Figurative Language

Figurative Language refers to any language that uses images or language that makes different kinds of comparisons. Some examples of figurative language are:

Imagery

Imagery is language that appeals to the senses of hearing, touch, taste, sight or smell.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is an obvious exaggeration, usually intended to be funny.

Examples:

The pavement was so hot, our feet fried.

I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

Metaphor

A metaphor compares two unlike things without using the word like or as.

Examples:

The streetlight was my security guard.

The sudden storm was a ferocious beast descending down upon us.

Simile

A simile is a description that compares two unlike things to one another using the words like or as.

Examples:

His eyes are as blue as the sky.

My uncle is as goofy as a clown!

He loves the scent of blossoming flowers and the warbles of birds.

imagery

The rain seemed like an old friend who had finally found us.

simile

Her head was so full of ideas that it was ready to burst wide open.

hyperbole

My daughter is the sun and the moon to me.

metaphor

I was so hungry that I even ate the plate!

hyperbole

Dessert was a dark chocolate covered with slurpy, pink ice cream.

imagery

Your car sounded as if it were mad at us.

simile

He was a library of information about baseball.

metaphor

Symbolism

Symbolism: a symbol is

something that can stand for itself or for something else.

Examples:

The dove is a symbol of peace.

Children are a symbol of innocence.

Alliteration

Alliteration: the repeating of the beginning sounds in words.

Examples:

She sells seashells by the seashore.

Mr. Miller makes maple muffins.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is the formation of a word by imitation of its sound.

Examples:BangBuzzCrackSnapPopThumpSizzle

Personification

Personification is giving human qualities to something that is non-human.

Examples:

The wind whispered through the trees.

The large boulder refused to budge.

Oxymoron

Oxymoron: Two words of opposite meaning placed next to each other and read as one phrase.

Examples:

Jumbo shrimp

Student teacher

Inside out

Irony

Use of words that intend to convey the opposite meaning. Irony forms the basis of sarcasm and humor.

Examples: Wow. Great shirt!

The fire chief’s house burned down.

A car smashes into a school for safe driving.