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Interpreting Figurative Language4th Grade |
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Florida - Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking: ELA.4.R.3.1 |
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Explain how figurative language contributes to meaning in text(s) |
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4th Grade Reading - Interpreting Figurative Language Lesson
Author's Use of Language
An author’s choice of words is important.
themselves.
| : sensory language that helps readers imagine what is written. |
❋ ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋
Sight: A triangular, turquoise pendant hung from a shiny, silver chain around her neck.
Smell: He breathed in the woodsy, smoky scent of camping that lingered on his clothing.
Taste: The tart, lemony cookie paired well with a glass of freshly brewed, minty iced tea.
Touch: The warm cookie was crunchy on the outside, but it had gooey caramel on the inside.
Sound: The crows cawed a warning as the rumble of the galloping horses’ hooves grew louder.
Sound Devices
There are a variety of sound devices that authors and poets use to appeal to the reader's sense of sound and to add rhythm and flow to their writing.
| : words made to mimic the sounds they represent |
Today in the zoo, the bear went moo! The owl said meow, and the lion bow-wow. The zebra went quack, in the Aussie Outback, The giraffe said, "Hiss, what's wrong with this?" |
| : words having the same ending vowel or vowel-consonant sound |
chimp, blimp
Today in the zoo, the bear went moo! The owl said meow, and the lion bow-wow. The zebra went quack, in the Aussie Outback, The giraffe said, "Hiss, what's wrong with this?" |
by Robert Louis Stevenson The friendly cow all red and white, I love with all my heart: She gives me cream with all her might, To eat with apple-tart. She wanders lowing here and there, And yet she cannot stray, All in the pleasant open air, The pleasant light of day; And blown by all the winds that pass And wet with all the showers, She walks among the meadow grass And eats the meadow flowers. |
| : repetition of beginning consonant sounds in words next to or near each other |
| Dex and Dottie deliciously dunked doughnuts in their drinks. |
| : repetition of vowel sounds in words next to or near each other |
| The ugly pug was plump, but not too plump to jump up. |
| In addition to imagery and sound devices, authors may also use stories called anecdotes and types of figurative language in their writing. Go to the next page to learn more about anecdotes and a few types of figurative language. |
Anecdote
Anecdotes are short stories about past experiences that an author, speaker, or character in a story tells the reader or audience. The author could use anecdotes to introduce a topic in an engaging, interesting way. He or she may use an anecdote to give background information or develop a character. Anecdotes can be used to help explain things or persuade people to believe or do something.
I used to think jumping out of an airplane was the craziest thing anybody could ever do! Why would anyone do that? But my brother, he is a daredevil. He loves all the extreme sports – ski jumping, whitewater kayaking, kite surfing – you name it, he’s tried it! One year, he convinced me that sky diving was no big deal, not even really an extreme sport. So I eventually agreed to give it a try.
I can tell you, I regretted that decision as soon as they opened the door of the airplane when we were thousands of feet in the air. The cold air suddenly whipped in, dropping the temperature fast, and the roaring of the plane’s engines and the screaming wind seemed deafening. I watched in terror as my brother just disappeared off the edge – gone, just like that! – literally into thin air. I’ve never been more scared in my life. |
The author may be introducing the topic of sky diving to his audience with this anecdote. He or she may go on to try to convince them that sky diving is not as scary as he once thought. Can you think of any other purposes for which an author or a character in a story might tell this anecdote?
Figurative Language
Figurative language describes things in ways that are not meant to be taken as truth. Figurative language is not literal language. It is colorful, interesting language that may help readers see things in new ways.
Literal: The cat's bright, orange eyes stood out against its black fur.
Figurative: The black cat's eyes were like two glowing embers of coal in the darkness.
| : a comparison of two unlike things using the words "like" or "as" |
| Example: |
Simile: The sprinter ran like the wind to get across the finish line.
Meaning: The sprinter ran very fast.
Simile: Tom was as quiet as a mouse when he snuck up on Jerry.
Meaning: Tom made very little noise as he snuck up on Jerry.
| : a suggested comparison of two unlike things without the use of the words "like" or "as" |
| Example: |
Metaphor: The clouds are cotton balls floating in a sea of blue.
Meaning: The clouds are white and fluffy-looking, and the sky around them is blue.
Metaphor: Today, my teacher is like a volcano that could erupt at any moment.
Meaning: My teacher is grouchy and easily irritated today.
| : exaggeration, describing things as more than they could be |
| Example: |
Hyperbole: It’s cold enough to freeze the sun today!
Meaning: It’s very cold today.
Hyperbole: After winning the race, he had a smile a mile wide!
Meaning: He had a big smile after winning the race.
| Authors also use language to show their personalities and feelings or the personalities and feelings of their characters. This is called voice. Go to the next page to learn more about how authors create voice. |
Voice
Voice is the personality that comes through in a piece of writing. It could be the author's personality or a character's personality. It could include how the author or character feels.
A formal voice is most appropriate for serious school reports and formal letters. Usually, slang and casual phrasing are not appropriate in this type of writing as they are for friendly letters and other, more entertaining writing.
OMG! I had the best time on our field trip yesterday! We saw all kinds of cool stuff — dinosaur bones, a giant blue diamond that some people say is cursed, and tons of other really out-there stuff, do you know what I mean? My absolute FAV was the “Hall of Wonder” exhibit. There was a whole wall of beetles that were just about every color and design that you could imagine. It was beyond awesome. Not kidding. I "wonder" what we’ll see when we go back next year! |
For our field trip this year, we went back to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. We go there every year because there is so much to see that it would be impossible to experience it all in just one field trip. This year, we toured the Hall of Dinosaurs and Fossils, where we got to see a real paleontologist working on assembling the bones of a triceratops. That was very exciting! We also visited the famous Hope Diamond and heard a story about its long history, including why some people say that it is cursed. The best part of the visit, though, was visiting the Hall of Wonder. I especially liked the wall that was covered with beetle specimens from around the world. It was like a kaleidoscope of colors that changed as you moved to different positions around it. I really enjoyed our trip this year, and I am already looking forward to next year’s field trip. |
Alexa tapped her fingers over and over again on the desk. It sounded like horses galloping in the distance. She was a tightly wound coil ready to spring. “Hey, what’s up, Lex?” her friend said as she entered the room. Amy looked at Alexa’s face closely, after immediately noticing Alexa’s stiff posture and drumming fingers. Now she could clearly see Alexa’s furrowed brow and tight lips. “Something wrong?” “No. Nothing,” said Alexa tersely. “Just waiting.” Ba-da-dump-bad-da-dump-ba-da-dump! went her fingers. Amy hesitated before venturing a somewhat timid, “For . . . ?” Alexa jumped up from her seat. The spring had sprung. “For what?” she asked. “For you! You’re nearly twenty minutes late!” Amy gasped, and then looked at her watch. Oh, no! Guilty as charged! “I am so sorry, Lex! I guess I just lost track of time while I was waiting in line at the bake sale,” she said. She reached into her bag and pulled out a big chocolate chip cookie. “But I got you something! Your favorite . . . and it was the last one!” Alexa looked at Amy’s peace offering. The cookie did look awfully delicious, and it was nice that Amy had gotten it for her. Mrs. Jenner’s cookies were the best. Her lips softened, and her forehead smoothed. “Well, okay then! I guess one of Mrs. Jenner’s cookies is worth a twenty minute wait!" She took the peace offering. “Let’s share it on our way home!” The two girls walked out of the room, happily munching. |
tense and angry sad and lonely
aggressive friendly
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