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Understanding
Figurative Language
Essential Questions
• What is figurative language?
• How can I interpret figurative
language?
What is figurative language?
Here are some examples. What do you
think figurative language means?
• The wind whispered softly through the
trees.
• The cafeteria pizza was a soggy, droopy
piece of cardboard.
• The teacher glared like a furious dragon.
What is figurative language?
The wind whispered
through the trees
• Can wind really
whisper?
• What is the author
trying to tell us about
wind?
What is figurative language?
• The cafeteria pizza
was a soggy, droopy
piece of cardboard.
• Is the pizza really
cardboard?
• What is the author trying
to tell us about the pizza?
What is figurative language?
The teacher glared like a
furious dragon.
• Was the teacher really
a dragon?
• What is the author
trying to tell us about
the teacher?
What is figurative language?
• Figurative language
expresses an idea that
goes beyond the actual
meaning of the words
• Wind can’t
whisper…but the
expression gives you
an idea of how the
wind sounds
Kinds of figurative language
There are actually many kinds of figurative
language. In this presentation, we’ll focus on three
Similes
Metaphors
Personification
How can I interpret
figurative language?
• To interpret figurative
language means to
understand what the
author is trying to say
• To interpret figurative
language, it’s important to
understand how different
kinds of figurative
language work
How can I interpret figurative
language?
Personification is a
kind of figurative
language
• Personification means
to give human
thoughts and qualities
to nonhuman objects
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The tree stood tall and
proud by the curving
path
• How does this
sentence show
personification?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The tree stood tall and
proud by the curving
path
• How is this sentence
showing the tree doing
something that trees
don’t really do?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The tree stood tall and
proud by the curving
path
• That’s right! Trees
can’t really feel
proud. This is an
example of
personification.
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The tree stood tall and
proud by the curving
path
• What is the author
trying to tell us about
the tree?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The leaves danced as
they fell from the trees
• What are the leaves
doing that leaves can’t
really do?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The leaves danced as they
fell from the trees
• That’s right! Leaves can’t
dance
• This is an example of
personification
• What is the author trying
to tell us about the leaves?
Let’s Review!
• What is
figurative
language?
• What is
personification?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
• A simile is another
kind of figurative
language
• A simile is a
comparison between
two unlike objects
using “like” or “as”
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The four students sat
down at the cafeteria
table and ate like pigs
• What is being
compared in this
simile?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The four students sat
down at the cafeteria
table and ate like pigs
• What is being
compared in this
simile?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The four students sat
down at the cafeteria
table and ate like pigs
• That’s right! The
author is comparing
the students to pigs
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The four students sat
down at the cafeteria
table and ate like pigs
• What is the author
trying to say about the
way that the students
are eating?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The waves licked the
shore like a kitten
lapping milk
• What is the author
comparing in this
simile?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The waves licked the
shore like a kitten
lapping milk
• That’s right! The
waves are being
compared to a kitten
lapping milk
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The waves licked the
shore like a kitten
lapping milk
• What is the author
trying to say about the
waves—that they are
rough and fierce, or
small and gentle?
Let’s Review!
• What is it called when
an author gives human
thoughts and feelings
to non-human objects?
• Personification
• What is a comparison
using “like” or “as”?
• Simile
How can I interpret figurative
language?
• A metaphor is another
kind of figurative
language
• A metaphor is a
comparison that does
not use “like” or “as”
How can I interpret figurative
language?
• The school was a maze
of hallways and
passages
• What is being
compared in this
metaphor?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
• The school was a maze
of hallways and
passages
• That’s right! The
school is being
compared to a maze
How can I interpret figurative
language?
• The school was a maze
of hallways and
passages
• What idea is the
author trying to
express with this
metaphor?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The math test was a
walk in the park
• What is being
compared in this
metaphor?
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The math test was a
walk in the park
• That’s right! The math
test is being compared
to a walk in the park
How can I interpret figurative
language?
The math test was a
walk in the park
• What is the author
trying to tell us about
the math test?
Let’s Review
• Which kind of figurative
language makes a
comparison using “like”
or “as”?
• Simile
• Which kind of figurative
language gives human
thoughts and qualities to
non-human objects?
• Personification
Let’s Review
• Which kind of
figurative language
makes a comparison
without using “like” or
“as”?
• Metaphor
Practice
• Read the examples on
the next few slides
• Which kind of
figurative language do
they show?
• How can you interpret
the figurative
language?
Example #1
The airplane landed as
gracefully as a
ballerina
• Personification
• Simile
• Metaphor
Example #1
The airplane landed as
gracefully as a
ballerina
• Simile
Example #1
The airplane landed as
gracefully as a
ballerina
Interpret the simile
• What is the author
comparing?
• What is the author
trying to tell us?
Example #1
The airplane landed as
gracefully as a
ballerina
Interpret the simile
• What is the author
comparing?
• What is the author
trying to tell us?
Example #2
The water smashed
angrily against the
rocks
• Personification
• Simile
• Metaphor
Example #2
The water smashed
angrily against the
rocks
• Personification
Example #2
The water smashed angrily
against the rocks
Interpret the personification!
• What is the water doing
that water doesn’t really
do?
• What is the author trying
to tell us about the water?
Example #3
My brother’s room
was a dark, mysterious
cave
• Personification
• Simile
• Metaphor
Example #3
My brother’s room
was a dark, mysterious
cave
• Metaphor
Example #3
My brother’s room was a
dark, mysterious cave
Interpret the metaphor!
• What is the author
comparing?
• What is the author trying
to show about the
brother’s room?
Essential Questions
Can you answer these
questions?
• What is figurative
language?
• How can I interpret
figurative language?