AUTHORS CRAFT FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Metaphor A metaphor is

AUTHOR’S CRAFT FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Metaphor Ø 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. Ø His stomach tightened into a series of rolling knots and his breath came in bursts… Ø The boy was a rigid post. Ø

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

Simile l l 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 stiffened like wood. Then back to work, the sun on his back, until at last he had a ball of fluff as big as a grapefruit.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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