English Language Arts
Grade 7
15 min
Classify figures of speech
Classify figures of speech
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define common figures of speech, including simile, metaphor, and personification.
Identify similes and metaphors in various literary and non-literary texts.
Distinguish between personification and other forms of figurative language.
Classify examples of hyperbole and onomatopoeia.
Explain the effect of different figures of speech on a text's meaning or tone.
Apply their knowledge to classify figures of speech in unfamiliar literary passages.
Ever read something that painted a vivid picture in your mind or made an ordinary thing sound extraordinary? 🎨 That's the magic of figures of speech!
In this lesson, you'll learn to identify and classify different figures of speech, like similes, metaphors, and personification. Understanding these lit...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SimileA comparison between two unlike things using the words 'like' or 'as'.Her smile was as bright as the sun.
MetaphorA direct comparison between two unlike things, stating that one thing *is* another, without using 'like' or 'as'.The classroom was a zoo during the fire drill.
PersonificationGiving human qualities, characteristics, or actions to inanimate objects or animals.The wind whispered secrets through the trees.
HyperboleAn extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, not meant to be taken literally.I'm so hungry I could eat a whole horse!
OnomatopoeiaWords that imitate the sound they represent.The bacon *sizzled* in the hot pan.
AlliterationThe repetition of the same beginning consonant sound in words that a...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Rule of Comparison Indicators
If two unlike things are being compared, check for 'like' or 'as'. If present, it's a simile. If absent, and one thing is directly stated to be another, it's a metaphor.
This rule helps you quickly differentiate between similes and metaphors by focusing on the specific words used for comparison.
Rule of Human Attributes
If an inanimate object or animal is performing an action or possessing a trait that only humans can literally do or have, classify it as personification.
Use this rule to identify when non-human entities are given human characteristics, making them seem more alive or relatable.
Rule of Exaggeration and Sound
If a statement is an extreme overstatement clearly not meant to be literal, it's h...
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Challenging
Read the following passage: 'The ancient oak tree stood like a silent sentinel on the hill. Its gnarled branches, a tangled web against the sky, whispered secrets to the wind. A lone car rumbled down the distant road.' Which figure of speech is NOT used in this passage?
A.Simile
B.Hyperbole
C.Metaphor
D.Personification
Challenging
In the sentence, 'The opportunity knocked on his door,' what is the primary effect of using personification?
A.To make the opportunity seem like a real, active agent that has arrived unexpectedly.
B.To show that the person's door was literally knocked on.
C.To create a sound effect using onomatopoeia.
D.To exaggerate the importance of the opportunity.
Challenging
Analyze the sentence: 'The angry storm, a roaring lion, screamed for what felt like a million years.' The phrase 'a roaring lion' serves as what type of figurative language?
A.simile, because it compares the storm to a lion.
B.Personification, because it gives the storm a voice.
C.Hyperbole, because a storm cannot be a lion.
D.metaphor, because it directly equates the storm with a lion to describe its sound and ferocity.
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