Similes & Metaphors
“Her smile was as bright as the sun.” What device is this?
Simile
Define personification.
Giving human qualities to non-human things.
What is hyperbole?
An extreme exaggeration.
What is alliteration?
Repeating the same beginning sound in nearby words.
What’s an idiom?
A phrase that means something different from its literal words.
“He’s a shining star on the basketball court.” Identify the figurative language.
Metaphor
“The moon smiled down on the city.” What is being personified?
The moon
“I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!” What’s exaggerated?
The number of times.
“The buzzing bee bothered Bob.” Identify the device.
Both alliteration (“bee bothered Bob”) & onomatopoeia (“buzzing”).
“Break a leg!” means what?
Good luck!
Create a simile comparing your morning routine to a roller coaster.
(Example: “My mornings are like a roller coaster—fast and full of ups and downs.”)
Create your own sentence using personification for the word homework.
(Example: “My homework glared at me from across the room.”)
True or False: Hyperbole is meant to be taken literally.
False
“Bang! The door slammed shut.” What type of figurative language is used?
Onomatopoeia
What is an allusion?
A reference to a well-known story, event, or person.
How can a metaphor make writing stronger?
It helps readers picture or feel an idea more vividly.
Why do authors use personification?
To make descriptions more vivid or emotional.
Write your own hyperbole about being bored in class.
(Example: “I’ve been sitting here for a thousand years!”)
Create your own alliteration sentence about school.
(Example: “Silly students studied silently.”)
“He’s a real Romeo with the girls.” What kind of figurative language is this?
Allusion (to Romeo and Juliet)
Identify both: “Her voice was music to his ears, soft as a lullaby.”
Metaphor & Simile
“The ocean swallowed the ship whole.” What human action is used here?
“Swallowed” (the ocean is given a human trait).
Explain how hyperbole adds humor or drama to writing.
It emphasizes feelings in an exaggerated way.
Explain how onomatopoeia makes writing more engaging.
It helps readers “hear” the action through sound words.
Why do writers use allusions?
To connect ideas or emotions using something the reader already knows.