= Partner SiteFigurative Language
Figurative language is the use of language to give words meaning beyond their literal definitions. For example, a simile is a comparison of two things using the words “like” or “as.” “Her heart is as soft as a cloud.” is a simile. Other figurative language includes metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and alliteration. Check out our figurative language anchor chart resources too!
In 1842 Charles Dickens was probably the most famous English language author in the world. He was received around the world as a major celebrity, often mobbed by fans. It was in that year that Dickens visited the United States. He wrote and published his thoughts about his visit in…
Little Women is the story of four sisters; Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March; during the Civil War. While once the March family had a good deal of money, the family has fallen onto hard times. The wealthy Mr. Laurence and his grandson live next door to the March family.…
When the bell rang on the last day of school, Suzanna cheered with the rest of her classmates. School was over, and summer was beginning! Suzanna’s favorite season was summer. No coats, no homework, and no shoes either! Some children were excited to go to camp, or travel on a…
John Muir was one of the foremost American conservationists. In 1869 he went with a group of shepherds who were taking a flock of sheep to summer pasture in the Sierra Nevada mountains. In this passage, the shepherds try to get the sheep to cross a river. The man named…
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was a noted American writer, philosopher, and essayist. His 1854 book, Walden, explores his experiment in living a simplified life in the woods as a way to explore his inner self. He lived in the woods for two years. This passage reflects upon his selection of…
Mario and his brothers were cooking dinner as a surprise for their parents. Vincent was stirring the spaghetti as it cooked in a pot of hot water. Joseph was opening the jar of fresh tomato sauce his mother had made from scratch. And Mario was trying to keep little Johnny…
Famed naturalist John Muir went with a group of shepherds into the Sierra Nevada mountains in 1869. The shepherds were taking their flock to summer pasture. It was Muir’s first trip into these mountains, and he would return many more times. This passage is from his diary of the trip.…
“I’m going to miss you so much, Poppy,” said the tall, gangly teenager. He bent down to hug his old golden retriever farewell. He stood up, hugged his parents, and smiled, trying not to let his emotions get the better of him. His parents were not quite able to keep…
Helen Keller was born in 1880 in Alabama. As a small child, she became seriously ill. She recovered, but she lost her sight and her hearing. Because she was so young when she became ill, she never learned to speak. Helen’s parents knew she was very bright and found a…
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote “Oldtown Folks” in 1869. She tells about life in a New England village called Oldtown. The passage below tells about Thanksgiving preparations in a Massachusetts town. ——————————————— The making of pies at this period assumed vast proportions that verged upon the sublime. Pies were made…
