Identifying Figurative Language — Identify examples of...

SECTION 1

Why Do Writers Use Figurative Language?

Imagine reading a story where every sentence is plain and direct: "The sun was bright. The girl was sad. The dog ran fast." It gets boring, right? Writers have always searched for ways to make their words more exciting and memorable. That search led to figurative language — words and phrases that mean something different from, or bigger than, their literal (exact dictionary) meaning.

Figurative language has been around for thousands of years. Ancient poets in Greece, Rome, India, and China used comparisons and vivid images to share their ideas. Over time, teachers and scholars gave these techniques names so students could study and use them. On the SHSAT, you will see passages from literature and nonfiction that use figurative language. Your job is to identify which type the author is using and understand why.

~800 BCE

Homer's Epics

The ancient Greek poet Homer filled The Odyssey and The Iliad with similes comparing warriors to lions and storms.

~350 BCE

Aristotle Names It

The philosopher Aristotle wrote about metaphor in his book Poetics, calling it a sign of genius in a writer.

1600s

Shakespeare's Golden Age

William Shakespeare packed his plays and sonnets with metaphors and personification, creating phrases we still use today.

Today

Figurative Language Everywhere

Song lyrics, advertisements, speeches, and social media posts all rely on figurative language to grab your attention.

So, the big question is: How do you tell a simile from a metaphor from personification when you see one in a reading passage? That is exactly what this lesson will teach you.

SECTION 2

Core Definitions: Simile, Metaphor & Personification

Before you can identify figurative language in a passage, you need clear definitions. Let's break down the three types you will see most often on the SHSAT.

Simile

A simile compares two unlike things using the signal words "like" or "as." Example: "Her smile was bright like the sun."

Metaphor

A metaphor says one thing IS another thing — no "like" or "as." Example: "Her smile was a ray of sunshine."

Personification

In personification, a non-human thing is given human qualities — feelings, actions, or thoughts. Example: "The wind whispered through the trees."

Notice how all three techniques compare or connect ideas in creative ways. A simile uses a signal word to show the comparison openly. A metaphor hides the comparison by saying one thing is the other. Personification goes further and treats an object, animal, or idea as if it were a living person.

✦ KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of figurative language like video-game skins. A simile is a side-by-side comparison screen: "This sword is like a lightning bolt." A metaphor removes the comparison word and just calls it: "This sword is a lightning bolt." Personification makes the sword act alive: "The sword screamed through the air." Same sword, three different creative outfits!

SECTION 3

Seeing the Differences: A Visual Guide

The diagram below shows how each type of figurative language works. On the left you see the two things being compared (or the non-human thing being made human). On the right you see the signal clue that tells you which technique is being used.

Each row shows the same idea — a comparison — but with a different technique. The signal clue on the right is the fastest way to classify each example.

When you read a passage on the SHSAT, scan for these signal clues. If you see "like" or "as" connecting two unlike things, you likely have a simile. If one thing is called another thing directly ("is," "was," "are"), think metaphor. And if an object or idea is doing something only a person could do — like whispering, crying, or dancing — that's personification.

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How Figurative Language Works in Passages

On the SHSAT, you won't just see figurative language floating by itself. It will be inside a paragraph, and a question might ask: "Which of the following is an example of a simile?" or "The author uses personification in line 5 to show…" Here is a step-by-step approach to find and identify figurative language in context.

The 3-Step Identification Method

Spot the Comparison or Human Action

Ask yourself: Is the author comparing two unlike things, or is a non-human thing acting like a person? If the answer is yes, you found figurative language.

Check for Signal Words

Look for "like" or "as" (simile), a direct "is/was/are" comparison (metaphor), or a human verb given to a non-human subject (personification).

Name and Explain

Label the technique and explain what it means. Why did the author choose this comparison? What feeling or image does it create?

⚠️ Watch Out!

Not every use of "like" or "as" is a simile. "I like pizza" is not a simile because it is not comparing two unlike things. "She arrived as the bell rang" is about timing, not comparison. Always check that two different things are being compared.

Let's look at a short passage to see how this works.

📖 Sample Passage

The old house sat at the edge of town, its windows staring blankly at anyone who passed. Vines crawled up the walls like green fingers reaching for the roof. The place was a forgotten museum, full of dust and memories.

"windows staring blankly" — Windows cannot stare. This is personification.
"like green fingers" — Vines are compared to fingers using "like." This is a simile.
"The place was a forgotten museum" — The house is called a museum directly. This is a metaphor.

SECTION 5

Sorting Figurative Language: A Decision Flowchart

Sometimes it can be tricky to decide which type of figurative language you're looking at. The decision flowchart below walks you through a series of yes-or-no questions. Start at the top and follow the arrows.

Start at the top and follow the arrows. The first "YES" you reach tells you the type of figurative language. If every answer is "NO," the sentence is probably literal (meaning exactly what it says).

Keep this flowchart in your head when you take the SHSAT. It only takes a few seconds to run through these questions, and it will help you avoid common traps like confusing a metaphor for a simile.

Quick-reference table showing the three types, their signal clues, and examples.

Figurative Language Type	Signal Clue	Example
Simile	like, as	The lake was as flat as a mirror.
Metaphor	is, was, are (direct equation)	The lake was a sheet of glass.
Personification	Human verb or feeling given to non-human thing	The lake swallowed the setting sun.

SECTION 6

Worked Example: Identifying Figurative Language in a Passage

Let's walk through a full SHSAT-style question together, step by step.

📖 Passage

Marcus stepped outside and felt the cold slap his face. The streets were rivers of ice, and his breath floated away like tiny clouds. He pulled his coat tighter. The morning was a bully, shoving everyone back indoors.

❓ Question

Which of the following from the passage is an example of a simile? (A) "the cold slap his face" (B) "The streets were rivers of ice" (C) "his breath floated away like tiny clouds" (D) "The morning was a bully"

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1 — Read Each Answer ChoiceGo through each option and look for the signal words "like" or "as." These are the clues that tell you something is a simile.

Step 2 — Check Option (A)"The cold slap his face" — Cold cannot literally slap. This gives a human action (slapping) to a non-human thing (cold). That is personification, not a simile. Eliminate (A).

Eliminated — personification

Step 3 — Check Option (B)"The streets were rivers of ice" — The streets are called rivers directly (no "like" or "as"). This is a metaphor. Eliminate (B).

Eliminated — metaphor

Step 4 — Check Option (C)"His breath floated away like tiny clouds" — Two unlike things (breath and clouds) are compared using the word "like." This matches the definition of a simile perfectly.

✓ This is a simile!

Step 5 — Confirm by Checking Option (D)"The morning was a bully" — The morning is called a bully directly. No "like" or "as." This is another metaphor. The correct answer is confirmed: (C).

Answer: (C)

SECTION 7

Strengths & Tricky Spots for Each Type

Each type of figurative language has strengths that make it popular with writers — and tricky spots where students sometimes get confused. The table below lays it all out.

Strengths of each figurative language type and the most common mistakes students make.

Type	Why Writers Use It	Common Mistake on Tests
Simile	Creates a clear picture by linking something unfamiliar to something the reader knows.	Thinking every sentence with "like" is a simile. "I like math" is NOT a simile because it is not a comparison.
Metaphor	Makes a stronger, bolder comparison by saying one thing IS another.	Mixing up metaphor and personification. "Time is a thief" is a metaphor (time = thief). "Time crept by" is personification (time creeps like a person).
Personification	Brings non-human things to life, making descriptions vivid and emotional.	Forgetting that animals doing human things counts too. "The dog smiled at me" is personification because dogs don't literally smile.

✦ KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of the three types like levels in a cooking competition. A simile is like putting a label on a jar — "This tastes LIKE chocolate." A metaphor removes the label and says, "This IS chocolate." And personification makes the chocolate come alive: "The chocolate called my name from the kitchen." The bolder the technique, the harder it can be to spot — so slow down and use the flowchart.

SECTION 8

Connecting to Other Figurative Language Techniques

Simile, metaphor, and personification are the big three, but they are part of a larger family of figurative language techniques. Once you master these, you'll be ready to recognize others too.

How simile, metaphor, and personification connect to more advanced techniques.

What You Know Now	What's Next	How They Connect
Simile (comparison with like/as)	Analogy — an extended comparison used to explain an idea	An analogy is like a simile that keeps going for a whole sentence or paragraph.
Metaphor (A is B)	Extended metaphor — a metaphor developed over several sentences or an entire poem	Instead of one quick comparison, the writer builds on it across many lines.
Personification (human traits to non-human)	Hyperbole — extreme exaggeration for effect	Both make descriptions bigger and more dramatic than reality.
All three types	Imagery — language that appeals to the five senses	Figurative language is one of the main tools writers use to create vivid imagery.

On the SHSAT, you may also see questions about tone and mood. Figurative language often shapes the mood of a passage. For example, "The forest smiled warmly at the hikers" creates a friendly mood, while "The forest swallowed the hikers whole" creates a scary one. Both are personification, but they set very different feelings. Paying attention to figurative language helps you answer mood and tone questions too.

SECTION 9

Practice Problems

Try these five problems on your own. After you pick your answer, read the explanation to check your thinking. The questions get harder as you go!

PROBLEM 1 — CONCEPTUAL

What is the main difference between a simile and a metaphor?

PROBLEM 2 — BASIC IDENTIFICATION

Read this sentence: "The stars danced across the night sky." What type of figurative language is this? Explain how you know.

PROBLEM 3 — INTERMEDIATE

Read this passage: "The classroom buzzed with energy. Ideas flew around the room like sparks from a campfire, and Mrs. Chen's lesson was a rollercoaster that never slowed down." Identify one simile and one metaphor in this passage.

PROBLEM 4 — APPLIED

A test question asks: "In line 7, the author uses the phrase 'the old bridge groaned under their weight' primarily to —" and the answer choices include: (A) explain how the bridge was built, (B) suggest the bridge is alive, (C) emphasize that the bridge is weak and strained, (D) compare the bridge to a person who is tired. Which answer is best, and what type of figurative language is this?

PROBLEM 5 — CRITICAL THINKING

Read this passage: "The city never sleeps. Its neon signs wink at passersby, and the subway is a steel serpent slithering beneath the streets. At night, the skyline glitters like a jeweled crown." Identify every example of figurative language in this passage, name each type, and explain how each one helps the reader picture the city.

SUMMARY

Figurative Language — Your Quick Review

Figurative language uses creative comparisons and descriptions to make writing vivid. A simile compares two unlike things using the signal words "like" or "as." A metaphor makes a direct comparison by saying one thing IS another, without "like" or "as." Personification gives human qualities to non-human things.

To identify figurative language on the SHSAT, use the 3-step method: (1) spot the comparison or human action, (2) check for signal words, and (3) name and explain the technique. Watch out for traps — not every "like" makes a simile, and not every "is" makes a metaphor. Always confirm that two unlike things are being compared, or that a non-human thing is acting like a person. Practice these skills, and you will feel confident tackling any figurative language question on test day!