Figuratively Speaking That Is

Resources for the Adult Education Practitioner

Webinar Handbook, April 3, 2019

Institute for the Professional Development of Adult Educators
 RESOURCES FOR THE ADULT EDUCATION PRACTITIONER

Figuratively Speaking That Is

Rod Duckworth, Chancellor

Career and Adult Education, Department of Education

Carol Bailey, Director

Adult Education

June Rall, Director of IPDAE

Tamara Serrano, Project Support Specialist for IPDAE

Resources Developed and Designed By

Bonnie Goonen, National Consultant for Florida IPDAE

This training event is supported with federal funds as

appropriated to the Florida Department of Education,
Division of Career and Adult Education for the provision
of state leadership professional development activities.

Institute for the Professional Development of Adult Educators

3209 Virginia Avenue - Fort Pierce, FL 34981
Phone 772-462-7409 • E-mail [email protected]
Table of Contents
Guiding Questions .............................................................................. 1
College and Career Readiness Standards – Figurative Language ........ 2
Common Types of Figurative Language .............................................. 3
The Elements of Figurative Language ................................................. 5
Figurative Language Match ................................................................ 6
Matching Types of Figurative Language in Literary Passages .............. 8
Figurative Language in Music and Poetry ......................................... 10
Finding Figurative Language ............................................................. 11
Figuratively Speaking........................................................................ 12
Frayer Model – Figuratively Speaking! ............................................. 13
Figurative Language Learning Log .................................................... 14
Websites .......................................................................................... 15
Understanding Figurative Language ................................................. 16
Guiding Questions
Think about the following guiding questions as you participate in today’s session.
Write down your thoughts and be prepared to share your ideas.

Slide(s) Guiding Questions My Thoughts

Think about what you want
to take-away from this
4
session.

Why do you need to teach

figurative language?
9

What is the difference

between literal and
10
figurative language and
figure of speech?
Which was the most difficult
cartoon for you to identify
15
the figurative language
device used? Why?
What’s one take-away that
you think is important from
17-18
the research?

What are the four steps in

teaching figures of speech?
20-26

What is your favorite

resource for teaching
29-33
figurative language? Why?

Share the one thing that you

found most useful from this
37
session.

1
College and Career Readiness Standards – Figurative Language

CCR.RE.ABE.4: Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical,
connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
(Apply this standard to texts of appropriate complexity as outlined by Standard 10.)

NRS Level 1 NRS Level 2 NRS Level 3 NRS Level 4

GE: 0.0–1.9 GE: 2.0–3.9 GE: 4.0–5.9 GE: 6.0–8.9
4.1. Ask and answer 4.2. Determine the 4.3. Determine the 4.4. Determine the
questions to help meaning of general meaning of general meaning of words and
determine or clarify the academic and domain- academic and domain- phrases as they are
meaning of words and specific words and specific words and used in a text, including
phrases in a text. phrases in a text phrases in a text figurative, connotative,
relevant to a topic or relevant to a topic or and technical
subject area. subject area. meanings; analyze the
impact of a specific
a) Determine the
word choice on
meaning of words and
meaning and tone.
phrases as they are
used in a text, including
figurative language such
as metaphors and
similes.

2
Common Types of Figurative Language
There are many, many types of figures of speech that can be involved in figurative
language. Some of the most common are:

Metaphor: A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated

things by stating that one thing is another thing, even though this isn't literally true.
For example, the phrase "her lips are a blooming rose" obviously doesn't literally
mean what it says—it's a metaphor that makes a comparison between the red beauty
and promise of a blooming rose with that of the lips of the woman being described.

Simile: A simile, like a metaphor, makes a comparison between two unrelated things.
However, instead of stating that one thing is another thing (as in metaphor), a simile
states that one thing is like another thing. An example of a simile would be to say
"they fought like cats and dogs."

Oxymoron: An oxymoron pairs contradictory words in order to express new or

complex meanings. In the phrase "parting is such sweet sorrow" from Romeo and
Juliet, "sweet sorrow" is an oxymoron that captures the complex and simultaneous
feelings of pain and pleasure associated with passionate love.

Hyperbole: Hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration of the truth, used to emphasize

the importance of something or to create a comic effect. An example of a hyperbole
is to say that a backpack "weighs a ton." No backpack literally weighs a ton, but to say
"my backpack weighs ten pounds" doesn't effectively communicate how burdensome
a heavy backpack feels.

Personification: In personification, non-human things are described as having human

attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests,
indifferent to their plans." Describing the rain as "indifferent" is an example of
personification, because rain can't be "indifferent," nor can it feel any other human
emotion.

Idiom: An idiom is a phrase that, through general usage within a particular group or
society, has gained a meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words.
The phrase "it's raining cats and dogs" is known to most Americans to mean that it's
raining hard, but an English-speaking foreigner in the United States might find the
phrase totally confusing.

Onomatopoeia: Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which words evoke the actual

sound of the thing they refer to or describe. The “boom” of a firework exploding, the
“tick tock” of a clock, and the “ding dong” of a doorbell are all examples of
onomatopoeia.

3
Alliteration: In alliteration, the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the
“b” sound in: “Bob brought the box of bricks to the basement.” Alliteration uses
repetition to create a musical effect that helps phrases to stand out from the
language around them.

Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds repeat in nearby words, such as the "ee"
sound: "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." Like alliteration, assonance uses
repeated sounds to create a musical effect in which words echo one another.
Imagery: The use of figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in
such a way that it appeals to our physical senses. “It was dark and dim in the forest” is
an example where the words “dark” and “dim” are visual images. Imagery creates
visual representations, such as mental pictures.

Irony: A figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended
meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. “What a great idea” may
actually mean the idea is not great at all. Irony conveys the difference between how
things seem and reality.

4
The Elements of Figurative Language
Grammar is the structure of language. It includes the sounds, words, syntax, and
semantics of language. Rhetoric is what people do with language. It includes the
words that they select, how they structure phrases, and how they make things stand
out and be noticed. Style is the pattern of choices that an individual makes when
he/she writes. Figurative language is used purposefully to distort language to make
the reader think about what the writer is trying to tell them. Figurative language is
enjoyed by some people and disliked by others – usually those who just can’t get past
the literal meaning and use of words. These people often dislike poetry because they
just can’t “get” the meaning of the figurative language expressions that are used.
Figurative language is not intended to be interpreted in a literal sense. Appealing to
the imagination, figurative language provides new ways of looking at the world.
Figurative language compares two things that are different in enough ways so that
their similarities, when pointed out, are interesting, unique, and/or surprising.

Figurative language can be 1) thought provoking constructions or 2) clever

manipulations. Those of the first type would include the more common kinds of
figurative language that people know, including simile, metaphor, symbol, and irony.
These can require some careful reading and, sometimes, study to get the point the
writer is trying to make. The second kind of figurative language is more like the “pet
tricks” made famous by David Letterman. They are cute and more immediately
understood, but they have little lasting effect.

Remember, figurative language is a way to compare and contrast. When some

language can’t be taken literally, it forces people to compare what they have with
what it might have been. Thus, we get two sets of meaning. Each form of figurative
language approaches the comparison differently.

straight comparison compare A and B

simile A is like/as B

metaphor A is B

symbol A is represented by B

irony A is not B

Adapted from English 201 – Figurative Language, Milwaukee Area Technical College.
Retrieved from the World Wide Web at: http://online.milwaukee.tec.wi.us/eng-
201/figures.htm.

5
Figurative Language Match
1. Cut the cards apart.
2. Have students match the term with the correct definition and example.
3. Have students create their own examples to share.

Alliteration Repeated consonant Wide eyed and

sounds occurring at wondering, we waited
the beginning of words for the others to
or within words awaken.

Personification A figure of speech The wind whispered

which gives the softly through the
qualities of a person to trees.
an animal, an object,
or an idea

Onomatopoeia The use of words that The explosion went

mimic sounds BBOOOOOOMMMMM
MM!!

Metaphor Two things are The children were busy

compared without bees.
using “like” or “as”

Simile A comparison between She is as sweet as

two relatively unlike candy.
things using the words
“like” or “as”

6
Idiom A catchy phrase not He’s got a chip on his
meant to be taken shoulder.
literally or word for
word

Hyperbole An exaggerated She’s said so on

statement used to several million
heighten effect and occasions!
emphasize a point

Understatement The opposite of This won’t hurt a bit.

hyperbole, an
expression with less
strength than expected

Imagery Words that create The fresh and juicy

visual representations/ orange is very cold and
mental pictures of sweet.
ideas in our mind

7
Matching Types of Figurative Language in Literary Passages
Print the following and then cut out the excerpts and literary devices. See if students can
match the excerpt to the correct literary device.

ALLITERATION
The repetition of similar sounds, “Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to
usually consonants, in a group of dream before.”
words. The Raven – Edgar Allan Poe

IMAGERY The day is over quietly spent,

Words or phrases that create The sky is ablaze with colors you've sent,
pictures or images in the The bright oranges and reds
reader’s mind. The subtle blues,
Harkens me to hear the news.
Alicia Bechtel aka Chiari
METAPHOR
A figure of speech that makes a “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
comparison between two things That struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then
which are basically dissimilar is heard no more. . .”
William Shakespeare

ONOMATOPOEIA
The use of a word whose sound "The fire crackled and the popcorn popped."
in some degree imitates or
suggests its meaning.

OXYMORON
A figure of speech that combines “Sweet sorrow, wise fool, honest thief.”
opposite or contradictory ideas
or terms.

8
 PERSONIFICATION
Giving animals, objects, or ideas "The fog crept in on little cat feet."
human characteristics such as Carl Sandburg
emotion.

SARCASM
A form of sneering criticism in Jamison was walking away from the counter and
which disapproval is often suddenly dropped his lunch tray. A stranger at the
expressed as ironic praise. next table looked up and said, "Well, that was really
intelligent."

SIMILE
A figure of speech comparing “Higher still and higher
two essentially unlike things
through the use of a specific From the earth it springs
word of comparison, such as like Like a cloud of fire…
or as.
To a Skylark – Percy Bysshe Shelley
SYMBOL
Something that represents more “The American flag”
than what it is in a literal sense.

9
Figurative Language in Music and Poetry
Teach students common types of figurative language, such as metaphors, similes,
onomatopoeia, etc., through the use of songs. Provide students with different types
of lyrics from songs. Have the students identify the different types of figurative
language used by each of the composers. The following is one example: "The River"
by Garth Brooks.

"The River" by Garth Brooks

You know a dream is like a river, ever changing as it flows.
And a dreamer's just a vessel that must follow where it goes.
Trying to learn from what's behind you and never knowing what's in store
makes each day a constant battle just to stay between the shores.

And I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry.

Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky.
I'll never reach my destination if I never try,
So I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry.

Too many times we stand aside and let the water slip away.
To what we put off 'til tomorrow has now become today.
So don't you sit upon the shore and say you're satisfied.
Choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tides.

Chorus-

There's bound to be rough waters, and I know I'll take some falls.
With the good Lord as my captain, I can make it through them all.

Chorus-

Poetic devises used in “The River” include: simile, metaphor, alliteration, hyperbole,
couplet, personification.

10
Finding Figurative Language
Use this sheet to look for figurative language in different forms of media
(newspapers, magazines, television, website articles, movies, songs, etc.)

Medium Example Device

11
Figuratively Speaking
As you read through the text, look for examples of figurative language and write them in the
organizer below. Then, think about what the phrase from the text means and why the author may
have included it.

Type Why did the author

Example from Text What does it mean?
(circle one) include it in the text?

Simile Personification
Metaphor Onomatopoeia
Hyperbole Imagery
Idiom Alliteration

Simile Personification
Metaphor Onomatopoeia
Hyperbole Imagery
Idiom Alliteration

Simile Personification
Metaphor Onomatopoeia
Hyperbole Imagery
Idiom Alliteration

Simile Personification
Metaphor Onomatopoeia
Hyperbole Imagery
Idiom Alliteration

Simile Personification
Metaphor Onomatopoeia
Hyperbole Imagery
Idiom Alliteration

12
Frayer Model – Figuratively Speaking!

Diagram a Frayer’s Model for the identified term (simile, metaphor, personification, idiom,
hyperbole, understatement). Place your term in the middle. In the top left corner, write your
definition. In the bottom left corner, give 3 examples. In the right bottom corner, give 3 non-
examples. In the top right corner, give an illustration of the term or one of your examples.

Definition Illustration

Term

Example Non-example

13
Figurative Language Learning Log

Figurative Language Learning Log

Figurative Literal Meaning Intended Connection to

Language Meaning Real Life

14
Websites

Figurative Language Videos

Flocabulary. Figurative Language. https://www.flocabulary.com/unit/figurative-
language/

Literary Devices in Pop Culture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=25&v=U_pxfifB6Co

Figurative Language Rap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0kYzRU46Xs&feature=youtu.be

Figurative Language Worksheets

E-Reading. Figurative language overview and worksheets
https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/figurative-language/
https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/figurative-language/figurative-language-
activities/figurative-language-lesson/

Eye on Idioms. Interactive tool from Read/Write/Think.

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/idioms/

Figurative Language Website Lessons in PowerPoint Presentation

Figurative Language – Similes and Metaphors. CPALMS
http://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewResourceLesson/Preview/48971

Magical Musical Tour: Using lyrics to teach literary elements

https://www.mensaforkids.org/MFK2/assets/File/Teach/LessonPlans/Lesson_Magic
MusicTour.pdf

Mrs. Thomas Figurative Language Game

https://jeopardylabs.com/play/mrsthomas-figurative-language-game

Figurative Language Games

https://ams.usd385.org/287579_4

Figurative Language in Nonfiction Texts

http://www.floridaipdae.org/dfiles/resources/lessons/ABE/Reading_Lesson_Plans/Fi
gurative_Language_in_Informational_Text/Figurative_Language_in_Informational_Te
xt.pdf

Florida IPDAE. http://www.floridaipdae.org/

15
 Understanding Figurative Language
LITERAL LANGUAGE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Figuratively: refers to a figure of speech or an interpretation of the words as they
Literally: refers to the “literal” or dictionary definition of a word or words
are being used. You have to figure out the meaning of the words.
Example: Travis is an extremely strong young man.
Example: Travis is as strong as an ox.

METAPHOR SIMILE PERSONIFICATION HYPERBOLE

A metaphor is when you compare things A simile is similar to a metaphor. This Personification is when you give human-like A hyperbole is an exaggeration. It is usually
that are essentially not alike. difference is that a simile uses the words qualities to something that is not human. used in a humorous way.
“like” or “as”.
Print Media Example: Print Media Example: Print Media Example: Print Media Example:

Think about this … Think about this … Think about this …

Why does this ad for Geico Insurance use Why does this car plate for Chevy trucks use Think about this … When you think about mints, do think about
the slogan “So easy a caveman can do it?” the slogan “Like a Rock!” What is the How are M & M candies being portrayed them as being physically strong? Why are
Do you think that a consumer needs intended association between a Chevy truck here? Does it look like they are acting like these mints packaged in a metal box? What
special skills to apply for Geico Insurance? and a rock? human beings? is your interpretation of this?
SYMBOLISM ONOMATOPOEIA ALLITERATION IDIOM
Symbolism occurs when you use a noun Onomatopoeia is you name an action by Alliteration is the repetition of the same An idiom is an expression that is used by a
with a particular meaning to represent imitating the sound that is associated with it. sound at the beginning of words that are group of people that is understood only by
something different. adjacent or closely connected. common use.
Print Media Example: Print Media Example: Print Media Example: Print Media Example:

Think about this …

Think about this … Think about this … Think about this … The expression “paint the town” means have
Why is champion boxer Oscar de la Hoya Why does the box of Rice Krispies always Read the words “Coca-Cola Classic.” Do you a great night out on the town. What is the
sporting the American flag with his milk feature the words “snap”, “crackle”, and hear the repetition of the /k/ sound? What is effect gained by using this idiom in this
mustache? What is the significance? “pop?” What is the effect gained by using the effect gained by repeating this sound? American Heart Association ad?
these words repeatedly?
17