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Figurative Language

 To communicate clearly, students must be able to identify and correctly use gurativelanguage.

Defining Figurative Language

Figurative language is language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that isdierent from the literal interpretation. When a writer uses literal language, he or she issimply stating the facts as they are. Figurative language, in comparison, usesexaggerations or alterations to make a particular linguistic point.

Figurative language is very common in poetry, but is also used in prose and nonctionwriting as well.

 There are many dierent types of gurative language. For example, it often includes theuse of a specic type of word or word meaning

• !etaphor " metaphor is a comparison made between things which are essentiallynot alike. #ne example of a metaphor would be to say, $%obody invites &dward toparties because he is a wet blanket.'

• (imile " simile is like a metaphor and often uses the words like or as. #neexample of a simile would be to say, $)amie runs as fast as the wind.'

• *ersonication When something that is not human is given human+like ualities,this is known as personication. "n example of personication would be to say, $Theleaves danced in the wind on the cold #ctober afternoon.'

• -yperbole &xaggerating, often in a humorous way, to make a particular point isknown as hyperbole. #ne of example of hyperbole would be to say, $!y eyeswidened at the sight of the mile+high ice cream cones we were having for dessert.'

• (ymbolism (ymbolism occurs when a noun which has meaning in itself is used torepresent something entirely dierent. #ne example of symbolism would be to use animage of the "merican ag to represent patriotism and a love for one/s country.

0n addition to various types of words relating to the word1s meaning, gurative languagealso includes unusual constructions or combinations of words that provide a newperspective on the word. For example

• #nomatopoeia When you name an action by imitating the sound associated withit, this is known as onomatopoeia. #ne example of onomatopoeia would be to say,$The bees bu22 angrily when their hive is disturbed.'

• 0diom "n idiom is an expression used by a particular group of people with ameaning that is only known through common use. #ne example of an idiom would beto say, $0/m 3ust waiting for him to kick the bucket.' !any idioms that are freuentlyused are also considered clich4s.

Figurative Language Resources for Teachers Teaching gurative language can be a challenge on many dierent levels. For example

• (mall children nd gurative language di5cult because they lack the intellectualcapacity to reali2e that words can have more than one meaning.

•  Those with disabilities such as "sperger (yndrome have trouble in social settingsbecause they prefer literal language over gurative expressions and have troubleidentifying when a speaker is using literary devices such as hyperbole or metaphors.

• *eople who are learning &nglish as a second language nd many types ofgurative language to be challenging because of their vocabulary limitations.

 Teachers in search of ideas for discussing the use of gurative language in the classroomcan nd a variety of materials online. 0f you/re searching for free printable worksheetsand lesson plans, 6our7ictionary recommends visiting the following helpful websites

• &d -elper has worksheets for elementary and 3unior high students coveringsimiles, metaphors, and idioms.

• 8oggles World has worksheets covering exaggerations, opposites, alliteration,metaphors, and similes.

•  T9( 8ooks provides a printable worksheet that challenges students to rewritesentences to eliminate gurative language and provide the correct literal meaning.

7/21/2019 Figurative Language

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• :ead. Write. Think. has a lesson plan for students in grades ;+< that uses The*hantom Tollbooth to introduce the concept of gurative language.

• *=9(& has a lesson suggestion for high school students that uses The Wreck of the

Edmund Fitzgerald by >ordon 9ightfoot to increase understanding of the correct useof gurative language.

• (hakespeare/s 9anguage is a resource for high school students that discusses howgurative language is used withinHamlet, Romeo and Juliet , and A MidsummerNight’s ream.

• Frost Friends This website provides a look at the use of gurative language in thepoetry of :obert Frost which could be used as the basis of a lesson plan for highschool students.

For examples of gurative language for children, check out !etaphor &xamples for?ids and (imile &xamples for ?ids,