Cahsee Literary Terms

Literal Language

The literal meaning of a word is its dictionary definition.

For example:

A biography is the life story of a real person.

Using Context Clues

On the CAHSEE, you may run into a word you have never seen. How can you figure it out? In context (using the clues of the words surrounding it).

Exp:

The tree oozed with a sticky resin.

What are the clues? Circle them on your paper.

If the word resin was just a blank line, what word could you substitute for it?

Context Clues

You may find different types of context clues within the sentence or paragraph that the difficult world is in:

Synonym/restatementAntonym/contradictionDefinition or descriptionExampleComparison and contrastCause and effect

Tips to Remember Literal Definitions

Mnemonic devices- memory tricks to remember the meaning of a word.

Rhymes, silly sentences, or letter cluesPersonal: The mnemonic needs to be something you will remember.

Exp: Mnemonic for remembering spelling:

I before E except after C,and when sounding like "ay" as in Neighbor or Weigh

Tips to Remember Literal Definitions

Mental Images-create a picture or cartoon in your mind to help you remember the word.

Exp: Imagine the letters in the word frigid (“extremely cold”) shaking because they are freezing cold, and are in an icy place.

Frigid

Possible mental image:

Figurative Language

Also called figures of speechIt changes the literal meaning of words • to express complexity,• to capture a physical or sensory effect,

or • to extend meaning. There are a number of figures of speech. Some of the more common ones are:

Simile

Making a comparison between unlike things, using “like” or “as.”

Exp: Forrest Gump’s famous simile is

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”

What two things are being compared in this simile?

MetaphorMaking a comparison between unlike things without the use “like” or “as.”

An example is, “You are my sunshine.” –

What two unlike things are being compared in this quote?

Personification Giving human qualities to an animal, thing or idea.

The telephone screamed to be answered.

The door flew open.

The birds shouted their songs.

IdiomsAn idiom is a figurative, sometimes strange, expression that cannot be understood if taken literally.

Exp:

“It is raining cats and dogs”“This test will be a piece of cake”“She decided to quit cold turkey”

Test Question 1

literal meaning of a word is

a. Its definition based on literary works

b. Its dictionary definition

c. Its common or street usage

d. Its usage during the 1700s

Test Question 2

Which of the items below is NOT a type of context clue?

a. Synonym/restatementb. Antonym/contradictionc. Definition or descriptiond. Bold texte. Examplef. Comparison and contrastg. Cause and effect

Test Question 3

Which item below is not a simile?

a. She was as beautiful as a summer day

b. His anger was like the hot asphalt on bare feet

c. His car’s engine roared like a caged beast ready to pounce

d. The crowd became a wounded animal when the other team scored the winning goal

Test Question 4

Which item below is not a metaphor?

a. She was a jungle cat ready to destroy the opposition

b. The car was a steamroller as it plowed through the wall

c. He is a tank plowing through he defense

d. She is as graceful as a gazelle

Test Question 5

Which item below is not an example of personification?

a. The car cried as it sat crashed and on fire

b. The dog yelled welcome home to its owner

c. The pig was angry as it ated. The siren screamed to all that could

hear it

Test Question 6

Which is not an Idiom?

a. Have a food fight

b. To pay through the nose

c. To take someone under your wing

d. To pull your weight