2. Figures of Speech

Today we are going to continue looking at ideas for our topic on “House & Home”.

to consider ideas for out topic on “house & home”
to revise figures of speech
to make study notes

Our topic is… here is a reminder!

House vs. Home. (5:52 minutes long)

In the next lesson you will do a task based on the words “house” and “home”. Complete this sheet in preparation for the task.

First brainstorm some ideas:

Then think about good homes and bad homes…:

2-house-home Download

Let’s now look at figures of speech. Writers make their writing more interesting by using figures of speech. Figures of speech also helps to get a more personal reaction from readers.

Authors use figures of speech to make their writing more interesting. If an author can make his or her point in a new and fresh way, readers are more likely to remember the point.

In English it is important for you to also make use of figures of speech in your writing.

Watch the following video to learn a bit more about figures of speech.

Figurative Language Devices. (2:49 minutes long)

You may also watch this video as an extension task:

Metaphors, Similes, and Personification. (5:32 minutes long)

Additional Information

Personification

Personification attributes human nature or human qualities to abstract or inanimate objects. For example, we often use the phrases like the howling wind, dancing leaves, time flies etc.

Some examples of personification in a sentence are:

• The opportunity knocked at his door

• The plants in her house silently begged to be watered

• Lightning danced across the sky

• The wind howled in the night.

Alliteration

Alliteration is a sentence that consists of a series of words that have the same consonant sound at the beginning.

Some popular examples of alliteration in a sentence include:

• She sells sea shells on the sea shore

• A good cook could cook as much cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies

• All Adam ate in August was apples and almonds

• Barry bought a book to bring to the backyard barbecue

Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things that are different from each other but have similar qualities. These are generally formed through the usage of the words ‘as’ or ‘like’.

Some examples of similes in a sentence include:

• He is as brave as a lion

• Her expression was as cold as ice

• Swim like a fish

• As light as a feather

Metaphor

A metaphor is used for implying a comparison between two things that have something in common but are in general different from each other.

Some examples of the usage of metaphors in a sentence is as follows:

• It is raining cats and dogs

• He is the star of our class

• Life is a highway.

• Her eyes were diamonds.

If there is still time, start to complete the missing information on the table below. You will use this as your study notes.