MORE FUN WITH FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE
PERSONIFICATION,
ALLITERATION &
HYPERBOLE
PERSONIFICATION:
THINK PERSON
To give an inanimate (non
living) object or non human
object human qualities or
abilities.
Example: While at the movies,
Emily’s popcorn jumped out
of the bag .
WHAT IS THE INANIMATE OBJECT
BEING GIVEN HUMAN LIKE
QUALITIES ,WHAT IS THE KEY
WORD, & THE FIGURATIVE
MEANING.
Example: While at the movies,
Emily’s popcorn jumped out of the
bag .
Popcorn
Human like quality – jumped
Figurative Meaning: The popcorn
was so hot it popped and came out
of the bag.
ON YOUR WHITEBOARD, PLEASE WRITE THE
OBJECTS THAT ARE GIVEN HUMAN LIKE
QUALITIES, THE KEY WORDS & THE
FIGURATIVE MEANING.
HERE WE GO!!!!
•
The dog danced when his owner started slicing the
steak and putting it in his bowl.
• What is being personified?
• What is the key word?
• What does it mean figuratively?
HERE WE GO!!!!
•
The dog danced when his owner started slicing the steak and putting it in his bowl.
• Dog – danced (dogs don’t dance)
• Figuratively: The dog was very excited
• (and probably hungry) that it was
• about to be fed.
MORE EXAMPLES
The bench groaned in
protest under the
weight of the 400 lb.
man.
During the 45 minute
police chase, the
criminal’s car devoured
the asphalt road.
MORE EXAMPLES
The bench groaned in protest under the
weight of the 400 lb. man.
Figurative Language – The bench made a
creaking noise due to the man’s weight when
he sat down.
During the 45 minute police chase, the
criminal’s car devoured the asphalt road.
Figurative Language – The criminal’s car was
going extremely fast during the police chase.
ONE MORE EXAMPLE…
•The clock screamed at Elli when she
realized she was going to break her
curfew!
ONE MORE EXAMPLE…
• The clock screamed at Elli when she realized
she was going to break her curfew!
• Clock / Screamed
• Elli was filled with dread / nervous / anxious since she knew she would
be in trouble / get grounded for coming home late.
PICK ONE WORD FROM EACH COLUMN & WRITE A SENTENCE
USING PERSONIFICATION ON YOUR WHITEBOARD
NOUNS
VERBS
TELEVISION
SCREAMED
GUITAR
DIED
VACUUM
GIGGLED
ENGINE
PLEADED
BEES
WHISPERED
WATER
COUGHED
DEFINITION: WHEN A GROUP
OF WORDS START WITH THE
SAME CONSONANT SOUND.
EXAMPLE: Jovial Jay joked and
juggled juicy jam jubilantly.
EXAMPLE: Greedy Greg
grabbed the gross grimy gum
under the greasy desk.
ANOTHER ALLITERATION EXAMPLE
• Zeke’s zany zebra, Zane, zips and zooms with
zest and zeal.
YOUR TURN
Use one of the following
letters to create & write
your alliteration on your
whiteboard.
B
D
P
M
T
QUICK REVIEW!!
What is personification?
Hint: Think PERSON.
What is an alliteration?
Hint: Think Consonant Sounds.
IDIOMS
• An expression that is a term or a phrase whose
meaning can’t be understood through the words literal
definition, but is known only through common use.
Difficult for people learning the English language since
they take the words literally.
FIRST EXAMPLE:
SAD BUT TRUE
A few years ago, my Uncle Bob and
I were eating dinner at The Hub
Sports Bar. Suddenly, Uncle Bob’s face
started turning red, he clutched at
his throat & he kicked the bucket.
Literal & Figurative Meaning
A FEW YEARS AGO, MY UNCLE BOB & I WERE EATING DINNER AT THE HUB SPORTS BAR.
SUDDENLY, UNCLE BOB’S FACE STARTED TURNING RED, HE CLUTCHED AT HIS THROAT &
HE KICKED THE BUCKET.
• Literally, as my Uncle Bob was
choking on a chicken wing, he
kicked a bucket in the
restaurant.
• Figuratively, the term “kick the
bucket” means that my Uncle
Bob died.
BEFORE ASHLYN, WHO HAD THE LEAD IN THE SCHOOL
PLAY, TOOK THE STAGE ON OPENING NIGHT, HER BEST
FRIEND, MCKENNA, TOLD HER TO BREAK A LEG.
BREAK A LEG!
What does “break a leg”
mean in this context?
• LITERALLY?
• FIGURATIVELY?
BEFORE ASHLYN, WHO HAD THE LEAD IN THE SCHOOL PLAY,
TOOK THE STAGE ON OPENING NIGHT, HER BEST FRIEND,
MCKENNA, TOLD HER TO BREAK A LEG.
What does “break a leg” mean in this context?
Literally: Mckenna told Ashlyn to break a leg
during her performance in the play.
Figuratively: To break a lleg means
“Good luck.” Mckenna wants her friend to have
a good performance.
TWO MORE IDIOMS!
Although Col. Nathan Jessup
After playing video games for six was a respected military man,
straight hours, I told Josh to stop he would never become a
being a couch potato and go
general since he had too many
outside and play.
skeletons in his closet.
WHAT DO THESE IDIOMS MEAN?
COUCH POTATO
• LITERALLY - JOSH IS A COUCH
POTATO.
• FIGURATIVELY – JOSH IS BEING LAZY
& HIS MAIN FORM OF
ENTERTAINMENT CONSISTS OF
WATCHING TV OR PLAYING VIDEOS.
SKELETON IN THE CLOSET
• LITERALLY – COL NATHAN JESSUP HAS A
SKELETON IN HIS CLOSET.
• FIGURATIVELY – COL JESSUP HAS DONE
SOMETHING IN THE PAST THAT HE DOESN’T
WANT OTHER PEOPLE KNOWING ABOUT; A
SECRET HE DOESN’T WANT EXPOSED OR IS
ASHAMED OF.
ON YOUR WHITEBOARDS, WRITE WHAT
THE FOLLOWING IDIOMS MEAN
FIGURATIVELY.
1. TO BE ON THE FENCE.
2. THE RESTAURANT COSTS
AN ARM & A LEG
3. THE TEST WAS A PIECE OF
CAKE.
ON YOUR WHITEBOARDS, WRITE WHAT
THE FOLLOWING IDIOMS MEAN
FIGURATIVELY.
1. TO BE ON THE FENCE – Can’t make up one’s mind;
To have a difficult decision to make
1. THE RESTAURANT COSTS AN ARM & A LEG
- Very expensive; costly
2. THE TEST WAS A PIECE OF CAKE- It was easy; very simple
WHY ARE IDIOMS SO DIFFICULT
FOR PEOPLE LEARNING THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TO GRASP?
Please write your answer on your whiteboard.