Figurative Language Figurative Language in Poetryin Poetry

Ms. WellmeyerMs. Wellmeyer20082008

Day 1Day 1

SimileSimile

comparison of two things using: comparison of two things using: like, as, like, as, than, resemblesthan, resembles

Ex. 1: The moon is Ex. 1: The moon is like a spotlight a spotlight

Ex. 2: The moon is Ex. 2: The moon is as bright as a bright as a spotlight.spotlight.

Ex. 3: The moon is brighter Ex. 3: The moon is brighter than a a spotlight.spotlight.

Ex. 4: The moon Ex. 4: The moon resembles a spotlight. a spotlight.

PersonificationPersonification

when which a thing, an animal, or an when which a thing, an animal, or an

abstract term (truth, nature) is made abstract term (truth, nature) is made humanhuman

or given human traitor given human trait

Ex. 1: The Ex. 1: The tree danced in the wind. in the wind.

Ex. 2: When Ex. 2: When mother nature gets mad, she , she

cries out. out.

HyperboleHyperbole

emphasizing a point with a emphasizing a point with a statementstatement

containing exaggerationcontaining exaggeration

Ex. 1: I’ve told you a Ex. 1: I’ve told you a thousand times..

Ex. 2: That cost me an arm and a Ex. 2: That cost me an arm and a leg.leg.

LifeLifeby Grace Treasoneby Grace Treasone

Life is like a jagged toothLife is like a jagged tooth

That cuts into your heart;That cuts into your heart;

Fix the tooth and save the root,Fix the tooth and save the root,

And laughs, not tears, will start.And laughs, not tears, will start.

The WindThe Windby James Stephensby James Stephens

The wind stood up and gave a shout.The wind stood up and gave a shout.

He whistled on his fingers andHe whistled on his fingers and

Kicked the withered leaves aboutKicked the withered leaves about

And thumped the branches with his handAnd thumped the branches with his hand

And said he’d kill and kill,And said he’d kill and kill,

And so he will and so he will.And so he will and so he will.

PoemsPoems

““Tiburon”Tiburon”

By Martin Espada (p. 430)By Martin Espada (p. 430) ““Boy at the Window”Boy at the Window”

By Richard Wilbur (p. 451)By Richard Wilbur (p. 451)

Your Assignment…Your Assignment…

1. Write a poem using similes and 1. Write a poem using similes and personificationspersonifications

a. 40+ wordsa. 40+ wordsb. At least 5 similesb. At least 5 similesc. At least 2 examples of c. At least 2 examples of personificationpersonificationd. Highlight each instance and labeld. Highlight each instance and label

2. Create your own hyperbole2. Create your own hyperbole

Simile and Personification

FlowersBy Ms. Wellmeyer

The flower, like a yellow bowtie,Danced in the windAs graceful as a ballerina.The flower smiled at the little antsLike a person smiles At the sight of a long lost friend.

Simile in redPersonification in blue

Day 2Day 2

idiomidiom

expressions belonging to a group ofexpressions belonging to a group of

people that mean something people that mean something differentdifferent

from the literal meaningfrom the literal meaning

Ex: It’s raining cats and dogs.Ex: It’s raining cats and dogs.

Ex: I heard it through the grapevine.Ex: I heard it through the grapevine.

PunPun

play on the multiple meanings of a play on the multiple meanings of a wordword

or on 2 words that sound alike but or on 2 words that sound alike but havehave

different meaningsdifferent meanings

Ex: The chef took some cheese andEx: The chef took some cheese and

made some made some grate things.things.

MoonMoonby anonymousby anonymous

O moon, when I gaze on thy beautiful O moon, when I gaze on thy beautiful faceface

Careering along through the Careering along through the boundaries of space,boundaries of space,

The thought has often come into my The thought has often come into my mindmind

If I shall see thy glorious behind.If I shall see thy glorious behind.

from Calvin & Hobbesfrom Calvin & Hobbes

My mother has eyes on the back of her My mother has eyes on the back of her head!head!

I don’t quite believe it, but that’s what she I don’t quite believe it, but that’s what she said.said.

She explained that she’d been so uniquely She explained that she’d been so uniquely endowedendowed

To catch me when I did Things Not Allowed.To catch me when I did Things Not Allowed.I think she must also have eyes on her rear.I think she must also have eyes on her rear.I’ve noticed her hindsight is unusually clear.I’ve noticed her hindsight is unusually clear.

Funny PunsFunny Puns

Why do people preserve fruits and Why do people preserve fruits and vegetables? vegetables?

Because they 'can'.Because they 'can'.

He became a math teacher due to He became a math teacher due to some prime factors.some prime factors.

During the meeting about During the meeting about earthquakes, there were several earthquakes, there were several motions.motions.

Soon after he joined the band, the Soon after he joined the band, the guitarist was instrumental. guitarist was instrumental.

He was to carry two flags in the He was to carry two flags in the parade, but decided that parade, but decided that would be a double standard.would be a double standard.

The fisher said he liked the sea. On The fisher said he liked the sea. On the surface of it.the surface of it.

HaikuHaiku

Japanese poem consisting of 3 Japanese poem consisting of 3 lineslines

with 17 syllableswith 17 syllables– Line one and three: 5 syllables; Line one and three: 5 syllables;

Line two: 7 syllablesLine two: 7 syllables– Usually describes an image from Usually describes an image from

naturenature

Examples of HaikuExamples of Haikuby Ryunosuke Akutagawaby Ryunosuke Akutagawa

Green frog,Green frog,Is your body alsoIs your body alsofreshly painted?freshly painted?

Sick and feverishSick and feverishGlimpse of cherry blossomsGlimpse of cherry blossomsStill shivering. Still shivering.

Techno-HaikuTechno-Haiku

A file that’s so big?A file that’s so big?

It might be useful,It might be useful,

But now it is gone.But now it is gone.

The web site you seekThe web site you seek

Cannot be locatedCannot be located

Countless more existCountless more exist

Windows NT crashedWindows NT crashed

I am the Blue Screen of DeathI am the Blue Screen of Death

No one hears your screamsNo one hears your screams

Yesterday it worked.Yesterday it worked.

Today it is not working.Today it is not working.

Windows is like that.Windows is like that.

A crash reducesA crash reduces

Your expensive computerYour expensive computer

To a simple stoneTo a simple stone

Having been erasedHaving been erased

The document you’re seekingThe document you’re seeking

Must now be retypedMust now be retyped

Your assignment…Your assignment…

Write 2 HaikusWrite 2 Haikus– One traditional one about natureOne traditional one about nature– The second one about any topicThe second one about any topic

Day 3Day 3

MetaphorMetaphor

comparison of two things WITHOUT comparison of two things WITHOUT using: using: like, as, than, resembleslike, as, than, resembles

Direct MetaphorDirect Metaphor

comparison of two things by the comparison of two things by the use ofuse of

a verb, such as, a verb, such as, isis

Ex. 1: The moon Ex. 1: The moon is a spotlight. a spotlight.

Ex. 2: My love Ex. 2: My love is a red rose.a red rose.

Implied MetaphorImplied Metaphor

comparison of two things WITHOUT comparison of two things WITHOUT

stating it directlystating it directly

Ex: My love has petals and sharp Ex: My love has petals and sharp thornsthorns. . (by reading this, you can imply that the(by reading this, you can imply that the

comparison is a person to a rose comparison is a person to a rose becausebecause

roses have petals and thorns)roses have petals and thorns)

Extended MetaphorExtended Metaphor

extended or developed over extended or developed over severalseveral

lines or the entire poemlines or the entire poem

DreamsDreamsby Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreamsHold fast to dreamsFor if dreams dieFor if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly.That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreamsHold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snow. Frozen with snow.

Poems…Poems…

““Hope” is a thing with feathersHope” is a thing with feathers– By Emily Dickinson (p. 435)By Emily Dickinson (p. 435)

FogFog– By Carl Sandburg (p. 440)By Carl Sandburg (p. 440)

Fire and IceFire and Ice– By Robert Frost (p. 441) By Robert Frost (p. 441)

Your assignment…Your assignment…

Write an extended metaphor poem Write an extended metaphor poem that uses both direct and implied that uses both direct and implied metaphorsmetaphors– Must be at least 30 wordsMust be at least 30 words– Highlight the direct and implied Highlight the direct and implied

metaphorsmetaphors

Metaphor PoemMetaphor Poem

LifeLifeBy Ms. WellmeyerBy Ms. Wellmeyer

Life is a roller coaster.It goes up and down, and spins and spirals, and loops around itself until is comes to a screeching stop at the bottomonly to reload and start all overAgain.

Direct metaphor=blueImplied metaphor=red

Metaphor for a FamilyMetaphor for a Familyby: unknownby: unknown

My family lives inside a medicine chest: My family lives inside a medicine chest: Dad is the super-size band aid, strong and Dad is the super-size band aid, strong and

powerful but not always effective in a crisis.powerful but not always effective in a crisis.Mom is the middle-size tweezer, which picks Mom is the middle-size tweezer, which picks

and pokes and pinches.and pokes and pinches.David is the single small aspirin on the third David is the single small aspirin on the third

shelf, sometimes ignored.shelf, sometimes ignored.Muffin, the sheep dog, is a round cotton ball, Muffin, the sheep dog, is a round cotton ball,

stained and dirty, that pops off the shelf and stained and dirty, that pops off the shelf and bounces in my way as I open the door.bounces in my way as I open the door.

And I am the wood and glue which hold us all And I am the wood and glue which hold us all together with my love. together with my love.