We’re going to look at two types of language:

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Language Types

figurative language

and literal language

To understand what figurative language is, you

need to understand the difference between:

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Figurative vs. Literal

figurative and literal

I mean exactly what I stated.

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LET’S START WITHLITERALLITERAL

I’m tired and I’m going home.This means “I’m tired and I’m going home.” There is no other meaning other than what is said.

…I’m not saying we should get into the

freezer.4

FIGURATIVE

To be figurative is to not mean what you say but to imply something else.

For example: If I tell you, “Let’s go chill…”

Confused? Think of it this way:

Literal is stated directly.

Figurative is imaginary.

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LiteralLiteral vs. FigurativeFigurative

Also known as descriptive language, figurative language helps the writer paint a picture in the reader’s mind.

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Why Use Why Use Figurative LanguageFigurative Language??

“This test is a piece of cake.”

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Literal

Figurative

TEST

“My cat is a bolt of lightning.”

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Literal

FigurativeMEOW!

Figurative LanguageFigurative Languagemakes reading more interesting.

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“It is raining cats and dogs!”

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What would it LITERALLY mean if it rained cats and dogs?

What does it FIGURATIVELY mean if someone says it rained cats and dogs?

Practice your own drawing! On one side of the paper draw the LITERAL

meaning and on the other side draw the FIGURATIVE meaning.

Brian was a wall, bouncing every tennis ball back over the net.

Brian was NOT LITERALLY a wall!

This metaphor compares Brian to a wall because__________.

a. He was a strong tennis player.b. He was very tall.c. He kept missing the balls.d. His body was made of cells.

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LET’S PRACTICE!

Tammy was NOT LITERALLY a pig!

Tammy was being compared to a pig because she __________.

a. looked like a pig b. ate like a pigc. smelled like a pigd. was as smart as a pig12

We would have had more pizza to eat if Tammy hadn’t been such a pig.

LET’S PRACTICE!

Cindy was NOT LITERALLY a mule!

The metaphor “Cindy was such a mule” compares Cindy to a mule because she was __________.

a. always eating oatsb. able to do hard workc. raised on a farmd. very stubborn

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Cindy was such a mule. We could not get her to change her mind.

LET’S PRACTICE!