Interpreting Figurative Language

"Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people." Abraham Lincoln

• metaphor

• repetition

• irony

• rhythm

The day marched slowly to a sluggish tune.

• hyperbole

• simile

• personification

• idiom

The man gritted his chattering teeth against the bitter cold. His thin leather coat offered little protection. The whistling wind echoed in his frostbitten ears as it pelted his exposed face with tiny needles of ice that stung like arrows. The deep snow weighted his boots making each step like lifting a block of cement.

• simile

• metaphor

• onomatopeia

• imagery

The crackling fire in the fireplace whispered for me to sit on the hearth and watch it.

• The author uses an analogy to convey a sense of peacefulness.

• The author uses an analogy to describe fascination with fire.

• The author personifies the fire to emphasize its relaxing appeal.

• The author personifies the fire to convey the crackling noises that it makes.

His mother had warned him a million times that he would be severely punished if she caught him in a lie.

• The author uses a metaphor to describe the mother's punishment.

• The author uses a metaphor to compare punishment to the lie.

• The author uses hyperbole to show the severity of the mother's punishment.

• The author uses hyperbole to exaggerate how often the mother gave warnings.

After studying all night, Charles walked around like the living dead.

• The author uses an oxymoron to describe Charles' performance on his test.

• The author uses an oxymoron to emphasize how slowly Charles walked.

• The author uses a simile to compare Charles to a dead person.

• The author uses a simile to describe how hard Charles studied.

When the songwriter tried to adapt the arrangement of the song, he knew he had bitten off more than he could chew.

• The author uses an idiom to emphasize the difficulty of the task.

• The author uses hyperbole to convey the songwriter's love of music.

• The author uses oxymoron to emphasize the songwriter's talent.

• The author uses an analogy to compare the song writing to the pleasure of fine dining.

Like a delicate tea cup, her hope was smashed to small pieces. The ceramic shards pierced her heart.

• The author uses a simile to compare a tea cup to a knife that pierces the heart.

• The author uses personification to convey the sadness of breaking a tea cup.

• The author uses an analogy to describe the pain of losing hope.

• The author uses a metaphor to compare a ceramic tea cup to a broken heart.

The opera singer who won the competition was a beacon of light to struggling singers.

• The author uses a metaphor to show how the opera singer gives hope to other singers.

• The author uses a metaphor to emphasize the opera singer's sense of accomplishment.

• The author uses hyperbole to exaggerate the singer's effect on others.

• The author uses hyperbole to emphasize the joy of winning against the odds.

The new employee spoke out of turn at the staff meeting and got off on the wrong foot.

• The author uses an idiom to describe an employee's bad start on a new job.

• The author uses an idiom to describe how an employee twisted his ankle on the job.

• The author uses hyperbole to describe the extreme behavior of an employee.

• The author uses hyperbole to emphasize the boring lengths of the staff meeting.