Figurative Language 1
What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
A simile uses the words "like" or "as" but a metaphor does not.
Decide whether this is literal or figurative: "He ran like the wind." Then say which device it is.
figurative; simile (compares with "like").
Read: "Liam's shoes were soaked and his coat had mud on it." What can you infer happened to Liam? (One sentence.)
likely he walked through water or rain; shoes soaked = wet place.
Read the two texts.
Who would likely agree that owning a dog is good for you?
The author of text 1
What is a primary source?
Primary source = original first-hand evidence
Explain what the figurative phrase means in context: "The classroom was a zoo." (What idea does the author want you to picture?)
What type of figurative language is it?
Metaphor: means classroom was noisy/chaotic like animals in a zoo.
How are a simile and a metaphor alike?
Both similes and metaphors compare two unlike things.
Read: "The cake had only two slices left and the candles were blown out." What can you infer about the event that just finished?
A party or birthday just ended; candles blown out implies celebration finished.
Read the two texts.
Who would likely agree that Henry Brown helped inform people about slavery?
The author of text 2
What is a secondary source?
Secondary source = retells or explains primary sources
Give an example of personification using a school hallway (one sentence).
Example answer: "The lockers sighed as students rushed by." (any correct personification earns credit)
Define "idiom" in kid-friendly words and give one example.
Idiom = phrase whose meaning isn't literal; example: "break the ice."
Read: "Maya kept glancing at the clock and tapping her pencil while the other kids read." What can you infer about Maya's feelings or plans?
Maya might be nervous or waiting for something; clock glances and tapping show impatience/anxiety.
Read the two texts.
Who would likely agree that people shouldn't joke about the Boston Molasses Flood?
The author of text 2.
Give an example of a primary source
(e.g., diary, photograph, interview)
Identify the figurative device and explain its effect: "I've told you a million times to clean your desk!"
Hyperbole (exaggeration); effect: shows frustration or emphasis. Tells that is has been done many times.
Identify the figurative language and describe how it changes the tone: "The homework piled up like a mountain."
Simile; tone: overwhelming or stressful; emphasizes amount of homework.
Read: "The dog limped slowly to the porch and laid down in the sun." What can you infer about the dog's condition or age? Explain using text evidence.
The dog may be old or injured; limping and moving slowly suggest pain or age.
Read the two texts.
Who would likely agree that using non-English words helps English speakers understand each other better?
The author of text 2
Give an example of a secondary source.
(e.g., textbook, article)
Read the short sentence and explain how the figurative language adds meaning: "The wind whispered secrets through the trees." Which device is used and how does it help the reader imagine the scene?
Personification; it makes the wind seem alive and creates a quiet, mysterious mood.
Explain how a metaphor can help a reader understand a character's feelings (use a simple example).
Example: metaphor "He was a rock" shows he is steady/calm.
From a nonfiction article: "The volunteers arrived before sunrise and worked until after dark to repair the playground." What inference can you make about the volunteers' motivation or the urgency of the work? Provide evidence from the text.
The detail that they got there early and left late shows that the volunteers were hard workers who wanted to help, even if it took a long time.
Read the two texts.
Which author(s) would likely agree that the Bermuda Triangle is worth studying further?
The author of text 1
Account A (a child's note): "I saw the parade and the band played loudly."
Account B (a newspaper): "Visitors said that the annual parade featured bands and floats, drawing a large crowd."
Which is more likely a primary source and which is secondary? Explain one reason.
Account A is a primary source because the child was there at the parade. Account B is a secondary source because it is explaining the parade without actually being there.