study guide: figures of speech - loudoun county public ...€¦ · web view( motörhead’s music...

FIGURES OF SPEECH Fig Spch 1(aka Figurative Language): fancy ways to use words to get an emotional reaction from your reader, or…

SIMILE: uses “like”, “as”, or “than” to compare 2 things: Motörhead’s music is harsh like a train wreck / as harsh as a train wreck / harsher than a train wreck.

How to create: pick something interesting (good / bad / strange / scary / funny / etc.) and compare it to something else that intensely has that quality.Something interesting: Motörhead’s musicThe interesting quality: It’s loud and harsh.Something that intensely has that quality: a train wreck!Simile: Motörhead’s music is harsh like a train wreck.

The comparison must be clear and specific: Motörhead’s music is like a video game. – In what way are they similar? Motörhead’s music is as cool as a video game. – “Cool” is a very vague, non-specific word. Motörhead’s music is as addictive as a video game.

Literal (or realistic) language means exactly what it says: You are my friend. Figurative language (or figures of speech) do not: You are my sunshine. Similes must compare things in an impossible or unrealistic way:

My friend acts like a jerk. – A person can literally be a jerk. My friend acts like a volcano.

Something interesting: schoolThe interesting quality: It’s boring!Something that intensely has that quality: a 10,000-page book with no pictures

Simile:

20 seconds. If you don’t get it on your own or you get it wrong, write it down when we share.

Something interesting: cafeteria foodThe interesting quality: It’s gross!

Something that intensely has that quality:

Simile:


Something interesting:

The interesting quality:


Simile:

2 minutes; if you finish, go through again on your own paper as many times as you can.

Technically a simile only claims that Thing 1 IS SIMILAR TO Thing 2, whereas a metaphor claims that Thing 1 ACTUALLY IS Thing 2. There are many more ways than just “like/as/than” to indicate similarity: “The first time I heard Motörhead’s music , I thought I was hearing a train going off the tracks.” I didn’t say it WAS a train-wreck, just that I mistook it for one. Similes without “like/as/than” are more challenging and usually more poetic / interesting. Write on your page; no “like/as/than”; first 2 to finish.

METAPHOR: compares 2 things without “like/as/than”: Fig Spch 2Motörhead’s music is a train wreck. Compare that to the simile above.

Better definition: metaphor claims Thing 1 ACTUALLY IS Thing 2. Similes technically true; metaphors technically false. Metaphors are more powerful / forceful.

How to create: pick something interesting, figure out the interesting quality, think of something else that intensely has that quality, and say they’re the same.Something interesting: Mrs. Kaves’s classThe interesting quality: It gave us very little freedom.Something that intensely has that quality: a straightjacket!Metaphor: Mrs. Kaves’s class was a straightjacket.

Something interesting: my dog’s kissesThe interesting quality: They’re wet!Something that intensely has that quality: rain in your face

Metaphor:


Something interesting: vacationsThe interesting quality: They feel good.Something that intensely has that quality:

Metaphor:



The interesting quality:


Metaphor:

2 minutes; if you finish, go through again on your own paper as many times as you can.

You don’t have to use “am/are/is/was/were/be”. More challenging; usually more interesting: My family moved, and I escaped the straightjacket of Mrs. Kaves’ class. You don’t even have to directly identify Thing 2 if you can give an action people will associate with that thing: Motörhead’s music jumped the tracks and demolished the station. Another example: The rhythm-guitar bulldozes over you. Write on your page; no “am/are/is/was/were/be”; first 2 to finish.

EXTENDED METAPHOR: points out several similarities between two things: Mrs. Kaves’ class gripped us like a straightjacket: we could look but could not act. All individual color was swallowed up in uniform linen-white, until if we weren’t insane at the start, we soon became that way. Eventually we stopped even trying to break free, though we never stopped longing. Hard and fun to make and usually interesting to read. In agenda: 5 pts for X metaphor (optional).

ANALOGY: like a simile / metaphor, but compares experiences / situations / actions, not things: Fig Spch 3Talking to you is like pulling teeth. It’s not a simile – I’m not comparing you to a tooth!

Interesting situation I want to make a statement about: talking to youThe interesting quality I want to emphasize: It’s hard, because you’re stubborn!Another situation that intensely shares that quality: pulling out a tooth!Analogy: Say the 1st situation is (like) the 2nd: Talking to you is like pulling teeth.

Interesting situation: having a common enemyInteresting quality: It makes people friends.Situation that shares that quality: Darmok and Jalad became friends when they fought The Beast of Tenagra!Analogy: Say the 1st situation is (like) the 2nd: It’s like / We’re like Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra!

Interesting situation: getting dumpedInteresting quality: It’s painful.Situation that shares that quality: having your heart ripped out

Analogy: Say the 1st situation is (like) the 2nd:


Interesting situation: getting an A+Interesting quality: It feels good.Situation that shares that quality:



Interesting situation:

Interesting quality:

Situation that shares that quality:


2 minutes; if you finish, go through again on your paper as many times as you can.

As with similes & metaphors, you can make simple analogies by saying “X is like Y” or “X is Y”, or you can use more creative language: For weeks after the breakup, her heart lay on the cold, dark floor. Write on your page; no “like/as/than/am/are/is/was/were/be”; first 2 to finish.

“Analogy” sometimes means a simile/metaphor followed by an explanation: Mrs. Kave’s class was a straightjacket: no one was allowed to speak or move the entire day. If we did, she would glare at us until we cried. “Analogy” can also mean a question of the form “Dog is to bark as cat is to ?”.

PERSONIFICATION: (root person) Gives a thing / animal a human quality / action: Fig Spch 4The sun and ocean held me in their warm, loving arms. By making the sun & ocean seem human, you make the experience more emotional and powerful.

To create: Something interesting: a tropical oceanEmotional effect it causes: peace, happinessHuman action / bodypart that could cause similar effect: loving someone / speaking kindly to someoneHave the original thing do that: The tropical ocean loved me / spoke kind words in my ears.

Optional step: think of an action the thing / animal really does, and make the human action similar to that:Something interesting: a tropical ocean

Emotional effect it causes: peace, happinessWhat it does to cause that effect (optional): surrounds me with warm water / sunshineHuman action / bodypart that could cause similar effect: holding someone in your armsHave the original thing do that: The sun and ocean held me in their warm, loving arms.

The action / bodypart needs to be distinctively human. “Tomorrow keeps running away from us” is not technically personification (it’s animation), because running is not a distinctively human action, since lots of animals can run. However, the SOL sometimes gives examples like this and calls them personification.

Human actions: using voice: talk, speak, laugh, yell, scream, whisper; musical: sing, dance, whistle; mental: think, believe, dream; using hands: grab, grip, punch, hold, shake, salute. Human bodyparts: arm, hand, fist, finger, smile, frown, voice, yell, scream, idea, thought.

Something interesting: Motörhead’s musicEmotional effect it causes: overwhelms you with its intensityWhat it does to cause that effect (optional): blasts at youHuman action / bodypart that could cause similar effect: punching someone in the faceHave the original thing do that: Motörhead’s music punches you in the face.

Something interesting: a peachEmotional effect it causes: fills my mouth with pleasureHuman action / bodypart that could cause similar effect: singing / dancing (fills your ears / eyes with pleasure)Have the original thing do that: The peach sang and danced??? The peach sang and danced in my mouth.

Sometimes your last step doesn’t make sense / sounds bizarre (a dancing peach?); add a few words to connect back to the real situation (eating a peach).Another example: Human action / bodypart that could cause similar effect: tickling fingersHave the original thing do that: The peach’s fingers tickled me??? The peach tickled my tongue with sugary fingers.

Another example: Something interesting: a rainy dayEmotional effect it causes: looks beautifulHuman action / bodypart that could cause similar effect: dancingHave the original thing do that: The rain danced gently down from the sky.

Something interesting: a pizzaEmotional effect it causes: makes me hungry How could a human make me hungry, unless I’m a cannibal???

If you’re too specific about the “emotional effect” or “what it does to cause that effect”, you may not be able to find a similar human action. Be less specific:Emotional effect it causes: controls me (makes me want to eat it)Human action / bodypart that could cause similar effect: screaming at someone (to get them to do something)Have the original thing do that: The pizza screamed, “EAT ME!”Or: Human action / bodypart that could cause similar effect: grabbing someone and shoving themHave the original thing do that: The pizza gripped me in its cheesy, gooey hands and dragged me helplessly toward itself.

Beware: if you create a fantasy world in which trees can talk to each other, they’re literally talking. In personification, the trees aren’t really talking:Something interesting: a forest

Emotional effect it causes: makes me feel connected to natureHuman action / bodypart that could cause similar effect: talking to someone, loving someoneHave the original thing do that: The trees spoke to me of the Earth’s great love for all creatures.

Something interesting: Mrs. Kaves’s classEmotional effect it causes: made us feel weak and powerlessHuman action / bodypart that could cause similar effect: strangling someone

Have the original thing do that:

Something interesting: a streamEmotional effect it causes: I love how pretty it is.What it does to cause that effect (optional): makes a pretty bubbling sound

Human action / bodypart that could cause similar effect:


!!!!!

Something interesting: Fig Spch 5Emotional effect it causes:

What it does to cause that effect (optional):

Human action / bodypart that could cause similar effect:


2nd method to create personifications: a human is feeling an emotion, and something around her intensifies the emotion; project the emotion onto an object:An emotion intensified by a situation: A man is sad, and the grey of the ocean intensifies his sadness.Have an object in the situation feel the emotion: He gazed out over a sad, grey ocean.

Emotion intensified by situation: Being in this race-car makes her want to drive fast.

Have object feel emotion:

Emotion intensified by situation:

Have object feel emotion:

ANIMALIZATION / ANIMATION: gives animal qualities to a human (animalization) or object (animation):Animalization: My mother growled at me. Animation: My stomach growled.

Interesting person / object I want to make a statement about: my motherThe quality I want to emphasize: scary when I misbehaveAction of person / object that demonstrates this quality: yellsAnimal action / bodypart that could have a similar effect: fangsHave person / object use that action / bodypart: My mother bared her fangs.

Interesting person / object: my stomachInteresting quality: hungryAction that demonstrates this quality: gurglesSimilar animal action / bodypart: growlingHave person / object use that action / bodypart: My stomach growled at me.

Interesting person / object:

Interesting quality:

Action that demonstrates this quality:

Similar animal action / bodypart:

Have person / object use that action / bodypart:

OBJECTIFICATION: giving an animal or human the qualities of an object:When I learned that the divorce was final, I just shattered.

Interesting person / animal: myselfQuality I want to emphasize: depressed because of divorceAction that demonstrates this quality: fell apart emotionallyAction / part of object that could have a similar effect: shatteringHave person / animal use that action / part: When I learned that the divorce was final, I just shattered.

Interesting person / animal: a mouseQuality to emphasize: scaredAction that demonstrates this: becomes motionless when it sees a catAction / part of object that could have a similar effect: freezing

Have person / animal use that action / part:

Interesting person / animal: 11

Quality to emphasize:

Action that demonstrates this:

Action / part of object that could have a similar effect:

Have person / animal use that action / part:

All personifications, animations, animalizations, and objectifications are special types of similes or metaphors. Giving a object-like quality to something intangible –

A lifetime of lies finally exploded in his face / A web of lies – could be considered an objectification or simply a metaphor.12

HYPERBOLE: (root hyper = too much) exaggerates something to a ridiculous level: Fig Spch 6I went through a phase where I listened to Motörhead 24 hours a day, so loud my ears would bleed.

How to create: Pick something interesting: Motörhead’s musicQuality I want to emphasize: good, enjoyableRealistic fact that shows this quality: I used to listen to it a lot.Part I can exaggerate to an absurd / impossible level: how often I listenedExaggeration: I used to listen to Motörhead 24 hours a day.

Some ways to exaggerate: Include extreme number: a million. Include thing known for an extreme quality: the galaxy (size), a ton (weight). Include person known for an extreme quality: Chuck Norris (tough), Einstein (smart). Take an effect to extreme: so heavy I couldn’t lift it so heavy it crushed me into jelly. Take an expression literally: a sour / nasty face a face the could spoil milk; a hot temper steam came out of her ears. Include something impossible / absurd: 8 days a week; your mama’s so dumb she sits on the TV & watches the chair / got hit by a parked car.

Realistic fact that shows this quality (about Motörhead): I like to turn the volume way up.Part I can exaggerate: how high the volume isExaggeration: I like to listen to Motörhead so loud my ears bleed.

Something interesting: Mrs. Kaves’s classQuality to emphasize: horribleRealistic fact that shows this quality: She made me cry.Part I can exaggerate: Who could she make cry? (“me”)Exaggeration: Mrs. Kaves once made Chuck Norris cry.

Realistic fact that shows this quality (about Mrs. Kaves): She was the worst teacher in the school.Part I can exaggerate: how big an area she was the worst in (“in the school”)

Exaggeration: hint:Thumbs up when done. If you don’t get it on your own or you get it wrong, write it down when we share.

Realistic fact that shows this quality (about Mrs. Kaves): She had different strategies to make kids cry.Part I can exaggerate: how many strategies

Exaggeration:

Thumbs up when done. If you don’t get it on your own or you get it wrong, write it down when we share.

Something interesting: homeworkQuality to emphasize: stinksRealistic fact that shows this quality: It takes a long time to do.

Part I can exaggerate:

Exaggeration:

Thumbs up when done. If you don’t get it on your own or you get it wrong, write it down when we share.


Quality to emphasize:

Realistic fact that shows this quality:

Part I can exaggerate:

Exaggeration:

Thumbs up when done; while waiting, go through again on your paper as many times as you can.

All comparisons – similes, metaphors, analogies, personifications, animations, animalizations, objectifications – involve an element of hyperbole / exaggeration: “Motörhead’s music is as loud as a train wreck” exaggerates the volume, but it’s more properly termed a “simile” than a “hyperbole” because it’s a comparison.

IDIOM: a figurative expression that everybody already knows. You can’t create new ones (unless you’re super-trendy). Fig Spch 7Idiom: You’re pulling my leg. Literally means: You’re joking with me.

Idiom: You’re driving me up a wall.

Literally means:


Idiom:

Literally means:

1 minute; if you finish, go through again on your paper as many times as you can.

ONOMATOPOEIA: sounds like what it means. Think of animal noises & words used when a comic-book character punches someone.

KA-POW! ding-dong, moo

You can make up new ones: Rorf rorf! said the dog, za-WAMMM!

Next to the cow, write as many onomatopoeias as possible in 30 seconds.

ALLITERATION: words starting with same 1st sound: Big, bad Bart burps beautifully / Super-slick sounds to sizzle your silly soul!

Even two words can be said to alliterate, if they’re attention-grabbing and they were put together on-purpose: Jumping jellybeans! Not alliteration: She just jumped over the fence. There can be a few non-alliterating words in the mix: Quacking quietly is quite all right. It doesn’t matter how they’re spelled but how they sound: It’s Captain Kangaroo! It’s Captain Cereal!

Next to the duck, longest alliteration in 30 seconds; no nursery rhymes.

CONSONANCE: words with the same consonant-sound (regardless of spelling) anywhere in word, not just beginning.Big, growling, hungry goblins with goggles are dog-ugly. “Goggles” counts as 2, not 3, repetitions.

Longest consonance in 30 seconds; no nursery rhymes.

ASSONANCE: words with same vowel-sound (regardless of spelling) anywhere in word, not just beginning.We feel the eager beet-eater seems least evil, Lisa. In this case, Lisa alliterates, but bet doesn’t.

Longest assonance in 30 seconds; no nursery rhymes.

SUMMARY & COMPETITION:simile: compares 2 things with like/as/than (says they’re just similar)metaphor: compares 2 things without like/as/than (says they’re actually the same thing)personification: gives human action / quality to an animal / thinghyperbole: a ridiculous exaggeration

Write the word “SIMILE” on your page again, and spend 1 minute writing as many similes as you can; it’s your choice whether to write out the steps of the process – if you’re stuck, follow the steps. Then repeat with “METAPHOR”, “PERSONIFICATION”, and “HYPERBOLE”. Then try to identify each other’s.

study guide: figures of speech - loudoun county public ...€¦ · web view( motörhead’s music...

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