Figurative Language speechwriting that departs from literal meaning

Figurative Language �speech/writing that departs from literal meaning in order to achieve a special effect or meaning.

Imagery �Imagery: language that creates a recognizable world by drawing on our five senses. �Example: “The smell of the pine trees was spicy, the same smell as Christmas morning as you unwrap your presents. ”

Metaphor �Metaphor: suggests a comparison by wording a sentence as if two unlike things are the same. The comparison is never directly stated. �Example: “But my mother’s hair…is the warm smell of bread before you bake it. ”

Simile �Simile: a comparison is directly stated using “like” or “as” �Example: “They don’t walk like ordinary dogs but leap and somersault like an apostrophe and comma” (71).

Personification �Personification: language that attributes human qualities to things, animals, or nature. �Example: “Looking smaller still, our house with its feet tucked under like a cat” (22).

Hyperbole �Hyperbole: A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect. �Example: “My grandmother was born when dinosaurs still roamed the earth. ”

Alliteration �Alliteration: repetition within a line or phrase of the same initial sound or letter. �Example: “One mother who is tired all the time from buttoning and bottling, and babying”(29).

Assonance and Consonance �Consonance: repetition of consonant sounds within a phrase (again, not always the initial letter!) �The black chicken pecked at the candy corn. �Assonance: repetition of vowel sounds within a phrase (not the initial letter!) �Like a diamond in the sky.

Activity �Grab a copy of The House on Mango Street. �Look for at least two examples of each type of figurative language. �Write out the quote, the page number, and one sentence explaining what the figurative language means literally FOR SIMILES AND METAPHORS. �You may work with a partner.

Talking About Meaning of the Work �When you finish with your figurative language, write me a paragraph explaining what you think the meaning of the work is. �What lesson or message can we learn from Esperanza and her experiences? �Give specific evidence from the text that supports your meaning of the work.

When You Finish �Write your sentences using figurative language! �You must have one sentence for each of the six types. �Imitate the subject of your first vignette if you have it. If not, choose something that you can write about easily. �Put your six sentences into a vignette-like paragraph. You’re telling a story using figurative language!