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Figurative Language
Interpretation

Learn how writers paint pictures with words, and how to figure out what they really mean.

ISEE Lower Level: Reading

What Is Figurative Language?

Literal language means exactly what it says. If a story says "the sun was hot," the sun really was hot.

Figurative language uses words in a creative way to paint a picture in your mind. It does not mean exactly what the words say.

Why It Matters

The author wrote: "Her smile was sunshine." If read LITERALLY Her smile is a ball of fire ✕ What it MEANS Her smile is warm and happy ✓

Three Common Types

Simile
Compares two things using like or as. "Brave as a lion."
Metaphor
Says one thing is another. "The classroom was a zoo."
Personification
Gives human actions to objects. "The leaves whispered."

Simile vs. Metaphor

SIMILE Uses like or as "He ran like the wind." METAPHOR Says it IS the thing "He was the wind."

The Big Rule

"a busy bee" the description "works very hard" the shared quality = meaning

A Closer Look: Personification

Personification gives human actions or feelings to things that are not human, such as animals, objects, or nature.

How to Figure It Out

1
Spot the picture. Find the part that cannot be literally true.
2
Name the two things being compared or described.
3
Ask what they share. What quality do they have in common?
4
Check the story. Make sure your meaning fits the rest of the passage.

Worked Example 1

Step 3: What do legs and noodles share? noodles soft, floppy, weak her legs felt weak and tired

Worked Example 2

1
Spot it: Waves cannot really be hungry or swallow things.
2
Type: The waves are given human/animal actions, so this is personification.
3
Meaning: The waves quickly washed away the sandcastle.

Worked Example 3

Common Mistakes

✕ Reading too literally
Thinking the legs are really noodles instead of asking what they share.
✕ Ignoring the story
Picking a meaning that does not fit the rest of the passage.
✕ Mixing up types
Calling something a simile when it has no "like" or "as."

Quick Summary

Type How to Spot It Example
Simile Uses "like" or "as" Quiet as a mouse
Metaphor Says one thing IS another Time is money
Personification Gives human actions to things The stars winked

Let's Practice!

You now know how to interpret figurative language. For each question, remember to ask: what do the two things have in common?

Question 1 of 5

"The new puppy was a bundle of energy." What does this most likely mean?

Question 2 of 5

"The wind howled all night long." This is an example of which type of figurative language?

Question 3 of 5

What does "a piece of cake" mean in this passage?

Question 4 of 5

Which sentence is a simile?

Question 5 of 5

The phrase "eyes lit up like fireworks" shows that the children felt:

You Did It!

You can now spot similes, metaphors, and personification, and figure out the author's true meaning.