Figurative Language

Figurative Language

Figurative language uses words in creative ways to help readers see, feel, or imagine ideas more clearly.

Common Types

• Simile: compares two things using "like" or "as." Example: "She ran as fast as lightning."
• Metaphor: compares two things directly without using "like" or "as." Example: "Time is a thief."
• Personification: gives human traits to nonhuman things. Example: "The wind whispered through the trees."
• Hyperbole: extreme exaggeration for effect. Example: "I've told you a million times."
• Understatement: making something seem less important or serious than it really is. Example: "It's just a scratch," said the knight missing an arm.

Quick Tips

• Ask: what two things are being compared?
• Look for non-literal language.
• Think about how the figurative language adds meaning or emotion.