Figurative Language Essay
Introduction – 45 to 60 seconds
Audio
Figurative language is a literary device used to create an effect in literature.
What is the purpose of poetry? Usually, the poet wants to create emotions, or feelings, in readers.
Figurative language is used to compare items, people, places, or ideas.
You could say, “My sister is a monkey when she jumps around the furniture and runs through the house.”
When you compare your sister to a monkey, you are not saying she IS a monkey. You are showing that she has some characteristics of one. This is an example of a metaphor. A metaphor is a comparison that does not use the words like, as, or than.
A simile is also a comparison. A simile, though, does use the words like, as, and than.
Let’s reword the above …show more content…
Listen to a stanza from the poem, “I’m the Dragon of Grindly Grun,” by Shel Silverstein.
I'm the Dragon of Grindly Grun,
I breathe fire as hot as the sun.
When a knight comes to fight
I just toast him on sight,
Like a hot crispy cinnamon bun
The speaker of the poem uses simile to say that the fire he breathes is “as hot as the sun.” By using that image, the reader clearly sees that the fire is VERY hot.
The speaker also says that he toasts the knight “like a hot crispy cinnamon bun.” Not realistic, but makes a clear point!
By using similes, the author creates images for the reader so they can relate to the poem and feel immersed in the action.
Remediation for Clip A – 25 to 35 seconds
Audio
Remember, similes and metaphors are forms of figurative language.
Metaphors compare two different things, but they do not use the words like or as. For example, “Jen’s life is a field of flowers.”
Obviously, Jen’s like is not literally a field of flowers! Most likely, the author is saying that Jen has a beautiful life.
On the other hand, similes use the words like, as, or than to make
Audio
Figurative language is a literary device used to create an effect in literature.
What is the purpose of poetry? Usually, the poet wants to create emotions, or feelings, in readers.
Figurative language is used to compare items, people, places, or ideas.
You could say, “My sister is a monkey when she jumps around the furniture and runs through the house.”
When you compare your sister to a monkey, you are not saying she IS a monkey. You are showing that she has some characteristics of one. This is an example of a metaphor. A metaphor is a comparison that does not use the words like, as, or than.
A simile is also a comparison. A simile, though, does use the words like, as, and than.
Let’s reword the above …show more content…
Listen to a stanza from the poem, “I’m the Dragon of Grindly Grun,” by Shel Silverstein.
I'm the Dragon of Grindly Grun,
I breathe fire as hot as the sun.
When a knight comes to fight
I just toast him on sight,
Like a hot crispy cinnamon bun
The speaker of the poem uses simile to say that the fire he breathes is “as hot as the sun.” By using that image, the reader clearly sees that the fire is VERY hot.
The speaker also says that he toasts the knight “like a hot crispy cinnamon bun.” Not realistic, but makes a clear point!
By using similes, the author creates images for the reader so they can relate to the poem and feel immersed in the action.
Remediation for Clip A – 25 to 35 seconds
Audio
Remember, similes and metaphors are forms of figurative language.
Metaphors compare two different things, but they do not use the words like or as. For example, “Jen’s life is a field of flowers.”
Obviously, Jen’s like is not literally a field of flowers! Most likely, the author is saying that Jen has a beautiful life.
On the other hand, similes use the words like, as, or than to make