RWA 1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY. Idioms: an idiom is an expression that has a

different meaning from the usual meanings of the individual words within it.

Example: John is undecided about going with us to Magic Mountain, so our plans are still up in the air.

The phrase up in the air does not literally mean that the plans were floating above their heads. The idiom up in the air means that the people were undecided about what they were going to do.

RWA1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY. Example: If she gets a puppy, she’ll be

walking on air. The phrase walking on air does not literally

mean that she will be walking several feet above the ground. The idiom walking on air means that she will be happy if she gets a puppy.

Example from poetry: I want to win the contestNo matter what the cost.Wish me all the best of luckAnd keep your fingers crossed.

RWA 1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY. The idiom keep your fingers crossed does

not mean that the author of the poem wants people to physically cross their fingers. She wants people to hope for her success in the contest.

Example: Melanie was in hot water because she did not do her homework.

The phrase in hot water does not mean that Melanie was placed in a large vat of hot water.

What does the idiom mean?

RWA1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY Example: Bob and Tom put their heads

together to solve the problem. The idiom put their heads together does not

mean that Bob and Tom tied their heads together to solve the problem.

What does the idiom mean? Example: The prom dress cost an arm and a

leg. The expression an arm and a leg does not

mean the buyer of the prom dress had to give up one of her arms and one of her legs to purchase the prom dress.

What does the idiomatic expression mean?

RWA1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY Analogy: an analogy is a comparison

between things which are basically not alike but which share some kind of similarity.

Example: Skeleton is to Body as Framework is to House.

The analogy states that both the body and the house have an internal structure giving them form. The internal structure for the body is the skeleton, and the internal structure for the house is its framework.

RWA 1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY Example: Her hair glistened in the rain like a

nose hair after a sneeze. The analogy maintains that both the hair on

her head and a nose hair have a similar quality after they get wet. That quality is the glistening of the hair on her head and the nose hair after they become moist.

Example: Tara is about like her sister as winter is like summer.

The analogy states that Tara and her sister are as dissimilar as winter is to summer, so Tara and her sister are opposites.

RWA 1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY Example: Flower is to stem as tree is to

trunk. The analogy states that the flower and the

tree have a similar quality. What is the similarity in this analogy? Example: Our minds are like a baby bird.

When we put our minds to a task, we can fly. The analogy maintains that there is a

similarity between our minds and a baby bird.

What is the similarity in this analogy?

RWA 1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY Example: Life is like an ever-moving Superball.

No matter what it hits or rolls up against, it has the power to bounce back.

The analogy asserts that there is a similarity between life and a Superball.

What is the similarity? Metaphor: a metaphor is a figure of speech that

makes a comparison without using like or as. Example: Billboards are warts on the landscape. The metaphor compares billboards to warts. This

metaphor states that billboards are an ugly mark on the landscape.

RWA 1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY Example: The science project was a bear. The metaphor in this sentence is comparing

the science project to a bear. The meaning of this metaphor is that the science project was very difficult.

Example: Coffee is the thief of sleep.

He’s stolen all my rest away.Tonight I’ll drink a glass of milkAnd face my bed without dismay.

RC 1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY The metaphor is comparing coffee to a thief. This

comparison is stating that the effect of the caffeine in coffee is to make it difficult for someone to fall asleep.

Example: Bob made a pig of himself at the picnic.

The metaphor is comparing Bob’s eating style to that of a pig.

What is the metaphor suggesting about Bob’s eating behavior at the picnic?

Example: Michelle and Presley are peas in a pod. What is the comparison saying about Michelle

and Presley?

RWA 1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY Example:

Your friendship is a sturdy boatOn life’s dark and angry sea.The waves are often wild and darkBut you take care of me.

The metaphor is this poem is comparing friendship to a sturdy boat in times of trouble.

What is the meaning the author is trying to convey through this metaphor?

RWA 1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY Simile: a simile is a comparison of several

dissimilar objects using like or as. Example: She walked into her new school like a

timid mouse. In this simile the girl is being compared to a

timid mouse. This simile suggests that the girl was very nervous as she entered her new school.

Example: The subway car was as crowded as olives in a jar.

The author is comparing the crowding in a subway car to a full jar of olives. The simile is stating that the people in the subway car were tightly packed together.

RWA 1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY Example: Painting the kitchen was as easy as

collecting feathers in a hurricane. This simile compares painting a kitchen to

collecting feathers in a hurricane. The author is showing how difficult it was to paint the kitchen.

Example: The directions for the project were as clear as mud.

In this simile the project directions are being compared to mud.

What does the simile mean?

RC 1.1 RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS, AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY Example: The mountain top was as flat as a

pancake. A mountain top is being compared to a

pancake in this simile. What is the simile suggesting about the

mountain top? Example: The little girl is like a bull in a china

shop. In this simile, a girl is being compared to a

bull in a china shop. What is this simile saying about the little girl?