Figurative vs Literal Language

Figurative
Language

Notes are highlighted in yellow

Objectives

After this lesson, students will be able to:

● Recognize figurative vs literal language

● Define and identify figurative language in

text

Literal Vs Figurative

Language

Literal Language:language used to mean exactly
what is written.

The car is blue.

He caught the football.

Figurative Language: Does not mean what it
says. You have to figure out what it means

I’ve got your back.

You’re a doll.

Figurative or Literal?

1. It was raining cats and dogs.
2. I was hungry, so I ate a big breakfast.
3. The sky was as bright as a diamond.
4. Wow! She is as fast as a cheetah!
5. My mom was late to the concert.
6. Mr. Smith and Ms. Dennehy are as busy as bees!
7. The meadow is calm and quiet.
8. I bought new shoes for school and they cost me an arm and a
leg!
9. We had two snow days last week.
10. Over the weekend, I ran 6 miles in a race.

Simile

• comparing two unlike things using the

words “like” or “as”.

Her eyes were like stars.

Susan is as gentle as a
kitten.

Important Notes!!!

Using “like” or “as” doesn’t make a
simile.

A comparison must be made.

Not a Simile:I like pizza.

Simile:The moon is like a pizza.

Metaphor

• comparing two unlike things without

using like or as. Calling one thing,
another. Saying one thing is
something else.

He’s a lion when he fights.

Her eyes were sparkling

emeralds.

He is a shining star.

Personification

• giving human characteristics to

things that are not human.

The angry flood waters

slapped the house.

The sun smiled down on us.

Hyperbole

• EXTREME OVER EXAGGERATION an

exaggeration so dramatic, no one

could believe it.

This bag weighs a ton!

I’ve told you a million
times to clean up your
room!

Understatement

• A statement that says something as

smaller or less important or strong
as it really is

• The opposite of hyperbole.

I’ll be there in one second.

This won’t hurt a bit.

Alliteration

repeating the same CONSONANT
letter or sound....including tongue
twisters.

Miss Warren was worried

when Wendy was waiting.

Rubber baby buggy bumpers.

Peter Piper picked a peck of

pickled peppers.

Alliteration in Poetry

A flea and a fly in a flue
Were imprisoned, so what could they

do?

Said the fly, “Let us flee!”
“Let us fly,” said the flea;
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

Oxymoron

two words or phrases used together

that have, or seem to have, opposite
meanings

Examples: Freezer burn pretty ugly

jumbo shrimp

act naturally

sweet and sour

climb down

Onomatopoeia

• the use of a word to describe or

imitate a natural sound made by an
object or action. (Batman Words)

pow

hiss

tweet,
tweet

buzz

​zoom

Imagery

■ vivid description that appeals to a

readers’ 5 senses to create an image
or idea in their head.

• Sight

• Hearing

• Smell
• Touch
• Taste

Imagery

●

It was dark and dim in the forest.

●

The children were screaming and
shouting in the fields. ...

●

He whiffed the aroma of brewed
coffee. ...

●

The girl ran her hands on a soft
satin fabric. ...

●

The fresh and juicy orange is very
cold and sweet.

Idiom

A popular saying/expression

Examples:Choose 3 examples to
write

• it’s raining cats and dogs

• it cost an arm and a leg

• I’m feeling under the weather

• once in a blue moon

• I’m with you through thick and

thin

Allusion

a brief reference to a well-known
person, place, object event, character,
or to another work of literature

Examples: “I don’t know him from Adam.”

He tried to be firm with his daughter, but
her tears were like his Kryptonite.

Multiple Choice

The street cars are like frosted cakes covered
with snowflakes.

• Simile

• Metaphor

• onomatopoeia

Multiple Choice

The west wind dances down the road.

• hyperbole

• oxymoron

• personification

Multiple Choice

A train is a dragon that roars through the dark.

• metaphor

• oxymoron

• metaphor and personification

Multiple Choice

The band played to a small crowd at the concert.

• allusion

• oxymoron

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

Sam suddenly stretched slowly.

• allusion

• alliteration

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

She’s as tiny as a mouse.

• simile

• metaphor

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

She’s a real Einstein.

• simile

• personification

• allusion

Multiple Choice

I've told you a million times to clean your room

• alliteration

• metaphor

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

The wind whooshed down the street

• onomatopoeia

• metaphor

• alluson

Multiple Choice

Don't worry, I've got your back

• allusion

• personification

• Idiom

Multiple Choice

The kite drank the wind and laughed across the
sky.

• simile

• personification

• alluson