Lesson 5: Figures of Speech — Simile, Metaphor, and Personification

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lesson on figures of speech, emphasizing the distinctions between literal and figurative language and the specific definitions of simile, metaphor, and personification.

Figure of Speech

A creative use of language that conveys ideas or images beyond literal meaning to stimulate the reader’s imagination.

Literal Language

Words that mean exactly what they state—no comparisons, exaggerations, or figurative devices involved.

Figurative Language

Language that departs from literal meaning by employing figures of speech such as simile, metaphor, and personification.

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or "as" (e.g., “as busy as a bee”).

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as" (e.g., “Home is where the slug is”).

Personification

A figure of speech that assigns human traits, feelings, or actions to non-human entities or inanimate objects (e.g., “The sun bleeds the sky”).