Figurative Language

Figurative Language

A figure of speech is language that isn't LITERAL, straightforward, or factual. It's quite the opposite, in fact.

Multiple Choice

What would I mean if I said "It's raining cats and dogs"?

• cats and dogs are falling from the sky

• cats and dogs are crying

• it's raining really hard

I don't mean LITERALLY raining cats and dogs!

It's a figure of speech!

Instead of saying "Wow, it's raining hard out there," I can use figurative language and say "It's raining cats and dogs!"

Okay, BUT WHY?!

First, it's just more interesting.

Second, figures of speech can amplify what we're trying to communicate.

If you say something silly like that, people will probably pay more attention... and be more likely to remember it.

That's what we call RHETORICAL FORCE.

PERSONIFICATION

is a figure of speech that pretends that something that isn't human has human qualities or abilities.

Personification

• The sky was weeping.

• The sunflowers turned their faces to the sun.

• Ms. Yue's stomach growled.

• The birds sang in celebration.

Open Ended

Come up with your own example of personification!

ALLUSION

is when we refer to something without metioning it directly.

(like an inside joke)

In general, we make allusions to things that the reader knows about, too. These would be stories that MANY know and are familiar with.

Like the Bible: "I'm going into the lions den."

Someone might say this on their way into a meeting. They don't really mean the meeting is full of lions. They really mean they're going into a tough situation by referring to a story from the Bible - the story of Daniel who was put into a den of angry lions by an angry king.

Or like classic literature: "He's an old Scrooge."

The writer isn't saying the person's name is Scrooge or even that they're old. What they mean is that this person doesn't like spending money. This is a LITERARY ALLUSION to Charles Dickens' famous story A Christmas Carol.

Or mythology: "While Kate is a talented player, her quick temper is her Achilles' heel."

Achilles was invincible, but there was one spot on his heel where he was vulnerable. He died when an arrow struck his heel. While Kate's only flaw is her temper, it can have big consequences.

VERBAL IRONY

is when we say the opposite of what we mean. It seems a strange thing to do, but it makes the material more interesting and can actually emphasize what we really mean to say.

Like sarcasm!

For example!

If someone asks you if you want to go outside, but it's raining cats and dogs, you might say:

"Of course I would! There's nothing I'd like more than getting soaked in the rain!"

When you use verbal irony, you aren't just saying no. You're explaining why you wouldn't like to go outside by contrasting it with the opposite idea.

PUNS!

A pun is a joke that uses the different meanings of a word or a play on words that sound alike.

William Shakespeare was the master of puns!

From Romeo & Juliet

MERCUTIO: "Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have a dance."

ROMEO: "Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes/With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead..."

Multiple Choice

If you wanted to say something that was literally true, would you use a figure of speech?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

What type of speech is in the following sentence?

"our old house groaned and whined during the storm."

• Personification

• Pun

• Irony

• Allusion

Multiple Choice

If an illusion refers to something that happened in a book or novel, what kind of allusion is it?

• Literary

• Biblical

• Mythological

Multiple Choice

What kind of allusion does the following sentence make?

"I think the god of thunder lives in the apartment upstairs!"

• Literary

• Biblical

• Mythological