Figurative Language

Remember the definitions that were outlined in class:

Simile: comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'

Metaphor: two items are compared and one noun is said to BE another noun (see more detailed definition below)

Personification: giving human qualities or body parts to something that is not human

Alliteration: repetition of the same letter at the beginning of several words

Idiom: use of words that differ from their actual meaning -- these are common phrases that you may have heard before (ex: "it's raining cats and dogs" means it's raining really hard).  

The links below are some extra examples for you to consider as you become more comfortable with identifying figurative language and using figurative language in your own writing. 

Similes: http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/figures-similes-list.htm

Similes: http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-similes.html

Metaphor: A metaphor is a figure of speech that says that one thing is another different thing. This allows us to use fewer words and forces the reader or listener to find the similarities.

The word metaphor comes from the Greek word metapherin (meaning "transfer").

The simplest form of metaphor is: "The [first thing] is a [second thing]."

Look at this example:

• Her home was a prison.

Metaphor: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/metaphor-examples-for-kids.html

Personification: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/personification-examples.html

Alliteration: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/examples-of-alliteration.html

Idioms: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/idiom-examples-of-idioms.html