Figurative Language

Grade 7 · English · Study Guide

Master the full toolkit of figurative language devices — from simile and hyperbole to irony and symbolism — and learn how to identify and interpret them in texts.

Figurative language is language that means something other than its literal words. When someone says 'it's raining cats and dogs,' no actual animals are falling from the sky. That's figurative language — and learning to recognize and analyze it is one of the most important reading skills you can develop.

You already know the big ones: simile (comparing using 'like' or 'as'), metaphor (direct comparison), and personification (human traits given to non-human things). But figurative language goes much deeper. Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration for effect — 'I've told you a million times!' Idioms are expressions whose meaning can't be figured out from the individual words — 'break a leg' means good luck. Irony occurs when the actual meaning is the opposite of what's said — if someone trips and falls and you say 'nice moves,' that's verbal irony.

Symbolism gives objects, colors, or settings deeper meaning. A dove symbolizes peace. A storm often symbolizes conflict or emotional turmoil. Red can symbolize danger or passion. Great authors layer their writing with symbols that carry meaning beyond the plot. Allusions are references to famous works, events, or people — when a character is called 'a real Romeo,' the writer is alluding to Shakespeare's tragic romantic hero.

To analyze figurative language, ask three questions: What device is being used? What does it literally say? What does it actually mean? Understanding the gap between the literal and figurative meaning is where the real analysis happens. Authors choose figurative language carefully — it creates mood, reveals character, and makes abstract ideas concrete.

Key terms

Simile

Comparison using 'like' or 'as'

Metaphor

Direct comparison stating one thing IS another

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration used for effect, not literal truth

Idiom

An expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from its individual words

Irony

When the actual meaning is opposite to or very different from what is said

Symbolism

When an object, color, or setting represents a larger idea or concept

Allusion

An indirect reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work

Flashcards

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration for effect — 'I've waited forever'

Idiom

Expression with a non-literal meaning — 'it's raining cats and dogs'

Verbal irony

Saying the opposite of what you mean — 'oh great, another Monday'

Symbolism

When an object stands for a larger idea — a dove = peace

Allusion

A reference to a famous work, person, or event — 'he was no Einstein'

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things — 'the wind howled'

Practice questions

1. Which sentence is an example of hyperbole?

   1. She was as quiet as a mouse
   2. My backpack weighs a ton
   3. The stars blinked in the sky
   4. He ran like the wind
   Show answer

   Answer: My backpack weighs a ton

   Backpacks don't actually weigh a ton — this is deliberate exaggeration (hyperbole) to emphasize how heavy it feels.

2. The phrase 'break a leg' is an example of an ___ — an expression whose meaning can't be guessed from individual words.

   Show answer

   Answer: idiom

   Idioms are culturally-specific expressions that don't mean what they literally say — 'break a leg' means good luck in theater.

3. A dove is commonly used as a symbol for peace.

   Show answer

   Answer: True

   The dove as peace symbol goes back to biblical times and is universally recognized in Western culture.

4. Verbal irony occurs when:

   1. A character says exactly what they mean
   2. Someone says the opposite of what they actually mean
   3. The weather reflects a character's emotions
   4. A word sounds like its meaning
   Show answer

   Answer: Someone says the opposite of what they actually mean

   Verbal irony is the gap between what's said and what's meant — sarcasm is a common form of verbal irony.

5. An author writes: 'She was a night owl, staying up until the stars faded.' This is an example of:

   1. Hyperbole
   2. Simile
   3. Metaphor
   4. Allusion
   Show answer

   Answer: Metaphor

   Calling her 'a night owl' directly states she IS an owl — no 'like' or 'as' — making it a metaphor.

Fun facts

• The English language has over 25,000 idioms — 'once in a blue moon,' 'bite the bullet,' and 'spill the beans' are just the tip of the iceberg.
• Homer's Iliad, written nearly 3,000 years ago, is full of epic similes — extended comparisons that can last an entire paragraph.

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