Figurative versus Literal Language Literal language means exactly

Figurative versus Literal Language

Literal language means exactly what it says. It is exact and not exaggerated. Most of the time we use literal language. The wind was blowing through the trees. The wind was blowing 15 miles per hour.

The opposite of literal language is figurative language. Figurative language is language that means more than what it says on the surface. The warm wind blew through the trees like a dragon’s breath.

Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else, you are using figurative language. The warm wind blew through the trees like a dragon’s breath. There really is not a dragon; the sentence compares the temperature and force of the wind to a dragon’s breath. In this case, the writer wants you to know that the wind is warm and strong.

Quiz Time Directions: read the following examples of literal and figurative language. On your white board, write the word figurative or literal. Figurat ive

Literal of Figurative? Luis Luna runs a 4: 14 mile.

Literal Luis Luna runs a 4: 14 mile. This is a literal statement because it is exact and not exaggerated. It is exactly what it says it is.

Literal of Figurative? Antonio ran as fast as a cheetah while running his pacers during PE.

Figurative Antonio ran as fast as a cheetah while running his pacers during PE. A junior high student might run about 10 miles per hour. A cheetah runs up to 75 miles per hour. Antonio does not really run as fast as a cheetah. The author is trying to say that Antonio is fast like a cheetah by making the comparison.

Literal of Figurative? It’s raining cats and dogs.

Figurative It’s raining cats and dogs. Cats and dogs cannot really fall out of the sky. We say it is “raining cats and dogs” when it is raining heavily. No one really knows where this saying came from, but we can be sure it is not literal. We use it when it is raining a lot, not when cats and dogs are really falling from the sky.

Literal of Figurative? Carlos has twelve cute baby hamsters.

Literal Carlos has twelve cute baby hamsters. This is a literal statement because it is exact and not exaggerated. Carlos does have 12 hamsters, and even though the word “cute” is an opinion (and not fact), it is still not a comparison or exaggeration.

Literal or Figurative? Yaheli was a ferocious lion on the basketball court, refusing to be intimidated by the opposing team and roaring through their defense to make the winning shot.

Figurative Yaheli was a ferocious lion on the basketball court, refusing to be intimidated by the opposing team and roaring through their defense to make the winning shot. A good basketball player must be strong, fast, and brave. Lions are strong, fast and brave. Yaheli is not really a lion in this sentence. However, she has the same characteristics on the basketball court. The comparison tells us that she is strong, fast, and brave. The use of the word roar adds to the comparison. Yaheli does not really roar, but she is forceful like a roar coming out of a lion’s mouth.

How did you do? In the future, do you think you will be able to determine the difference between figurative and literal language: A. All the time B. Most of the time C. Some of the time D. None of the time Write the letter of your answer on your white board and hold it up.

Figurative versus Literal Language Part 2

Why do authors use figurative language? Authors use figurative language to make their writing easier for the reader to visualize. It allows the reader to see, feel, hear, taste, or smell the scene. It helps the author to make us feel what his or her characters are feeling. Consider the difference: Angela was sad when her boyfriend broke up with her. Angela’s heart froze. Not a beat, not a sound, for a moment, maybe two. Then, as if a giant mallet had come swinging through the sky, her heart was smashed with one crushing blow. It splintered into a thousand, tiny icy shards, sent hither and tither, to melt on the warm July sidewalk, never to return to her again.

Poets use figurative language almost as frequently as literal language. When you read poetry, you must be conscious of the difference. Otherwise, a poem may make no sense at all. *from figurative-lang-overview. ppt

There are several kinds of figurative language, but today we are going to focus on these six: • idioms • similes • metaphors • hyperbole • personification • onomatopoeia

• idioms • similes • metaphors • hyperbole • personification • onomatopoeia Look at the six words above. On your white board make a chart with three columns. Title the chart Types of Figurative Language. At the top of each column add these titles: 1. I know what this means 2. I have heard this word, but don’t know it, 3. I have never heard this word. Types of Figurative Language Know Have heard, but don’t know Never heard before

Simile A figure of speech which involves a direct comparison between two unlike things, usually with the words like or as. Example: The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands. *from figurative-lang-overview. ppt

Metaphor A comparison between two unlike things using a form of to be (is, was, are, were, etc…). The comparison is not announced by like or as. Example: The road was a ribbon wrapped through the desert. *parts from figurative-lang-overview. ppt Explanation: The road is not a ribbon, but it is long and windy like a ribbon.

Idiom An idiom refers to a an expression in one language that cannot be matched or directly translated word-for-word in another language. Unlike other types of figurative language, idioms often need to be taught and memorized to know exactly what they mean. They are sayings that are often hundreds of years old. Example: "She has a bee in her bonnet, " meaning "she is obsessed and cannot stop thinking about something. "

Hyperbole An exaggerated statement used to heighten effect. It is not used to mislead the reader, but to emphasize a point. *from figurative-lang-overview. ppt Example: I’ve told you a million times, no food in class! But recess isn’t for like ten years! No Billy, you may not have a snack. If you don’t let me go to the restroom now, I’ll explode! Can we have a party? No one ever lets us have a party.

Personification A figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea. Example: “The wind yells while blowing. " *from figurative-lang-overview. ppt Explanation: The wind cannot yell. Only a living thing can yell. However, the wind makes a sound as loud as a yell.

Onomatopoeia The use of words that mimic sounds. The word sounds like the sound (ribbit, woof, pop, crack, etc…). Example: The firecracker made a loud ka-boom!

Quiz Time Directions: Read each example of figurative language. Write the type of figurative language on your whiteboard. There are six examples, one of each type we just studied, so using process of elimination will help you determine the answer. Metap hor

1. Rene can make our class laugh like hyenas in the zoo. Choices: hyperbole personification onomatopoeia idiom simile metaphor

Answer: simile Explanation: The word “like” to compare the kids in our class to hyenas should tip you off that this is a simile. Students in our class are not really animals, but laughing together they sound like a bunch of hyenas.

2. The summer sun smiled down on Zulmy as she played hide and seek in the park with her cousins. Choices: hyperbole personification onomatopoeia idiom simile metaphor

Answer: Personification Explanation: The sun cannot really smile like a person. However, the use of personification in this sentence lets the reader feel the happy feeling of the day.

3. The whizz, whizz sound of the fishing reel made Carlos smile as he reeled in this evening’s dinner. Choices: hyperbole personification onomatopoeia idiom simile metaphor

Answer: Onomatopoeia hizz z, w whiz hizz whizz, w Explanation: With onomatopoeia the key is sound. If the word is a sound (thump, roar, tap, drip) then it is onomatopoeia. Authors use this form of figurative language so that the reader can hear the story.

4. Ricardo’s mind is a rare gem. *a gem is a stone that is valuable, like a diamond or a ruby * rare means it is not like anything else and is hard to find Choices: hyperbole personification onomatopoeia idiom simile metaphor

Answer: Metaphor Explanation: Ricardo’s head does not really have shiny rocks in it. The metaphor is making a comparison between Ricardo’s brain and a rare gem. Ricardo’s mind is shiny and bright (smart and intelligent), and no one else has a mind like his. Because this is a comparison not using like or as, it is a metaphor and not a simile.

5. The teacher said, “Put your eyes and ears up here. ” Because Jennifer was a good listener, she did. Choices: hyperbole personification onomatopoeia idiom simile metaphor

Answer: Idiom Put your eyes and ears up here means this. Not this…. Explanation: The teacher does not really want Jennifer to remove her eyes and ears and tape them on the board. She wants her to listen and look. This is an idiom, or figurative saying, that teachers often use to get students’ attention. Other common idioms are “It was a piece of cake” and “Who let the cat out of the bag? ”

6. Diego was so happy when he heard we had no homework that his smile stretched from ear to ear. Choices: hyperbole personification onomatopoeia idiom simile metaphor

Answer: Hyperbole Explanation: This is definitely an exaggeration used to show that Diego is very, very happy. Wouldn’t it be creepy if a smile really did stretch from ear to ear? What it really means is that he has a very big smile. Other common hyperboles are “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse” and “That’s enough food to feed an army. ”

How did you do? In the future, do you think you will be able to determine the difference between idioms, hyperboles, metaphors, similes, personification, and onomatopoeia: A. All the time B. Most of the time C. Some of the time D. None of the time Write the letter of your answer on your white board and hold it up.

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