Accompanying presentation for a lesson plan on figurative language.

1. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, Understatement, Personification
And Others

2. WHAT ARE SOMETYPES OF FIGURATIVE
LANGUAGE?
Simile
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Understatement
Personification
Alliteration
Onomatopoeia
Idiom
Cliché

3. SIMILE
What is it?
DEFINITION: A
comparison of 2 things
using “like” or “as”
USE: compares two
things and suggests that
they are alike
Examples:
He is as slow as a slug.
Sally ran like the wind.

4. METAPHOR
What is it?
DEFINITION: A
comparison of 2 things
without using “like” or
“as”
USE: strong comparison
of two things that
suggests they are alike
Examples:
Life is but a dream.
The tongue is a double-
edged sword.

5. HYPERBOLE
What is it?
DEFINITION:
exaggeration
USE: to emphasize a
point
Examples:
I caught a fish as big as a
whale!
We were waiting on her
forever!

6. UNDERSTATEMENT
What is it?
DEFINITION: stating
something weakly or with
restraint
USE: downplays a
negative or for humor
Examples:
The middle of the street
might not be the best
place to hang out.
Oprah has little bit of
spare pocket change.

7. PERSONIFICATION
What is it?
DEFINITION: giving
human traits to a non-
human idea or object
USE: description in
literary and artistic effect
Examples:
The icicle cried as the sun
melted it away.
The wind howled through
the trees.

8. OTHERTYPES OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Alliteration
Repetition of the same beginning sound
Ex: Sally sells seashells by the seashore.
Onomatopoeia
Words that sound like (imitate) what they mean
Ex: BAM! POW! KABANG! (think comic books)

9. OTHERTYPES OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
(CONT.)
Idioms and clichés
Idiom: Phrase whose meaning is not obvious based on
it’s literal definition.Traditional and cultural phrases.
Cliché: Overly used and trite expression. (Usually
overused idioms.)
Ex: It’s raining cats and dogs.