What is Figurative Language?
Figurative language uses words in creative, non-literal ways to create vivid images, express emotions, and make writing more engaging. Instead of saying something directly, authors use comparisons, exaggerations, and other techniques. On Florida's FAST assessment, sixth graders must identify figurative language AND explain how it contributes to the meaning of a text.
Four Main Types: Similes, Metaphors, Personification, and Hyperbole
Key Vocabulary
Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as" ("fast as lightning")
Metaphor: A direct comparison without like/as ("Life is a journey")
Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things ("The wind whispered")
Hyperbole: Extreme exaggeration for effect ("I've told you a million times!")
Literal vs. Figurative: Literal = exact meaning; Figurative = creative/imaginative meaning
Activities to Try at Home
🎵 Song Lyric Analysis
Listen to your child's favorite songs together and identify figurative language in the lyrics:
- What comparisons does the songwriter make?
- Is there any exaggeration? What effect does it have?
- Are any non-human things given human qualities?
- How does the figurative language make you FEEL?
Example: "You are my sunshine" - This is a metaphor comparing a person to sunshine, suggesting they bring warmth and happiness.
📺 Commercial Detective
Watch TV commercials or online ads together and spot figurative language:
- Advertisers love hyperbole: "The best pizza in the universe!"
- Look for similes: "Cleans like magic"
- Find personification: "Your car wants to be pampered"
- Discuss: Why do advertisers use these techniques?
📖 Before and After Reading
When reading together, practice the SAFE analysis method:
- Spot it - Find figurative language in the text
- Analyze it - What type is it?
- Figure out the meaning - What is the author really saying?
- Effect - How does this add to the story's mood or meaning?
🎠Literal vs. Figurative Game
Make it fun! Take turns saying figurative expressions and acting them out literally:
- "It's raining cats and dogs" - act out animals falling from sky
- "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" - pretend to eat a giant horse
- "She has a heart of gold" - draw a golden heart
- Then discuss what the expression really means
Questions to Ask While Reading
- "Does this sentence mean exactly what it says, or is it figurative?"
- "What two things are being compared? How are they alike?"
- "Is this an exaggeration? Why would the author exaggerate?"
- "What picture does this language create in your mind?"
- "How does this figurative language make you feel?"
- "Why did the author use figurative language instead of just saying it directly?"
Parent Tip: Focus on EFFECT
On the FAST test, students must do more than just identify the TYPE of figurative language. They need to explain its EFFECT on meaning. Always ask: "How does this help the reader understand the story/character/mood better?" This deeper analysis is what sixth grade standards require.
Everyday Figurative Language
We use figurative language in everyday conversation! Point these out when you hear them:
Common Similes
- Busy as a bee
- Slept like a log
- Clear as mud (sarcastic)
- Fit as a fiddle
Common Metaphors
- Time is money
- Life is a rollercoaster
- She's a night owl
- He has a heart of stone
Common Personification
- Opportunity knocked
- The sun smiled down
- My phone died
- The alarm screamed
Common Hyperbole
- I'm starving!
- This weighs a ton
- I've told you a million times
- It took forever
Books with Rich Figurative Language
- "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen - vivid survival descriptions
- "The Giver" by Lois Lowry - powerful metaphors about society
- "Percy Jackson" series by Rick Riordan - engaging similes and humor
- "Out of My Mind" by Sharon Draper - emotional figurative language
- "Esperanza Rising" by Pam Munoz Ryan - beautiful imagery
- Poetry collections - excellent for all types of figurative language
Informacion para Padres (Spanish Summary)
Que es el lenguaje figurativo? El lenguaje figurativo usa palabras de maneras creativas y no literales para crear imagenes vividas y emociones. Los estudiantes de sexto grado deben identificar el lenguaje figurativo Y explicar como contribuye al significado del texto.
Los Cuatro Tipos Principales:
- Simil: Comparacion usando "como" - "rapido como un rayo"
- Metafora: Comparacion directa - "La vida es un viaje"
- Personificacion: Dar cualidades humanas a cosas no humanas - "El viento susurro"
- Hiperbole: Exageracion extrema - "Te lo he dicho un millon de veces"
Actividades en Casa:
- Buscar lenguaje figurativo en canciones y comerciales
- Preguntar: "Que quiere decir realmente esta expresion?"
- Discutir: "Por que el autor uso lenguaje figurativo en lugar de decirlo directamente?"
Pregunta Clave: "Como ayuda este lenguaje figurativo al lector a entender mejor la historia?"