Figurative Language TERMS
Simile
A comparison of two unlike things that have something in common using
like or as
✴ Ms. Joy’s room is as cold as a polar bear’s toenails!
✴ My brother was like a bull in a china shop on Christmas morning.
METAPHOR
A comparison of two unlike things that have something in common
✴ Greg’s father was a rock through the entire soccer game.
PERSONIFICATION
Giving human characteristics to inanimate objects
✴ The leaves danced as the wind blew through the dogwood tree.
ALLITERATION
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of neighboring words
✴ A fried mass of fish flesh rests on a fork in front of my face.
ONOMATOPOEIA
Words that imitate or sound like what they mean
✴ Crack! The sound of the bat connecting with the baseball permeated
the stadium.
HYPERBOLE
An exaggeration
•
As the bedraggled boy exited the school, he exclaimed, “My book bag
weighs a ton!”
Student Handout
© Stephen Edwards 2012
Teacher Rationale
Figurative language is extreme fun! It’s a huge component of most reading
genres, especially poetry, and is a major player when focusing on
descriptive writing. I know it’s one of my favorite reading and writing
units to teach, and I would venture to say that feeling is shared by many
other teachers.
I expect my students to be able to identify many types of figurative
language when they read, and I expect them to be able to use those same
tools when they write. However, I expect my students to know the terms
and definitions before we get to that point. This handout is given to all my
students prior to exploring figurative language.
This particular handout briefly defines and explores, in my opinion, the 6
major figurative language players. Once my students and I look at the
terms, definitions, and examples on the handout, we observe how favorite
authors use the tools in their writing. Books such as Scat, by Carl Hiaasen,
and Lawn Boy, by Gary Paulsen, are excellent exemplar texts. After that,
we practice noticing the defined types of figurative language in
independent reading. Finally, we use the tools in our personal writing. For
me, that step-by-step process works best. Whatever your methods are, I
hope this handout is a great addition.
I have realized that whenever we give students a few tools that allow
extreme creativity, the result is almost always a positive learning
experience. I hope this handout is a great reference sheet for you and your
students.
Student Handout
© Stephen Edwards 2012
Thank you for downloading my product.
I really appreciate your business. I hope it will be
a great resource for you.
Please remember to leave feedback on TPT so
that you can earn points to use on future
purchases.
If you have any questions about this product,
please email me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Stephen Edwards
Bosshole font is available at
kevinandamanda.com.
Images available at clipart.com.
Student Handout
© Stephen Edwards 2012