Literal vs. Figurative

Literal vs. Figurative

Read the lines of poetry and figure out which technique is being used.

Be prepared to explain how you figured out each answer. It is possible that more than one technique is being used!

Multiple Select

Like burnt-out torches by a sick man's bed

Which technique is being used?

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• hyperbole

Like burnt-out torches

by a sick man's bed

What's the technique? How did you know?

Multiple Select

There's a faucet in the basement

that had dripped one drop all year

since he fixed it, we could not find it

without wearing scuba gear

Which technique is being used?

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• hyperbole

There's a faucet in the basement

that had dripped one drop all year

since he fixed it, we could not find it

without wearing scuba gear

What's the technique? How did you know?

Multiple Select

When the stars threw down their spears,

And water'd heaven with their tears,

Which technique is being used?

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• hyperbole

When the stars threw down their spears,

And water'd heaven with their tears,

What's the technique? How did you know?

Multiple Select

The moon was a ghostly galleon upon the cloudy seas,

The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,

Which technique is being used?

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• hyperbole

The moon was a ghostly galleon upon the cloudy seas,

The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,

What's the technique? How did you know?

Multiple Select

The score stood four to two,

with but one inning more to play.

And then when Cooney died at first,

and Barrows did the same,

Which technique is being used?

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• hyperbole

The score stood four to two,

with but one inning more to play.

And then when Cooney died at first,

and Barrows did the same,

What's the technique? How did you know?

Multiple Select

The leaves are little yellow fish

swimming in the river.

Which technique is being used?

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• hyperbole

The leaves are little yellow fish

swimming in the river.

What's the technique? How did you know?

I've got a hundred million reasons

to walk away

I just need one good one to stay

"Million Reasons" by Lady Gaga

What's the technique? How did you know?

Open Ended

What technique is being used?

Everybody knows my past now

Like my house was always made of glass

And maybe that's the price you pay

For the money and fame at an early age

"Lonely" by Justin Beiber

Everybody knows my past now

Like my house was always made of glass

And maybe that's the price you pay

For the money and fame at an early age

"Lonely" by Justin Bieber

What's the technique? How did you know?