Introducing…

Figures of
Speech
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 Introduction
Authors often use figures of speech in
both literature and poetry to enhance
their writing.

Figures of speech present ordinary

things in new or unusual ways.
They communicate ideas that go beyond
the words’ usual, literal meanings.
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 Objectives
By the end of this class, you should be able
to:
• Recognize nine figures of speech

• Identify figures of speech in poems

 Directions
In the first section, you will be introduced to
seven figures of speech and examples of each.

You must correctly answer a multiple choice

question about each term before moving on to
the next.
But don’t worry – you’ll be given a chance to
review and re-do a question if you answer
incorrectly.
 Imagery
Definition:
Descriptive writing that appeals to the
senses (sight, taste, touch, smell, and
hearing)
Think of it this way:
When a writer uses imagery, the
descriptive writing helps create a
picture or image in your mind.

Imagery = Mental Image

 Imagery
Example:
The hot July sun cast an orange glare
over the ocean waves.
 Imagery
Another example:
The cool waves crashed over my feet
as we walked along the gritty sand.
Which of the following is
another example of imagery?
(Click on a sentence to select your answer.)

There is a white bird in the sky.

The delicate white bird flew gracefully thro

ugh the blue sky.

I heard the birds and saw them flying.

Click this arrow if you’d

like to review before
 Try Again
Remember: When a writer uses
imagery, he or she chooses words that
will appeal to some or all of the
reader’s five senses.

Think about which of the sentences

most appeals to your five senses.

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
“The delicate white bird flew gracefully
through the blue sky” is an example of
imagery because it gives the reader a
mental image by appealing to the senses.

Click the arrow

to continue.
 Simile
Definition:
Comparing two unlike things using like
or as
Example:
She ran like the wind.

Explanation:
Running and the wind are unlike
things. When you compare the
speed of running to the speed of
the wind, you are using a simile.
 Simile
More examples:
The snow was as thick as a blanket.
She was as light as a feather.
You are acting like a baby.
He felt like a bug under a microscope.
His temper was as explosive as a
volcano.
Which of the following is NOT
another example of a simile?
(Click on a sentence to select your answer.)

He’s as messy as a pig when he eats.

He eats like a pig.

He is a pig. Read the question

carefully before
answering!

Click this arrow if you’d like to

review before answering.
 Try Again
When a writer uses simile…
•Two unlike things are being compared

•The words like or as are being used to

make the comparison

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
“He is a pig” is NOT a simile because
even though it does compare two
unlike things, it does not use the
words like or as.

Click the arrow

to continue.
 Metaphor
The definition of a metaphor is similar to
the definition of a simile but there is one
important difference between the two.

Remember the definition of simile has two

parts:
•Two unlike things are being compared
•The words like or as are used to make the
comparison
There will also be two parts to the
definition of a metaphor.
 Metaphor vs. Simile
Use the following examples to figure
out the definition of metaphor.
Simile: Fido is like a teddy bear.
Simile: Fido is as soft as a teddy
bear.
Metaphor: Fido is a teddy bear.
Simile: That boy is like a pig.
Simile: That boy is as messy as a
pig.
Metaphor: That boy is a pig.
Which of the following is the
correct definition for
metaphor?
(Click on a definition to select your answer.)

Comparing two similar things by using like or as

Comparing two similar things without using like

or as

Comparing two unlike things by using like or as

Comparing two unlike things without using like

or as

Click this arrow if you’d

like to review before
 Try Again
Take another look at these examples.
Simile: Fido is like a teddy bear.
Simile: Fido is as soft as a teddy
bear.
Metaphor: Fido is a teddy bear.
Consider this…Are the two things being
compared like or unlike each other? Are there
keywords that are used in one figure of speech
that are not used in the other?
Click the arrow to try
again.
 You’re Right!
Although similes and metaphors
both compare unlike things,
metaphor do not use the words like
or as.
 Alliteration
Take a look at the following examples of
alliteration. You will later select the best
definition for this figure of speech.
Brad wore his blue and brown
blazer.
Hank held his head high.
Larry loves lemonade and lolly
pops.
Six swans went swimming in the
sea.
 Alliteration
Have you figured it out yet?
Here are more examples to help refine
your definition.

Alliteration  Sue shook her silky silver

hair as the sun was setting.
NOT Alliteration  Elizabeth easily
eyed an elephant in the elevator.
Which of the following is the
best definition for alliteration?
(Click on a definition to select your answer.)

Repetition of beginning consonant sounds

Repetition of beginning vowel sounds

Repetition of ending consonant sounds

Repetition of ending vowel sounds

Click this arrow if you’d

like to review before
 Try Again
Look at this example again.
Six swans went swimming in the sea.

Think about what is repeating.

Is it a consonant sound or a vowel
sound?
Is it at the beginning or end of the
words?
Click the arrow to try
again.
 You’re Right!
Alliteration is the repetition of
beginning consonant sounds, such as
“Six silly swans went swimming in the
sea.”
It’s important to note that not
every word in the sentence has
to begin with the same letter in
order for it to be considered
alliteration.

In the above example, only 5

 Hyperbole
Think about the following examples of
hyperbole. You will later select the best
definition for this figure of speech.

My backpack weighs a ton.

 Hyperbole
Another example:
The wolf was 100 feet high.
 Hyperbole
More examples:

You could have knocked me

over with a feather.

I’ve told you a million

times!
Which of the following is the
best definition for hyperbole?
(Click on a definition to select your answer.)

A major understatement; the opposite of exagger

ation

A true statement that accurately describes a pers

on, place, or thing

A major exaggeration or overstatement used for

emphasis or humor

Click this arrow if you’d

like to review before
 Try Again
Think about the examples again.
The wolf was 100 feet high.
My backpack weighs a ton.
Are these true statements?
Does it understate or overstate the
truth?

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
Hyperbole is a major exaggeration or
overstatement.

Authors use this figure of speech to

emphasize a point or add humor.

Think about many times in a

day you exaggerate what you
say and use hyperbole.
 Onomatopoeia
When you see You often hear
this: this:

Buzz and ring are both examples of

onomatopoeia.
Start thinking about what you think is best
definition for this figure of speech.
 Onomatopoeia
More examples:
When you see You often hear
this: this:
Which of the following is the
best definition for
onomatopoeia?
(Click on a definition to select your answer.)

A word that looks like its meaning

A word that sounds like its meaning

A word that only describes animal sounds

Click this arrow if you’d

like to review before
 Try Again
Think carefully about the words buzz, bang,
and moo.
Do these words look like their meanings?
Do these words sound like their
meanings?
Do these words only describe sounds
that animals make?

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds
like its meaning.

It can also be described as the use of a

word which imitates a sound.

Other examples include: screech, whirr,

sizzle, crunch, bang, pow, zap, roar,
growl, click, snap, crackle, and pop.
 Personification
Definition:
Giving human traits or characteristics
to something that isn’t human, such as
animals, objects or non-living things

Think of it this way:

When a writer uses personification, he
or she gives characteristics of a person
to an animal, object or thing.
 Personification
Example:
The willow tree shook her long hair.

Explanation:
The example is referring to the way
that the willow tree’s long branches
sway in the wind. By saying “shook
her long hair”, the tree is given
characteristics of a human.
 Personification
More examples:
The car danced across the icy road.
The angry clouds marched across the
sky.
The stars in the clear night sky winked
at me.
The tulips nodded their heads in the
breeze.
Which of the following
sentences contain
personification?
(Click on a sentence to select your answer.)

The wind juggled the leaves.

The wind blew the leaves.

The wind moved the leaves.

Click this arrow if you’d

like to review before
 Try Again
Think carefully about the choices.
The wind juggled the leaves.
The wind blew the leaves.

The wind moved the leaves.

Which one of the verbs describes something

that only a human does?

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
“The wind juggled the leaves” is an
example of personification.
 Metonymy
 Definition:
– Something is named to replace
something
closely related to it.

Example:
“Feathers in my hair”
“Applause”

The examples are used to replace social

 More examples:
 Thirtyhands are employed in that
factory.

 The hostess kept a good table.

 SYNECDOCHE
 Definition:
– The whole is replaced by the part or the
part by the whole.

Example:
50 heads of cattle

Explanation:
“head” is used to mean whole animals.
 More examples:

 “Best brains in the country”

“
 Part Two
Directions
You’ve made it through the first part of the
tutorial!
Now you will be given poems and asked to
choose which figure of speech is shown.
You will be able to look back at a definition
page to help you along the way.
 Definitions
Alliteration: Repetition of beginning consonant sounds

Hyperbole: A major exaggeration or overstatement

Imagery: Descriptive writing that appeals to the senses

Metaphor: Comparing two unlike things without using

like or as

Onomatopoeia: A word that sounds like its meaning

Personification: Giving human traits or characteristics

to something that isn’t human

Simile: Comparing two unlike things using like or as

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 Untitled
Bang! The starter’s gun—
thin raindrops
sprint.

-Dorthi Charles
Knock at a Star

Which figure of speech is highlighted in the above

poem?
(Click on the figure of speech to select your answer.)

Simile Alliteration
Metaphor Onomatopoeia
Click this button if you’d like to review
the definition page before answering.
 Try Again
Take a look at the definitions below and decide which
figure of speech is being used when the poet says,
“Bang!”

Simile: Comparing two unlike things using like or as

Alliteration: Repetition of beginning consonant sounds
Metaphor: Comparing two unlike things without using like or
as
Onomatopoeia: A word that sounds like its meaning

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
“Bang!” is an example of onomatopoeia
because it is a word that sounds like its
meaning.
 “The Wind”
The wind stood up, and gave a shout;
He whistled on his fingers, and

Kicked the withered leaves about,

And thumped the branches with his hand,

And said he’ll kill, and kill, and kill;

And so he will! And so he will!
- James Stephens
Knock at a Star

Which figure of speech is highlighted in the above

poem?

Alliteration Personification
 Try Again
Take a look at the definitions below and decide which
figure of speech is being used when the poet says,
“The wind stood up, and gave a shout / He whistled
on his fingers”.

Alliteration: Repetition of beginning consonant sounds

Personification: Giving human traits to something that isn’t

human

Onomatopoeia: A word that sounds like its meaning

Hyperbole: A major exaggeration or overstatement

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
When James Stephens says, “The wind
stood up, and gave a shout / He whistled
on his fingers”, he is using
personification.
He is giving human characteristics, such
as shouting and whistling on fingers, to
the wind.
 “The Runner”
On a flat road runs the well-trained runner,
He is lean and sinewy with muscular legs,
He is thinly clothed, he leans forward as he
runs,
With lightly closed fists and arms partially
raised.

- Walt Whitman
Knock at a Star
Which figure of speech is highlighted in the above
poem?

Metaphor Personification
Imagery Hyperbole
 Try Again
Take a look at the definitions below and decide which
figure of speech is being used when the poet says, “As
he runs /
With lightly closed fists and arms partially raised”.

Metaphor: Comparing two unlike things without using like or

as
Personification: Giving human traits to something that isn’t
human
Imagery: Descriptive writing that appeals to the senses
Hyperbole: A major exaggeration or overstatement

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
When Walt Whitman says, “As he runs /
With lightly closed fists and arms
partially raised”, he is using imagery.

He is using descriptive writing that

appeals to our sense of sight to help us
create a mental image of the runner.
 “Peach”
Touch it to your cheek and it’s soft
as a velvet newborn mouse
who has to strive to be alive.

Bite in. Runny

honey
blooms on your tongue-
as if you’ve bitten open
a whole hive.
And so he will! And so he will!
- Rose Rauter
Knock at a Star

Which figure of speech is highlighted in the above

poem?

Onomatopoeia Simile
 Try Again
Take a look at the definitions below and decide which
figure of speech is being used when the poet says,
“It’s soft as a velvet newborn mouse”.

Onomatopoeia: A word that sounds like its meaning

Simile: Comparing two unlike things using like or as

Hyperbole: A major exaggeration or overstatement

Metaphor: Comparing two unlike things without using like or as

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
When Rose Rauter says, “It’s soft as a
velvet newborn mouse”, she is using a
simile.
She uses the word as to compare two
unlike things (a peach and a mouse).
 Excerpt from “I’m Proud of My
Preposterpus”
I’m proud of my Preposterpus,
so ponderous and pale,
I love the way it whistles
when it swizzles ginger ale.
It’s magnificent in stature,
fully twenty-four feet tall,
so it tends to draw attention
when I take it to the mall.
- Jack Pretulsky
A Pizza the Size of the Sun

Which figure of speech is highlighted in the above

poem?

Hyperbole Alliteration
Onomatopoeia Metaphor
 Try Again
Take a look at the definitions below and decide which
figure of speech is being used when the poet says,
“I’m proud of my Preposterpus /so ponderous and
pale”.

Hyperbole: A major exaggeration or overstatement

Alliteration: Repetition of beginning consonant sounds

Onomatopoeia: A word that sounds like its meaning

Metaphor: Comparing two unlike things without using like or as

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
When Jack Prelutsky says, “I’m proud of
my Preposterpus / so ponderous and
pale”, he is using alliteration.
He is repeating the beginning consonant
sound of “p” while he is describing the
Preposterpus.
 “Dreams”
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
- Langston Hughes
The Dream Keeper and Other
Poems

Which figure of speech is highlighted in the above

poem?

Simile Personification
Metaphor Onomatopoeia
 Try Again
Take a look at the definitions below and decide which
figure of speech is being used when the poet says,
“Life is a broken-winged bird / That cannot fly.”

Simile: Comparing two unlike things using like or as

Personification: Giving human traits or characteristics to

something that isn’t human

Metaphor: Comparing two unlike things without using like or as

Onomatopoeia: A word that sounds like its meaning

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
When Langston Hughes says, “Life is a
broken-winged bird / That cannot fly”, he
is using a metaphor.
He compares two unlike things (life and
a bird) without using the words like or
as.
 “A Pizza the Size of the Sun”
I’m making a pizza the size of the sun,
a pizza that’s sure to weigh more than a ton,
a pizza too massive to pick up and toss,
a pizza resplendent with oceans of sauce.
I’m topping my pizza with mountains of cheese,
with acres of peppers, pimentos, and peas,
with mushrooms, tomatoes, and sausage galore,
with every last olive they had at the store.
My pizza is sure to be one of a kind,
my pizza will leave other pizzas behind,
my pizza will be a delectable treat
that all who love pizza are welcome to eat.
The oven is hot, I believe it will take
a year and a half for my pizza to bake.
I hardly can wait till my pizza is done,
my wonderful pizza is the size of the sun.
- Jack Pretulsky
A Pizza the Size of the Sun

Which figure of speech is highlighted in the above poem?

Onomatopoeia Simile
Hyperbole Personification
 Try Again
Take a look at the definitions below and decide
which figure of speech is being used when the
poet says, “I’m making a pizza the size of the
sun / a pizza that’s sure to weigh more than a
ton”.
Onomatopoeia: A word that sounds like its meaning

Simile: Comparing two unlike things using like or as

Hyperbole: A major exaggeration or overstatement

Personification: Giving human traits or characteristics to

something that isn’t human

Click the arrow to try

again.
 You’re Right!
When Jack Prelutsky says “I’m making a
pizza the size of the sun / a pizza that’s
sure to weigh more than a ton,” he is
using hyperbole.
He is exaggerating about the size of the
pizza that is being made.
 Congratulations, You’re
Done!
You’ve completed the entire tutorial. You
were able to recognize and identify seven
figures of speech.

Important: Keep this screen open and raise

your hand to show your teacher that you
have reached this final page.

Click the arrow to see the

bibliography for this
 Bibliography
Hughes, Langston. The Dream Keeper and Other
Poems.
Scholastic, Inc.: New York, 1996.

Kennedy, X. J., and Kennedy, Dorothy. Knock at a

Star.
Little, Brown and Company: New York, 1999.

Prelutsky, Jack. A Pizza the Size of the Sun.

Scholastic, Inc.:
New York, 1996.

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