Figurative Language Examples

Identify the literary device used in the sentence: 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

• Personification

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Onomatopoeia

• Oxymoron

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

Identify a second literary device used in the sentence: 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Oxymoron

• Onomatopoeia

• Alliteration

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

Read the paragraph below and identify the literary devices used. The cell phone alarm on vibrate sounded like a jackhammer against Rachel’s wooden nightstand. She opened her eyes to see the sun peering into her bedroom through the opening in the curtains. Outside her window, there was a dull roar as the plow cleared the streets from the storm that had attacked her town through the night. She looked outside to see a blanket of snow lying on top of her backyard. Rachel hoped that this meant she would be able to crawl back into her cozy, comfortable bed and curl up in the covers. The radio’s buzzing sound died down as she tuned it to the local station. It was like music to her ears when the radio announcer said, “All schools are closed.”

• Metaphor, Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Alliteration

• Metaphor, Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Oxymoron

• Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Alliteration, Oxymoron

• Metaphor, Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Oxymoron, Alliteration

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Read the paragraph below and identify the literary devices used: Like a detective, I searched the nursing home corridors until I saw him in a wheelchair by the open window. His eyes were pools of blue staring out at the first rays of sunshine tiptoeing through the garden. I brushed my fingers through his snow-white hair and kissed his forehead. “Hi, Grandpa,” I said. There was a deafening silence as there was every morning. Time ticked by as I talked to him and told him about my week. It was a one-sided conversation. I often wished we had spoken more before he had poor health. I held his hand and hoped that he knew I was there.

• Metaphor, Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Oxymoron, Alliteration

• Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Alliteration

• Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Oxymoron

• Metaphor, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Alliteration

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

Read the paragraph below and identify which literary device is used in the phrase 'cowardly courage'.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Onomatopoeia

• Oxymoron

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.5A

Read the paragraph below and identify the literary devices used: The marker shook like a leaf as Angela wrote her name on the board in the front of the room. She had spent a stressful yet successful year in school studying education, but this was her first day as a student teacher. This school was not her first choice, but when the opportunity knocked at her door, she decided to answer. The ding of the bell indicated the start of class, and her students were a pack of wolves when they came into the room. She immediately knew this class was going to be a challenge, so her only choice would be to use tough love. She introduced herself politely but laid down the rules immediately.

• Metaphor, Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Oxymoron, Alliteration

• Metaphor, Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification

• Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Alliteration

• Metaphor, Simile, Onomatopoeia, Alliteration

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

Identify the literary devices used in the following paragraph: Holly put on the beautiful charcoal gown and placed the cap on her head like a crown. Her four years of school had reached the final chapter, and she would be walking across the stage to receive her diploma today. This was a bittersweet moment. While she would be celebrating her success as a star student, she would also be saying so long to her friends. She was honored to be selected as valedictorian. When she reached the podium, the words leapt off the paper. Her voice cracked with emotion as she talked about how quickly time had flown by. She also mentioned many of the marvelous memories they made as a class.

• Metaphor, Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Oxymoron, Alliteration

• Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Alliteration

• Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Oxymoron

• Metaphor, Onomatopoeia, Personification, Alliteration

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4

Read the paragraph below and identify the literary device used in the sentence: 'The harsh, wild winds whistling through the trees sent shivers down his spine.'

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Onomatopoeia

• Personification

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Read the paragraph below and identify the literary devices used: metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, personification, oxymoron, and/or alliteration.

• Metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, personification, oxymoron, alliteration

• Metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, personification, alliteration

• Metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, personification, oxymoron

• Metaphor, simile, onomatopoeia, personification

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Read the paragraph below and identify which literary device is used in the phrase 'a bright burning blaze wrapping its arms around the hallway'.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Onomatopoeia

• Personification

Tags

CCSS.L.3.5A

CCSS.RL.3.4