Day One Warm-Up: Literal vs. Figurative Language Step One: Read the paragraph and answer the questions. Literal language is language that means exactly what is said. It is used to share information. Most of the time, we use literal language. Figurative language is language that means more than what it says on the surface. It has a different meaning that you have to figure out. It is used to evoke emotions. 1) What is literal language? 2) Why would you use literal language? 3) When would you use literal language? 4) What is figurative language? 5) When would you use figurative language? 6) How is figurative language different from literal language? Step Two: Read These Examples Literal Language My name is Ms. Lott. I am your teacher. The student sitting in the front is wearing a green t-shirt. The fragrant oranges in the trees appear ready for harvest. Figurative Language The clouds looked like fluffy pillows floating in the sky. My students are the apples of my eye! This suitcase weighs a ton! The yellow daisies danced around in the wind.
Step Three: Literal or Figurative? 7) She ran along the pier in the evening. 8) The townspeople gathered together, whispering to each other. 9) Her face shined as radiantly as the sun with happiness. 10) His mother always told him to chew with his mouth closed. 11) With a heavy heart, Veronica slowly made her way back home. 12) A woman is like a silken tent - admired for her strength and beauty.
Step One: Compare Day Two Warm-Up: Literal vs. Figurative Language 1) What s the difference between figurative and literal language? 2) When would an author use figurative language? 3) When would an author use literal language? Step Two: Practice. Literal or Figurative? 4) I m so hungry right now that I could eat an entire horse. 5) The ground shook violently during the earthquake, but luckily, no one was hurt. 6) The colored markers were neatly arranged in a box on top of the teacher s desk. 7) For the tired working mother, coffee is gasoline that fuels an empty tank.
8) The photos were slightly bent at the corners after being held in a bag all day long. 9) The students complained that spring break still felt like a million years away. 10) The red dress fit as snugly as a glove on Julia s full figured frame. 11) The smoke from the fire stung everyone s eyes like a swarm of angry bees. 12) The black and silver photo frame sat on the desk behind the computer. Step Three: Write Your Own! Describe anything in this room using literal language. Describe anything in this room using figurative language.
Day Three Warm-Up: Literal vs. Figurative Language Step One: Figurative Language in a Short Story Read the excerpt. Find and explain figurative language in the story. Fill in ALL empty boxes. Use the boxes already filled in as examples. An anxious night crawled slowly by like a wounded snake and Rainsford could not sleep although the silence of a dead world was on the jungle. Towards morning, the cry of some startled bird focused Rainsford's attention in that direction. Something was coming through the forest, coming slowly, carefully, coming the same way Rainsford had come. He flattened himself down on the limb and, through a screen of leaves almost as thick as a carpet, he watched.... A man was approaching. -excerpt from Most Dangerous Game Example of figurative language An anxious night crawled slowly by like a wounded snake In your own words, this most nearly means The night went by really, really slowly. Explanation how is figurative? Snakes already move slowly. A wounded snake must be moving even slower. Therefore, if you compare the night to a wounded snake means that the night is going by very slowly. silence of a dead world The silence is overwhelming and creepy. screen of leaves
Day Four Warm-Up: Literal vs. Figurative Language Step One: Figurative Language in a Short Story Read the excerpt. Find and explain figurative language in the story. Fill in ALL empty boxes. Use the boxes already filled in as examples. It is impossible to say how the idea first entered my brain, but once I thought it, it haunted me day and night. There was no reason. There was no anger. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never insulted me. I had no desire for his money. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture a pale blue eye that was glazed over. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees very gradually I made up my mind to kill the old man, and thus get rid of the eye forever. -excerpt from Tell-Tale Heart Example of figurative language In your own words, this most nearly means Explanation He had the eye of a vulture The old man s eye is disgusting and deathly. My blood ran cold