3.4 Lesson Figures of Speech

Personification

Personification gives human qualities to non-human things.

• The rigatoni danced in the boiling water.
  

Rigatoni is pasta and pasta cannot dance. This is an example of personification.

• The tractor coughed profusely when it started.

A truck is not living, therefore, it cannot cough. However, the sound smoke makes when it comes out could be compared to the cough of a human.

Hyperbole

A hyperbole is an exaggerated statement used for emphasis or effect. It is not meant to be taken literally.

• "I told her a million times to clean her room!"

You cannot actually tell someone something a million times. The idea is that she has had to tell her many times to clean her room.

• "He was as skinny as a toothpick!"

No one could actually be as skinny as a toothpick. They simply mean that he is very skinny.

Metaphor

A metaphor compares one thing to another without using the words 'like' or 'as'.

• The teacher erupted in a volcano of anger.

You are comparing the teacher to a volcano. You are saying that the teacher got very angry.

• Her room was a pigsty.

You are comparing her room to a pigsty. You are saying that her room was very messy.

Simile

A simile compares one thing to another using the words 'like' or 'as'.

• My grandmother is as blind as a bat.

You are comparing the grandmother's sight to the sight of a bat. It is said that bat's have poor vision.

• He was as heavy as lead.

You are comparing his weight to lead. Lead is very heavy, therefore, you are saying he is very heavy, too.