Grade 6 Reading | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.6.R.3.1
Figurative language uses words in creative, non-literal ways to paint pictures in readers' minds, create emotions, and make writing more powerful. Instead of saying exactly what we mean, we use comparisons, exaggerations, and other techniques to make our message more vivid and memorable!
Exact, dictionary meaning
"It's raining heavily."
Creative, imaginative meaning
"It's raining cats and dogs!"
Key Question: Does the author mean exactly what the words say? If not, it's figurative!
A comparison using "like" or "as"
Signal words: like, as
Giving human traits to non-human things
Look for: human actions/feelings
Extreme exaggeration
Impossible or obviously untrue
The angry clouds gathered overhead, ready to unleash their fury. Thunder rumbled across the sky like a thousand drums. The wind screamed through the trees, and the rain fell so hard it felt like a million tiny needles hitting my skin. I was drowning in a sea of water just trying to reach my front door. By the time I got inside, I was soaked to the bone - I could have filled an Olympic swimming pool with the water dripping from my clothes.
| Figurative Language | Type | What It Really Means | Effect on Reader |
|---|---|---|---|
| "angry clouds" | Personification | Dark, threatening storm clouds | Makes the storm feel dangerous, almost alive |
| "like a thousand drums" | Simile | Very loud, booming thunder | Helps reader hear the powerful sound |
| "wind screamed" | Personification | Wind made loud, high-pitched sounds | Creates scary, intense atmosphere |
| "drowning in a sea of water" | Metaphor | There was so much rain everywhere | Emphasizes being overwhelmed by the storm |
| "could have filled an Olympic pool" | Hyperbole | I was very, very wet | Adds humor; shows extreme wetness |
Spot it - Find the figurative language
Analyze it - What type is it? What's being compared/exaggerated?
Figure out the meaning - What is the author really saying?
Effect - How does this add to the text's meaning, mood, or imagery?
Type:
What it really means:
Effect:
Type:
What it really means:
Effect:
Type:
What it really means:
Effect:
This sentence contains TWO examples of hyperbole. Identify both:
Hyperbole 1:
Hyperbole 2:
Why did the author use exaggeration?
| If you see... | It's probably a... |
|---|---|
| "like" or "as" comparing two things | Simile |
| Something "is" something else (direct comparison) | Metaphor |
| Non-human things acting like humans | Personification |
| Extreme exaggeration that's clearly not true | Hyperbole |