6

Module 13

ENGLISH
USING FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
SIMILE, METAPHOR, HYPERBOLE

A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development

To the Learner
Dear Learner,
Did you have fun working on your previous module? I am sure
you enjoyed answering the exercises and did a great job.
Let us move on to another learning experience. I know you are
eager to learn more.
We are fun of comparing someone to something else using our
own imagination.
Whenever we describe qualities of person or things by
comparing and exaggerating them with someone else, we are using
Figurative Language.

Lets Learn This

In this module, I have prepared exercises for you to do to
enhance your skill using your figurative language.
There are several forms of figurative language that add colors to
the words especially in literature; however, this module will focus
only on the basic forms.

Lets Try This

Look at the picture below. Think that she is your mother. Write at
least one specific characteristic of your mother using direct and
indirect comparison and exaggeration. Write your answers on the
space provided below.

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Examples:
Direct
My mothers teeth is as white as pearl.
Indirect
She is my guiding star.
Exaggeration
Whenever I do wro ng, she can fo rgive me hund red times.

Write your own answers here:

Direct
1. ________________________
Indirect
2. ________________________
Exaggeration
3. ________________________
1

Did you find it easy making your own sentences?

Do not worry we will have more exercises to do.

157

Lets Study This

Study the set of sentences below. Group it into three whether it
emphasizes direct, indirect and exaggeration comparison.
Life is but a dream.
People crowded around the actress as thick as files at the
picnic.
Marriage is a roller coaster ride.
The clouds are like ghosts sailing across the
sky. You have knocked me over the feather.
He has a brain size of a pea.
The dancers legs are as pliable as
spaghetti. Her life is all bed of roses.
It is going to take a billion years before you get through a
medical school.

Direct
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Indirect
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Exaggeration
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

158

Are you done answering the exercise? Compare your answers

with the correct answers below.
Direct
People crowded around the actress as thick as files at the
picnic. The dancers legs are as pliable as spaghetti.
The clouds are like ghosts sailing across the sky.
Indirect
Life is but a dream.
Her life is all bed of roses.
Marriage is a roller coaster ride.
Exaggeration
It is going to take a billion years before you get through a
medical school.
You have knocked me over the feather.
He has a brain size a pea.
1

How many answers did you get?

Let us talk about it.

Go back to the correct answers. What did you notice with
the sentences that give direct comparison, indirect
comparison and exaggeration?
Did you notice some cues to determine their differences?
What are they?
Can you name the figurative language used in each set of
sentences? How about their definition?

Thus:
Whenever you describe something by comparing it with
someone else, you are using figurative language.

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What is FIGURATIVE LANGAUGE?

It is a language that uses words or expressions with a meaning
that is different from the literal interpretation. It goes beyond the
literal meaning of words in order to provide new effects or fresh
insights into an idea or a subject.
It is the use of expressions to communicate more than what the
writer says and suggests meaning without stating them.
What are the basic forms of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE?

1. SIMILE (Direct Comparison) is a figure of speech in which a

clear comparison is made between two things essentially unlike.

The comparison is made explicit by the use of some word or
phrase as like, as, than, similar to.

2. METAPHOR (Indirect Comparison) is a figure of speech in

which a clear comparison is made between two unlike things

that are alike in the way they are identified. It is similar to
SIMILE, but does not use like or as. It involves an implied
comparison between two relatively unlike things using a form of
be (is, was, are, were ..)

3. HYPERBOLE (Exaggeration) is a figure of speech of which a

deliberate exaggeration is made to emphasize a statement.

So, with the given definitions and differences of the three basic
forms of figurative language, I am sure you are now confident to
move on to the next exercise.

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Lets Do This
Read the poem The Child In Me. Pick out the figurative
languages that are found in the poem and write the number of each
figurative language in the corresponding figure.

THECHILDINME
by:IreneSanchezCutamora

1.

Folks,IwanttotellyouofthisIknow,
Richofloftyideasandasfamousasyou;
3.
4.
Shedarestomovetheheavensbow, If
obviouslyyouignoreherthough.

2.

5.

Herauralingersaswarmassummerbreeze,
Herkissableandinquisitivelipsareasredasroses;
7.
Asblackasebonyhercurlyhairisfreeze,
8.
Asfarasthetwilightyears,instature,shegrows.

6.

9.

Hereyessparkazureliketheskyafterthepassingstorm,

10.
Aspureasanangelherintentions,ifyouwillconsider;
11.

Herhandsareassmoothassatinwhenyoutouchitsform,
butashotasfirecrackeronthethirtyfirstofDecember.

12.
13.

HaveItoldyouhertemperisasquickasalightningintheeasternsky?
14.

Sheexplodeslikeavolcano;oftentimesscreaminginfear;
15.
Asheavyasrainwhenyouheardhercry,
16.
Butherlaughterissuchasweetmusictomyear.
17.

Sheisastrongwilledasabullinthegrazingland,
19.
Strivingtogetwhatshewants,graspingittight; Yet,as
20.
softasmarshmallowwhenyougrabherhand, And,as
sweetaschocolateswhensheembracesyouright.

18.

21.

Forme,sheissuchanextraordinarycreaturetosee
22.
Radiatingintheoutsideisherinnerbeauty;
23.
Regardlessofherflaws,foreverspecialshewillbe,
24.
Comewhatmay,shewillalwaysbethechildinme.
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1

HYPERBOLE

SIMILE

METAPHOR

162

Lets Do More

Interpret your favorite stanza of the poem by drawing the

symbolic representation of your interpretation.

Describe your drawing and write below your reaction to the

poem using figurative language.

Answers may vary.

Ask your teacher to check your work.

163

Lets Remember This

Hislips
areas
redas
Herlifeis
roses.
all
bedof
roses.
Varietyisthe

Lifeis

spiceoflife.

dream.

buta

Herskinis
as dark as
ebony.
pliab
le

as
spag
hetti.

in
H
Itisafigureofspeech
i

Intherough
sea,the
lightswere
glimmering
fireflies.

wh Theclouds
ich arelike
an ghosts
ex sailing
pli acrossthe
cit sky.
co
mp
ari
so
n
is
ma
de
bet
we
en
tw
o
thi
ng
s

e
ss
e
n
ti
al
ly
u
n
li
k
e.

e sentinel

r of
o

People
crowdedaround
theactressas
thickasfliesat
thepicnic.

Thefeet
ofaballet
dancershould
pointlike
arrowheads.

Figu r a L
a

I
n

t
Tobe e
forgivr
en, r
we o
must r
forgiv,
e
other I
s

seven
ty l
times i
seven.v
e
d

Itis
going
a
to

take
w
a
h
billio
n
o
l
years
before
e
youget
through y
a
e
medical a
school. r

i
n

t
h
a
t

mi
nu
te.

the
e
worl
x
a
g
g
e Thi
r nk
firs
a tof
tithe
con
o seq
nuen
ces
i a
s hun
dre
md
a tim
es
d be
e f
o
t r
o em
e a
k
m i
p ng
h a
n
a y
de
s
cis
i
io
z
n.
e
a
H
s
i
t
s
a

r
t
e
e
a
m
r
e
e
d
n

t.
a
r
m

c
r
e
s
t

Hewas
abrainsize
ofpea.

Youcould
have
knockedme
overwitha
feather.

Lets Test Ourselves

Have you heard the song entitled, Perhaps Love? If you can sing
it then do so. If not, try asking anybody in the family who can sing it
for you and listen intently. Can you identify the figurative language/s
used in the song?

PerhapsLove
(JohnDenver)

Perhapsloveislikearestingplace,ashelterfromthestorm
Itexiststogiveyoucomfort,itistheretokeepyouwarm
Andinthosetimesoftroublewhenyouaremostalone
Thememoryoflovewillbringyouhome
Perhapsloveislikeawindow,perhapsanopendoor
Itinvitesyoutocomecloser,itwantstoshowyoumore
Andevenifyouloseyourselfanddontknowwhattodo
Thememoryoflovewillseeyouthrough
Lovetosomeislikeacloud,tosomeasstrongassteel
Forsomeawayaliving,forsomeawaytofeel
Andsomesayloveisholdingonandsomesaylettinggo
Andsomesayloveiseverything,andsomesaytheydontknow
Perhapsloveisliketheocean,fullofconflict,fullofpain
Likeafirewhenitscoldoutside,thunderwhenitrains
IfIshouldliveforever,andallmydreamscometrue
Mymemoriesoflovewillbeofyou
Somesayloveisholdingon,andsomesaylettinggoSomesay
loveiseverythingandsomesaytheydontknowPerhapsloveis
likethemountains,fullofconflict,fullofchangeLikeafire
whenitscoldoutside,thunderwhenitrains
IfIshouldliveforever,andallmydreamscometrue
Mymemoriesoflovewillbeofyou

165

A. What kind of figurative language is commonly used in the song?

Identify at least five simile and write your answers inside the boxes
in column A. In column B, create metaphor expressions out of it.
3.
Col
Column A
um

1. Love is like a resting place.

2.

nB

4.
Love
is a resting
place.

5.

Ask
teacher
check
answers.

I know you did

well
in
this
exercise. Keep
up the good
work!

B. From five
exaggerated

your
to
your

exp
ress
ions
abo
ut
love
.
Writ
e
you
r
ans
wer
s on
the
hea
rt

shap
es
provi
ded.

Love
Answers may
vary.
Ask your teacher
to check your
answers.
166

Lets Enrich
Ourselves
Write S in the first blank if the figure of speech is a simile, write
M if it is a metaphor. Then write the two things being compared.
Example:
The rice mills with turning paddle
wheels looked like a fleet of boats.
1. S
2. rice mills and boats
Start here:
1.

- Her hair looks like the suns rays.

1.
2. __________ and __________
1-

The river is like a big crawling

snake. 3.
4. __________ and __________
2-

The room was a beehive of busy boys

and girls. 5.
6. __________ and __________.
2.

Circle the letter of the meaning of each hyperbole.

7. The face of Helen of Troy launched a thousand ships.

1. Her beauty caused a war.
2. She caused ships to sink.
3. She was a witch that destroyed a thousand ships.

167

8. It took him eons to give the answer.

1. He moves slowly.
2. It takes him a long time to answer.
3. He thinks deeply before talking.

9. They sat up a feast for a million mouths.

1. There was very much food to eat.
2. There were a million guests.
3. The feast fed a million people.

10. They always fill up numberless forms when applying for work.
1. There are many forms to distribute to persons looking for work.
2. The application forms they fill up cannot be counted.
3. Work applicants are asked to give much information about

themselves first.

1 Are you done?

2 How many correct answers did you get? __________
3 Work well done!!! Proceed to the next module.

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Answer Key

Lets Do This

HYPERBOLE
3

5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
ME TAPHOR

17

19
20
21

169

Lets Do More
Answers may vary. Let your teacher check your work.
Lets Test Ourselves
Possible answers.
A.
Love is like a resting place.

Love is a resting place

Perhaps love is like a window.

Perhaps love is a window.

Love to some is like a cloud.

Love to some is a cloud.

Love is like an ocean.

Love is an ocean.

Love is like the mountains.

Love is the mountains.

B. Answers may vary.

Lets Enrich Ourselves
A.
1. S
2. hair and suns rays
3. S
4. river and snake
5. M
6. room and beehive of busy boys and girls
B.
7. c
8. b
9. a
10. b

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