This document defines and provides examples of different types of figurative language: metaphors, similes, hyperboles, and personification. It begins by defining a metaphor as a figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using "like" or "as". It then gives examples of metaphors, similes, and hyperboles. Similes directly compare two things using "like" or "as", while hyperboles exaggerate things for emphasis. Finally, it defines personification as giving human qualities to non-human things.

1. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
By Lee Pollner #10
February 6, 2012

2. Definition from wordcentral.com : a figure of
speech in which a word or phrase meaning one
kind of object or idea is used in place of
another to suggest a similarity between them.
• Here is the definition from rhlschool.com/eng3n26.htm: Metaphors are comparisons
that show how two things that are not alike in most ways are similar in one important
way. Metaphors are a way to describe something. Authors use them to make their
writing more interesting or entertaining.
• Definition from dictionary.com :a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied
to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance,
as in
• My definition of a metaphor is: A metaphor is a figure of speech with compares one
thing to another thing, but does not use like or as

3. SO, WHAT IS A
METAPHOR?
• A metaphor is a one kind of figurative
language
• A metaphor is like a simile, but doesn’t use
like or as
• A metaphor compares something to another
thing

4. EXAMPLES OF
METAPHORS
• His castle was a mansion
• Her pet is a dog
• The light was a friendly smile from the window
• The sun was a warm, cuddly blanket
• The deer, running through the woods was a flash of color.
• The fish, gliding through the water was a ballet dancer.
Next 5 metaphors are from www.buzzle.com/articles/metaphor-
examples-for-kids.html
• He has a heart of stone.
• She has a gait of a peacock.
• He is the shinning star of our school.
• She has a heart of a lion.
• For me time is money.

5. SIMILES
Definition : A simile compares 2
things and uses like or as.
Definition from dictionary.com : A Definition from
figure of speech in which two unlike wordcentral.com :A figure of
things are explicitly compared, as in speech in which things
“she is like a rose” different in kind or quality
are compared by the use of
the word like or as

6. WHAT IS A
SIMILE?

7. EXAMPLES OF SIMILES
• “The water is like the sun” is an example of
simile because water and the sun have
little in common and yet they’re being
compared to one another.
• The rose is as pretty as a princess
• Water is as clear as a crystal
• The sun is as bright as neon yellow
• The sun is as hot as a red chili pepper
• The person is like a feisty cheetah

8. HYPERBOLES
My definition: A hyperbole is a figure of
speech that extremely exaggerates the
subject. For example, “I was so thirsty, I
could have drank the whole ocean!”
This is a Hyperbole because no one
would ever drink the whole ocean.
Definition from dicitionary.com :
1. obvious and intentional
Definition from wordcentral.com :extravagant exaggeration.
exaggeration used to emphasize a point 2. an extravagant statement or
<"mile-high ice cream cones>" is an example figure of speech not intended to be
of hyperbole because there can not be a mile taken literally, as “to wait an
high of ice cream cones. It exaggerates. eternity.”

9. WHAT IS A
HYPERBOLE?
In this poem, William Wordsworth uses lots
of hyperbole to pain a picture and make the
story interesting

10. EXAMPLES OF
HYPERBOLES
All of these examples
are from
http://www.proprofs.com/flash
cards/cardshowall.php?title=fig
urative-language_13

11. PERSONIFICATION
Definition from wordcentral.com :

12. WHAT IS
PERSONIFICATION?

13. EXAMPLES OF
PERSONIFICATION