh, vivid, and imaginative ways.

5. Metaphor I am a WALKING DICTIONARY; you’re a COUCH POTATO! • Figure of speech that uses one thing to mean another and makes a comparison between the two. • When you use a metaphor, you make a statement that doesn’t make sense literally, like “time is a thief”. • Examples include: • the world is my oyster • you are a couch potato • time is money • he has a heart of stone

6. Simile • A simile compares two things using the words “like” and “as.” • Examples include: • busy as a bee • clean as a whistle • they fought like cats and dogs • sleep like a log

7. Analogy • Comparable to metaphor and simile in that it shows how two different things are similar, but it’s a bit more complex. • Show two things are alike in several ways.

8. Irony • The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. • Effect is usually humorous or emphatic.

9. Alliteration • Alliteration is a repetition of the first consonant sounds in several words. • Examples: • I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop. Where she sits she shines, and where she shines she sits.

10. Personification • Personification gives human characteristics to lifeless objects, animals, or ideas. • Examples include: • opportunity knocked on the door • the sun greeted me this morning • the sky was full of dancing stars • the sun played hide and seek with the clouds

11. Onomatopoeia • Onomatopoeia is the use of words that sound like their meaning, or mimic sounds.  • They add a level of fun and reality to writing. • Examples: • beep, whirr, click, whoosh, swish, zap, zing, ping, clang, bong, hum, boom, munch, gobble, crunch, pow, smash, wham, quack, meow, oink, tweet

12. Hyperbole The man is so angry, he has smoke coming out of his ears! • Outrageous exaggeration that emphasizes a point, and can be ridiculous or funny. • Hyperboles can be added to fiction to add color and depth to a character. • Examples are: • You snore louder than a freight train. • You could have knocked me over with a feather. The man is so hungry, he can eat a horse! The man’s nose is three feet long!

13. Euphemism • The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit. • Examples: • big-boned (fat) • passed on (died) • pre-owned car (used) • restroom (toilet)

14. Oxymoron • A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side. • Examples: • almost exactly • blind eye • business ethics • first deadline • just war • make haste slowly

15. Idioms • An expression having a special meaning different from the usual meanings of the words. • Examples: • fair weather friend • something fishy • two heads are better than one • up the creek without a paddle

16. Figurative Language: Review • Imagery • Metaphor • Simile • Analogy • Irony • Alliteration • Personification • Onomatopoeia • Hyperbole • Euphemism • Oxymoron • Idioms