Cahsee Literary Terms Literal Language The literal meaning

Cahsee Literary Terms

Literal Language The literal meaning of a word is its dictionary definition. For example: A biography is the life story of a real person.

Using Context Clues On the CAHSEE, you may run into a word you have never seen. How can you figure it out? In context (using the clues of the words surrounding it). Exp: The tree oozed with a sticky resin. What are the clues? Circle them on your paper. If the word resin was just a blank line, what word could you substitute for it?

Context Clues You may find different types of context clues within the sentence or paragraph that the difficult world is in: Synonym/restatement Antonym/contradiction Definition or description Example Comparison and contrast Cause and effect

Tips to Remember Literal Definitions Mnemonic devices- memory tricks to remember the meaning of a word. Rhymes, silly sentences, or letter clues Personal: The mnemonic needs to be something you will remember. Exp: Mnemonic for remembering spelling: I before E except after C, and when sounding like "ay" as in Neighbor or Weigh

Tips to Remember Literal Definitions Mental Images-create a picture or cartoon in your mind to help you remember the word. Exp: Imagine the letters in the word frigid (“extremely cold”) shaking because they are freezing cold, and are in an icy place. Possible mental image: Frigid

Figurative Language Also called figures of speech It changes the literal meaning of words • to express complexity, • to capture a physical or sensory effect, or • to extend meaning. There a number of figures of speech. Some of the more common ones are:

Simile Making a comparison between unlike things, using “like” or “as. ” Exp: Forrest Gump’s famous simile is “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. ” What two things are being compared in this simile?

Metaphor Making a comparison between unlike things without the use “like” or “as. ” An example is, “You are my sunshine. ” – What two unlike things are being compared in this quote?

Personification Giving human qualities to an animal, thing or idea. The telephone screamed to be answered. The door flew open. The birds shouted their songs.

Idioms An idiom is a figurative, sometimes strange, expression that cannot be understood if taken literally. Exp: “It is raining cats and dogs” “This test will be a piece of cake” “She decided to quit cold turkey”

Test Question 1 a. b. c. d. literal meaning of a word is Its definition based on literary works Its dictionary definition Its common or street usage Its usage during the 1700 s

Test Question 2 Which of the items below is NOT a type of context clue? a. b. c. d. e. f. g. Synonym/restatement Antonym/contradiction Definition or description Bold text Example Comparison and contrast Cause and effect

Test Question 3 a. b. c. d. Which item below is not a simile? She was as beautiful as a summer day His anger was like the hot asphalt on bare feet His car’s engine roared like a caged beast ready to pounce The crowd became a wounded animal when the other team scored the winning goal

Test Question 4 a. b. c. d. Which item below is not a metaphor? She was a jungle cat ready to destroy the opposition The car was a steamroller as it plowed through the wall He is a tank plowing through he defense She is as graceful as a gazelle

Test Question 5 a. b. c. d. Which item below is not an example of personification? The car cried as it sat crashed and on fire The dog yelled welcome home to its owner The pig was angry as it ate The siren screamed to all that could hear it

Test Question 6 a. b. c. d. Which is not an Idiom? Have a food fight To pay through the nose To take someone under your wing To pull your weight