Types of Figurative Language

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Basics on the topic Types of Figurative Language

Let's learn about figurative language!

Transcript Types of Figurative Language

Hewie needs Ari and Zayd's help, turns out, his house is haunted! It looks like we've got ourselves a mystery, gang! There is figurative language all over the house making weird things happen! Figurative language: hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification. Figurative language, also known as a figure of speech, is a word or phrase that does not have the exact meaning of the words written. As the reader, your job is to determine what the expression actually means so you understand what the author is trying to say. There are many different types of figurative language, today we are going to focus on hyperbole, onomatopoeia and personification. First, Hewie shares the hyperbole that he heard in the living room along with a picture he found. Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is so dramatic, no one will believe the statement to be true. Hewie heard: 'I used to walk fifteen miles to school during a blizzard!' Do the words mean exactly what they say? No, walking that far during a blizzard would be difficult and dangerous, and we can see the school is close by. What is the actual meaning of the phrase? The note is explaining walking to school every day was hard using hyperbole to compare how their experience of getting to school was more difficult than another, using a dramatic exaggeration about the distance and weather. But who or what said it!? Next, Hewie shares the noise he heard in the kitchen by illustrating it using onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like the noise it describes. When Hewie was in the kitchen, he heard a "crash" and a "bang"! Does that mean Hewie heard someone say 'crash' and 'bang'? No, Hewie did not hear someone say 'crash' and 'bang', that wouldn't make any sense! What is the actual meaning of the phrase? Hewie is using onomatopoeia to describe the sounds he heard in the kitchen. Last, Hewie showed the gang a cookie and a medicine bottle with a note that used personification. Personification is when human characteristics are given to an object or animal. It says, 'These are my anti-flatulence pills because I like cookies but they don't like me!' Do the words mean exactly what they say? No, cookies don't have feelings that wouldn't make any sense! What is the actual meaning of the phrase? It means whoever wrote it has to take medicine sometimes because cookies upset their stomach. But who wrote it? Before we find out, let's summarise! Remember, there are many different types of figurative language. As the reader, your job is to determine what the expression actually means, so you understand what the author is trying to say. First, ask, "Do the words mean exactly what they say?" Second, explain the meaning of the phrase in your own words. "Good news Hewie! We've figured out what or who’s behind all the mysterious events! There's just one problem, she said she's your Grandma and you invited her to come to visit, and she's a little upset that you forgot again." "Zoinks! Looks like another mystery has been solved. Great job gang!"

Types of Figurative Language exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learnt? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video Types of Figurative Language .

Identify the type of figurative language.

Hints

Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like the noise it describes.
Are there words like that in the sentence?

Personification is when human characteristics are given to an object or animal.
Does the sentence do that?

Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is so dramatic, no one will believe the statement to be true.
Is the sentence an exaggeration?

Solution

I used to walk fifteen miles to school during a blizzard!
This is an example of hyperbole because it is a dramatic exaggeration that no one would believe was true.
Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like the noise it describes. There are no words that fit that description in the sentence.
Personification is when human characteristics are given to an object or animal. There are no objects or animals given human characteristics in the sentence.
A simile is a comparison using like or as. Since neither of those words are in the sentence, it is not a simile.
Which words are figurative language?

Hints

Figurative language is a word or phrase that does not have the exact meaning of the words written.

Look for examples of onomatopoeia - a word that sounds like the noise it describes.

There are two examples of onomatopoeia in the sentence.

Solution

When Hewie was in the kitchen, he heard a crash and bang!
Crash and bang are correct. They both sound like the noise they describe.
Hewie is a noun that names the person who heard the crash and bang. It is not an example of figurative language.
Kitchen is a noun that tells us where Hewie heard the crash and bang. It is not an example of figurative language.
Identify the figurative language.

Hints

Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like the noise it describes.

Personification is when human characteristics are given to an object or animal.

Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is so dramatic, no one will believe the statement to be true.

Solution

Hiss and splash are examples of onomatopoeia. Both words sound like the noise they make.
I've told you a thousand times is an example of hyperbole. It is an exaggeration so dramatic that nobody believes that it is literally true.
The wind howled is an example of personification. Howling is something humans can do, but the wind doesn't actually howl. Describing the wind as having a human trait is personification.
What kind of figurative language is it?
Hints

A hyperbole is an exaggeration that is so dramatic, no one will believe the statement to be true.

Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like the noise it describes.

Personification is when human characteristics are given to an object or animal.

Solution
1. The last autumn leaves clung to the branches as the wind tried to rip them free is an example of personification. This sentence assigns human characteristics to the leaves (clinging to the branches) and to the wind (trying to rip the leaves free).
2. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse is an example of hyperbole. It is an exaggeration designed to emphasise that the speaker is very hungry.
3. The boom of the drum startled me contains an example of onomatopoeia. Boom sounds like the noise that the word describes.
What is figurative language?

Hints

With figurative language, do the words mean exactly what they say?

Figurative language is sometimes referred to as figures of speech.

Does figurative language have anything to do with figures or figurines?

Solution

Figurative language is a word or phrase that does not have the exact meaning of the words written. This is the correct answer.
Identify the figurative language.

Hints

Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is so dramatic, no one will believe the statement to be true.

Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like the noise it describes.

Personification is when human characteristics are given to an object or animal.

Not all of the text that can be highlighted needs to be highlighted.

Solution

If she tried to fill the cement patio with her masterpieces, it would take a million years! is an example of hyperbole. It is an exaggeration that conveys that it would take a very long time.
"Thump!" and "Crunch!" are both examples of onomatopoeia. The words both sound like the noises they describe.
Maybe the toys got lonely and jumped off the shelf so someone would play with them is an example of personification. It is giving human characteristics to toys.
"Meow!” is another example of onomatopoeia. It sounds like the noise the word describes.
The box started creeping towards the edge of the shelf again is an example of personification. Boxes don't creep forwards. This is giving a human characteristic to the box.
I heard a loud noise means exactly what it says. It does not contain figurative language.
Granny closed the door means exactly what it says. It does not contain figurative language.