This document provides notes on various forms of figurative language including similes, metaphors, alliteration, imagery, hyperbole, personification, and onomatopoeia. Examples are given for each technique. Students are instructed to identify examples of different figurative language in songs and to write assignments using similes, metaphors, hyperbole, personification, onomatopoeia, and imagery. The homework asks students to write one sentence for each technique about a chosen topic.

1. Figurative Language Notes
Start a new page in your notebook.
This is item 14 in your Table of Contents.

2. Figurative Language We’ve Covered So Far…
• Simile
• He’s as gentle as a lamb.
• They’re as honest as the day is long.
• Metaphor
• Time is money.
• All of the world is a stage
When we talk about figurative language, often we include…
• Alliteration
• Repetition

3. Imagery
Imagery consists of descriptive words and phrases that re-create
sensory experiences for the reader. Imagery usually appeals to one of
the five senses — sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch — to help the
reader imagine exactly what is being described.
Sight
The gushing brook stole its way down
the lush green mountains, dotted
with tiny flowers in a riot of colors
and trees coming alive with gaily
chirping birds.
Sound
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
Taste
The toothpaste at the dentist office
had a sharp, strong minty flavor.
Touch
The blanket was smooth as silk on
one side and coarse as wool on the
other.
Smell
The streets stank of manure, the
courtyards of urine, the stairwells
stank of moldering wood and rat
droppings, the kitchens of spoiled
cabbage and mutton fat.

4. Write five sentences (one for each sense)
describing the photo below. (3 min)
1. Sight
2. Smell
3. Hearing
4. Touch
5. Taste

5. Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for
emphasis or humorous effect.
“We’ve been in this class for a million years!”
“She’s as tall as a skyscraper.”
“I’m so hungry I could eat an elephant!”
“I died laughing.”

6. Personification
Personification is a figure of speech in which human qualities are given
to an object, animal, or idea.
The field is sad now that the children have gone home.
The city never sleeps.
Those greedy weeds have starved the petunias.
I’m an example of
personification.

7. Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is the use of
words whose sounds echo their
meanings, such as buzz, whisper,
gargle, and murmur.
“It went zip when it moved and
bop when it stopped,
And whirr when it stood still.
I never knew just what it was and I
guess I never will.”
whack, whir, wheeze, whine
Sputter, splat, squirt, scrape
Clink, clank, clunk, clatter
Crash, bang, beep, buzz
Ring, rip, roar, retch
Twang, toot, tinkle, thud
Pop, plop, plunk, pow
Snort, snuck, sniff, smack
Screech, splash, squish, squeak
Jingle, rattle, squeal, boing
Honk, hoot, hack, belch.

8. Identify Figurative Language in Popular Music
• Identify the following figurative language in the songs played:
Simile Metaphor Imagery HyperbolePersonificationOnomatopoeia

9. Write Using Figures of Speech
• Topic: _________________________________________
1. Simile: ___________________________________________
2. Metaphor: ________________________________________
3. Hyperbole: ________________________________________
4. Personification: ____________________________________
5. Onomatopoeia: ____________________________________
6. Imagery: __________________________________________

10. Homework
• Pick a topic to write a poem/song/rap about.
• Write one sentence about your topic FOR EACH of the following:
1. Simile
2. Metaphor
3. Hyperbole
4. Personification
5. Onomatopoeia
6. Imagery (may also contain simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification)