Figurative Language

Figurative Language “Kick Me” Review

CONNOTATION • Definition: An idea or feeling that a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal or primary meaning. • EMOTION/FEELING OF A WORD. • Example: A shark is ruthless. • Is it nice to call someone a shark? • What emotion is associated with referring to someone as an egg head?

DENOTATION • Definition: The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests. • DICTIONARY DEFINITION • Example: Mostly marine fishes, certain species of which are large, voracious, and sometimes dangerous to humans. • What would the denotation of egg head be?

SIMILE • Definition: a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared using like, than or as • Example: He is as brave as a lion. • Can you think of a simile for an angry person?

METAPHOR • Definition: a metaphor can be described as a comparison that shows how two things that are not alike in most ways are similar in other important ways. • Example: "I'm a night owl; Paul’s an early bird. We're different species.” • Can you think of a metaphor for an angry person?

HYPERBOLE • Definition: Extreme exaggeration • Example: "His thundering shout could split rocks." Or, "Yo' mama's so fat.” • Can you think of a hyperbole for a really cold day?

PERSONIFICATION • Definition: giving human qualities to inanimate objects. • Example: "The ground thirsts for rain; the wind whispered secrets to us.“ • Can you think of a way to personify a messy student’s locker?

ONOMATOPOEIA • Definition: Words that create an auditory effect similar to the sound they represent. • Buzz; Click; Rattle; Clatter; Squish; Grunt • Can you think of any other examples of onomatopoeia?

SYNONYM • Definition: SYNONYM: A word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or other words in a language. For example, the word responsible is the same as _______________. • Example: ACCOUNTABLE • Can you think of any other synonyms for responsible?

ANTONYM • Definition: A word that has the exact opposite meaning of another word is its antonym. For example, the antonym for robust is____________. • Example: WEAK • Can you think of any other antonyms for robust?

LITERAL • Definition:true to fact; not exaggerated; actual or factual • Example: The sharp weapon bloodied his head.

FIGURATIVE • Definition: Figurative describes something that is not to be interpreted literally, but that instead uses a symbol or a likeness • Example: “She's the head of the company.” • Can you think of any other ways to use head in a figurative way?

ALLITERATION • Definition: Repeating a consonant sound in close proximity to others, or beginning several words with the same vowel sound • Example: Five miles meandering with a mazy motion. • Can you think of any other examples of alliteration?

SYMBOL • Definition: A word, place, character, or object that means something beyond what it is on a literal level. • Example: STOP SIGN • Can you think of any other symbols?

ANALOGY • ANALOGY: A similarity between like features of two things • "My writing is to me, as flying is to a bird.” • Can you think of any other analogies?

IDIOM • Definition: An expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning conventionally understood by native speakers of a particular culture. This meaning is different from the literal meaning of the idiom's individual elements. In other words, idioms don't mean exactly what the words say. They have, however, hidden meaning. • Example: Kick the bucket • Can you think of any other idioms?

CLICHÉ • Definition: A hackneyed or trite phrase that has become overused. Clichés are considered bad writing and bad literature. • Example: Every cloud has a silver lining. • Can you think of any other cliches?

DICTION • Definition: The choice of a particular word as opposed to others. • Example: Rock formation: a stone, a boulder, an outcropping, a pile of rocks, a cairn, a mound, or even an "anomalous geological feature.” • Let’s say you wanted to describe someone who is thin. What are some word choices that have a positive connotation? What are some word choices that have a negative connotation?

VERBAL IRONY • Definition: Saying one thing and meaning another. • Example: "The cake is as soft as concrete" - the person wants to tell that the cake is not so soft to eat. • Can you think of any other examples of verbal irony?

PUN • Definition: A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings • Example: I knew a woman who owned a taser, man was she stunning! • Can you think of any other puns?

NUANCE • Definition:A subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning, response, etc. • Example: Black-charcoal gray-dove gray-off-white-white

Figurative Language