Figurative Language and Literary Devices

​Figurative Language

Simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and allusion

​Comparisons: Similes and Metaphors

• A comparison where one thing is said to BE another

• Does not use ​"like" or "as"

• Often implied ​rather than obvious

• Examples: Love is a battlefield. He has a heart of stone. ​

​Metaphor

• A comparison where one thing is said to be similar to another

• Uses "like" or "as"

• Examples: It is as cold as ice outside. She's can swim like a fish.

​

​Simile

Multiple Choice

My dog is black as night.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Neither

Multiple Choice

When she runs, she is a cheetah.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Neither

Multiple Choice

Mr. Jones is tall.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Neither

Multiple Choice

When I play guitar, my fingers are as quick as lightning.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Neither

Multiple Choice

When I play guitar, my fingers are lightning.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Neither

Multiple Choice

The night was a cave of darkness.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Neither

Multiple Choice

The story came to life like a play on a stage.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Neither

Multiple Choice

That dinner was a home run!

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Neither

An exaggeration used for emphasis or humor

​

-Examples: I'm dying of thirst. I have a mountain of homework to finish.

​Hyperbole

​When human qualities or abilities are given to something that isn't human

​-Examples: My alarm yelled at me this morning. My heart danced with happiness.

​Personification

​Personification and Hyperbole

Remember that personification is NOT when a human is given non-human characteristics. ​

Multiple Choice

What type of figurative language is the following sentence?

The dancer's hands fluttered like wings.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Personification

Multiple Choice

The following sentences gives the flame human qualities:

The candle flame danced in the dark.

So, what type of the figurative language being used?

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Personification

Multiple Choice

The following sentence is exaggerating:

Pam was skinny enough to jump through a keyhole.

So, what type of figurative language is it?

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Personification

Multiple Choice

The following sentence gives human qualities to the thunder and the raindrops:

Thunder grumbled and raindrops reported for duty.

So, what type of figurative language is it?

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Personification

Multiple Choice

The following sentence gives human qualities to something that isn't human:

The train screamed down the tracks.

What type of figurative language is being used?

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

The following sentence says that her hair IS actually ocean waves:

Her long hair is an ocean of waves.

What type of figurative language is shown?

• personification

• simile

• hyperbole

• metaphor

Multiple Choice

 My teacher is so old, she remembers when the dinosaurs died.

• Hyperbole

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

Multiple Choice

My sister uses so much makeup that she broke the chisel trying to get it off last night.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Hyperbole

Multiple Choice

I can smell pizza from a mile away.

• metaphor

• simile

• metaphor

• hyperbole

• A reference to something outside of the text

• Allusions can be about a person, a historical event, a myth, a book, a movie, religious text​, etc.

• These sometimes overlap with other types of figurative language like simile and metaphor​

• Example: Chocolate is my kryptonite. ​

​Allusion

Fun fact: Rappers use allusions constantly! For example, in "Empire State of Mind," Jay-Z says, "I'm the new Sinatra, and since I made it here, I can make it anywhere," ​referencing Frank Sinatra's famous song "New York, New York."

Multiple Choice

The comic book superhero Spider-Man possesses a spidey sense that warns him of impending trouble.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

Luther picked up his pace on the trail as his spidey sense began to tingle.

• sense of smell

• sense of danger

• sense of wonder

• sense of pride

Multiple Choice

George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984 focuses on a totalitarian society in which the citizens are frequently reminded that their leader, Big Brother, is always watching.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

The headline read: "Smart Phones Becoming Big Brother."

• a benevolent government that takes care of its people

• a democratic society with laws protecting privacy

• a ruler that allows freedom of speech

• a threatening power that monitors all aspects of people's lives

Multiple Choice

In one of Aesop's fables, four animals go hunting under the assumption that they will split their prize equally, but the lion, the most powerful animal, takes more than the other members of the group.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

My older brother takes the lion's share of the space in our bedroom.

• an equal amount

• a tiny bit

• an even split

• the largest portion

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not an example of an allusion?

• She transformed her backyard to look like the Garden of Eden.
• His wife was his Achilles' heel.
• He lies so much, I'm surprised his nose doesn't grow like Pinnochio's.
• We'll miss him so much because he was the best dog ever.

Review

• Simile: A comparison where one thing is said to be similar to another

• Metaphor: A comparison where one thing is compared to another without using "like" or "as"

• Personification: Giving human qualities or abilities to non-human things

• Hyperbole: An exaggeration for emphasis or humor

• Allusion: A reference to something outside the text

Remember: Sometimes an allusion can also be another type of figurative language. ​

Multiple Choice

Bruno Mars- That's what I Like
"Everything 24 karats
Take a look in that mirror
Now tell me who's the fairest
Is it you? (is it you?) Is it me? (is it me?)"
what is the term for the phrase in red text?

• Allusion
• simile
• metaphor
• hyperbole

Multiple Select

Kendrick Lamar- DNA

"I just win again, then win again like Wimbledon, I serve

Yeah, that's him again, the sound that engine in is like a bird"

Check all that apply for the red text -

• personification

• simile

• allusion

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

"Careless Whisper" by George Michael

I'm never gonna dance again

Guilty feet have got no rhythm

Which device is in red?

• simile

• metaphor

• hyperbole

• personification

Multiple Choice

"Back to Black" by Amy Winehouse

We only said goodbye with words

I died a hundred times

You go back to her

And I go back to black

Which device is used in the text in red?

• simile

• metaphor

• hyperbole

• personification