6Module 13

ENGLISHUSING FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

SIMILE, METAPHOR, HYPERBOLE

A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development

To the Learner

Dear Learner,

Did you have fun working on your previous module? I am sureyou enjoyed answering the exercises and did a great job.

Let us move on to another learning experience. I know you areeager to learn more.

We are fun of comparing someone to something else using ourown imagination.

Whenever we describe qualities of person or things bycomparing and exaggerating them with someone else, we are usingFigurative Language.

Let’s Learn This

In this module, I have prepared exercises for you to do toenhance your skill using your figurative language.

There are several forms of figurative language that add colors tothe words especially in literature; however, this module will focusonly on the basic forms.

Let’s Try This

Look at the picture below. Think that she is your mother. Write atleast one specific characteristic of your mother using direct andindirect comparison and exaggeration. Write your answers on thespace provided below.

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Examples:

Direct� My mother’s teeth is as white as pearl.

Indirect� She is my guiding star.

Exaggeration� Whenever I do wro ng, she can fo rgive me hund red times.

Write your own answers here:

Direct1. ________________________

Indirect2. ________________________

Exaggeration3. ________________________

1• Did you find it easy making your own sentences?

2• Do not worry we will have more exercises to do.

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Let’s Study This

Study the set of sentences below. Group it into three whether it emphasizes direct, indirect and exaggeration comparison.

Life is but a dream. People crowded around the actress as thick as files at thepicnic.

Marriage is a roller coaster ride. The clouds are like ghosts sailing across thesky. You have knocked me over the feather.

He has a brain size of a pea. The dancer’s legs are as pliable asspaghetti. Her life is all bed of roses. It is going to take a billion years before you get through amedical school.

Direct

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Indirect

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Exaggeration

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Are you done answering the exercise? Compare your answers with the correct answers below.

Direct

People crowded around the actress as thick as files at the picnic. The dancer’s legs are as pliable as spaghetti.The clouds are like ghosts sailing across the sky.

Indirect

Life is but a dream.Her life is all bed of roses.Marriage is a roller coaster ride.

Exaggeration

It is going to take a billion years before you get through amedical school.You have knocked me over the feather.He has a brain size a pea.

1• How many answers did you get?

2• Let us talk about it.

Go back to the correct answers. What did you notice withthe sentences that give direct comparison, indirectcomparison and exaggeration?

Did you notice some cues to determine their differences?What are they?

Can you name the figurative language used in each set ofsentences? How about their definition?

Thus:

Whenever you describe something by comparing it with someone else, you are using figurative language.

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What is FIGURATIVE LANGAUGE?

It is a language that uses words or expressions with a meaningthat is different from the literal interpretation. It goes beyond theliteral meaning of words in order to provide new effects or freshinsights into an idea or a subject.

It is the use of expressions to communicate more than what thewriter says and suggests meaning without stating them.

What are the basic forms of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE?

1. SIMILE (Direct Comparison) – is a figure of speech in which aclear comparison is made between two things essentially unlike.The comparison is made explicit by the use of some word orphrase as like, as, than, similar to.

2. METAPHOR (Indirect Comparison) – is a figure of speech inwhich a clear comparison is made between two unlike thingsthat are alike in the way they are identified. It is similar toSIMILE, but does not use like or as. It involves an impliedcomparison between two relatively unlike things using a form ofbe (is, was, are, were …..)

3. HYPERBOLE (Exaggeration) – is a figure of speech of which adeliberate exaggeration is made to emphasize a statement.

So, with the given definitions and differences of the three basicforms of figurative language, I am sure you are now confident tomove on to the next exercise.

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Let’s Do This

Read the poem “The Child In Me”. Pick out the figurativelanguages that are found in the poem and write the number of eachfigurative language in the corresponding figure.

“THE CHILD IN ME”by: Irene Sanchez­Cutamora

1.Folks, I want to tell you of this I know,2.Rich of lofty ideas and as famous as you;3.She dares to move the heaven’s bow, 4.If

obviously you ignore her though.

5.Her aura lingers as warm as summer breeze, 6.Her kissable and inquisitive lips are as red as roses;7.As black as ebony her curly hair is freeze, 

8.As far as the twilight years, in stature, she grows.9.Her eyes spark azure like the sky after the passing storm,10.As pure as an angel her intentions, if you will consider; 11.Her hands are as smooth as satin when you touch its form,12.but as hot as firecracker on the thirty first of December.

13.Have I told you her temper is as quick as a lightning in the eastern sky?14.She explodes like a volcano; oftentimes screaming in fear;15.As heavy as rain when you heard her cry,

16.But her laughter is such a sweet music to my ear.

17.She is a strong willed as a bull in the grazing land,18.Striving to get what she wants, grasping it tight; 19.Yet, as

soft as marshmallow when you grab her hand, 20.And, assweet as chocolates when she embraces you right.

21.For me, she is such an extraordinary creature to see22.Radiating in the outside is her inner beauty;

23.Regardless of her flaws, forever special she will be,24.Come what may, she will always be the child in me.

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HYPERBOLE

SIMILE

METAPHOR

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Let’s Do More

Interpret your favorite stanza of the poem by drawing the symbolic representation of your interpretation.

Describe your drawing and write below your reaction to the poem using figurative language.

1• Answers may vary.

2• Ask your teacher to check your work.

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Let’s Remember This

Her life is allbed of roses.

Variety is the Life is but aspice of life. dream.

His lipsare asred asroses.

pliable

asspag

hetti.

It is a figure of speech

In the roughsea, thelights wereglimmering

fireflies.

Hi

hinwhichanexplicitcomparisonismadebetweentwothings

essentiallyunlike.

The clouds are like ghosts sailing across the sky.

Her skin isas   dark   asebony.

T e  sentinel s ro

of o

People The feetcrowded around of a ballet

the actress as dancer shouldthick as flies at point likethe picnic. arrowheads.

Figu r a La

To beforgiv

en,we

mustforgiv

eother

sseven

tytimesseven.

It isgoingto take a billionyearsbeforeyou getthrough

amedicalschool.

In terror, I lived a whole year in that

minute.

H

 exaggerationismadetoemphasizeastatement.

Think first of the consequences a hundred timesbe

foremakingany

decision.

His reared arm crest

theworl

He was You coulda brain size have

of pea. knocked meover with a

feather.

Let’s Test Ourselves

Have you heard the song entitled, Perhaps Love? If you can singit then do so. If not, try asking anybody in the family who can sing itfor you and listen intently. Can you identify the figurative language/sused in the song?

Perhaps Love(John Denver)

Perhaps love is like a resting place, a shelter from the stormIt exists to give you comfort, it is there to keep you warm

And in those times of trouble when you are most aloneThe memory of love will bring you home

Perhaps love is like a window, perhaps an open doorIt invites you to come closer, it wants to show you moreAnd even if you lose yourself and don’t know what to do

The memory of love will see you through

Love to some is like a cloud, to some as strong as steelFor some a way a living, for some a way to feel

And some say love is holding on and some say letting goAnd some say love is everything, and some say they don’t know

Perhaps love is like the ocean, full of conflict, full of painLike a fire when it’s cold outside, thunder when it rains

If I should live forever, and all my dreams come trueMy memories of love will be of you

Some say love is holding on, and some say letting go Some saylove is everything and some say they don’t know Perhaps love is

like the mountains, full of conflict, full of change Like a firewhen it’s cold outside, thunder when it rains

If I should live forever, and all my dreams come trueMy memories of love will be of you

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A. What kind of figurative language is commonly used in the song?Identify at least five simile and write your answers inside the boxesin column A. In column B, create metaphor expressions out of it.

Column A

1. Love is like a resting place.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Column B

Love is a resting place.

1• Ask yourteacher tocheck youranswers.

1• I know you didwell in thisexercise. Keepup the goodwork!

B. From five exaggerated

expressionsabout love. Write your answers onthe heart

shapes provided.

Love 

Answers may vary.Ask your teacher to check your answers.

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Let’s Enrich

Ourselves

Write S in the first blank if the figure of speech is a simile, write M if it is a metaphor. Then write the two things being compared.

Example:The rice mills with turning paddle

wheels looked like a fleet of boats.1. S 2. rice mills and boats

Start here:

1. - Her hair looks like the sun’s rays.

1.

2. __________ and __________

1- The river is like a big crawling

snake. 3.

4. __________ and __________

2- The room was a beehive of busy boys

and girls. 5.

6. __________ and __________.

2. Circle the letter of the meaning of each hyperbole.

7. The face of Helen of Troy launched a thousand ships.

1. Her beauty caused a war. 2. She caused ships to sink. 3. She was a witch that destroyed a thousand ships.

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8. It took him eons to give the answer.

1. He moves slowly. 2. It takes him a long time to answer. 3. He thinks deeply before talking.

9. They sat up a feast for a million mouths.

1. There was very much food to eat. 2. There were a million guests. 3. The feast fed a million people.

10. They always fill up numberless forms when applying for work.

1. There are many forms to distribute to persons looking for work. 2. The application forms they fill up cannot be counted. 3. Work applicants are asked to give much information aboutthemselves first.

1• Are you done?

2• How many correct answers did you get? __________

3• Work well done!!! Proceed to the next module.

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Answer Key

Let’s Do This

HYPERBOLE

3

5678910111213141516

METAPHOR 17

1920

21

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Let’s Do More

Answers may vary. Let your teacher check your work.

Let’s Test Ourselves

Possible answers.

A.Love is like a resting place. Love is a resting place

Perhaps love is like a window. Perhaps love is a window.

Love to some is like a cloud. Love to some is a cloud.

Love is like an ocean. Love is an ocean.

Love is like the mountains. Love is the mountains.

B. Answers may vary.

Let’s Enrich OurselvesA.1. S 2. hair and sun’s rays 3. S 4. river and snake 5. M 6. room and beehive of busy boys and girls B. 7. c 8. b 9. a 10. b

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