English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
Classify figures of speech: review
Classify figures of speech: review
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify and define common figures of speech, including similes, metaphors, and personification.
Distinguish between hyperbole and other forms of figurative language.
Recognize and explain the use of alliteration and onomatopoeia in texts.
Interpret the meaning of common idioms within context.
Classify various figures of speech found in literary and informational texts.
Explain how figures of speech contribute to an author's purpose and message.
Ever read a sentence that paints a vivid picture in your mind, even though it's not literally true? 🎨 Let's unlock the secrets of language that make writing sparkle!
In this lesson, you'll review and practice classifying different figures of speech. Understanding these literary tools will hel...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SimileA figure of speech that compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'.The cloud was fluffy like a cotton ball.
MetaphorA figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by stating one thing *is* another, without using 'like' or 'as'.The cloud was a fluffy cotton ball floating across the sky.
PersonificationGiving human qualities, actions, or characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas.The wind whispered secrets through the rustling leaves.
HyperboleAn extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, not meant to be taken literally.I'm so hungry I could eat a whole horse!
AlliterationThe repetition of the same initial consonant sound in words that are close together.Peter...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Comparison Clues
Look for 'like' or 'as' to identify similes. If two unlike things are directly stated to be each other (e.g., 'is,' 'are'), it's likely a metaphor.
This rule helps you quickly differentiate between the two most common comparison figures of speech.
Human Action Test
If an inanimate object, animal, or abstract idea is performing an action or showing a quality that only humans can, it is personification.
Apply this test to determine if non-human things are being given human characteristics.
Literal vs. Figurative Meaning
If a statement or phrase doesn't make literal sense but conveys a deeper or exaggerated meaning, it's likely a figure of speech (e.g., idiom, hyperbole).
This helps you recognize wh...
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Challenging
In an argumentative essay arguing for more city parks, a student writes, 'Without parks, our city is a concrete prison, trapping us in a gray, lifeless world.' How does this metaphor support the student's argument?
A.It provides statistical evidence about the number of prisons.
B.It creates a strong negative image of the city, making the need for parks seem more urgent.
C.It proves that living in the city is literally the same as being in jail.
D.It suggests that the author has personal experience with prisons.
Challenging
Read the stanza: 'The winter wind is a wolf, / Howling at the moonlit door. / Its icy teeth snap and snarl, / I hear its hungry roar.' What is the overall mood created by the combination of metaphor, personification, and onomatopoeia?
A.Playful and exciting
B.Peaceful and calm
C.Threatening and dangerous
D.Mysterious and magical
Challenging
Which of the following sentences uses a simile most effectively to create a clear and vivid image for the reader?
A.The moon was like a silver coin tossed into the night sky.
B.The car was as fast as a very fast thing.
C.Her eyes were like two blue things in her face.
D.The building was tall, like something that is tall.
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