Lyrics

Chorus
Sometimes what you mean is not exactly what you say
That’s figurative language, using words in different ways
Personification, alliteration, assonance, hyperbole
Onomatopoeia, metaphor, and simile

Verse I
When Sally seems to sit somewhere separate from Sonia, Or Caleb calls Chris ‘cause he’s coming to California It’s called alliteration: that’s what occurs When you got the same sound at the start of every word
But when you’ve got a vowel sound that keeps sounding the same That’s a figure called assonance, yeah, that’s its name It’s what I’m trying to define by providing this example But I cannot deny that assonance can be a handful

Chorus

Verse II
A simile is something that you use to compare
Two unrelated things with an element that’s shared My mind is like an ocean; it’s as smooth as jazz But it’s only a simile if it uses “like” or “as”
A metaphor is similar, but watch out! Be careful ’cause you’ve got to leave “like” and “as” out My mind is an ocean; my words are a river, So keep your ears open as I continue to deliver
Chorus

Verse III
Now if the sun’s smiling down, or the boat hugged the shore That’s personification, nothing less, nothing more
But with a buzz or a ding or a hiss or a roar That’s onomatopoeia that we’re using for sure
Hyperbole: man, that’s like a million times harder!
Take something true, then exaggerate it way farther
Now you’ve heard this song from beginning to the finish
Now you’ve got some tools to draw your literary image

Resources

Further Reading

Website: Kids Konnect
Figurative Language
This website has a chart of figurative language definitions as well as links to other resources.

Website: The Poetics of Robert Frost
Figurative Language
Using examples from Robert Frost’s poetry, this website provides detailed information about various forms of figurative language.

Lesson Plans & Activities

Website: ABCTeach
Baseball Similes
This worksheet explains the set-up of a simile and then asks students to create their own about baseball.

Website: ABCTeach
Hyperboles (PDF)
This worksheet teaches students about using hyperboles to make writing more amusing.

Website: ABCTeach
Personification
This worksheet gives students practice in using personification.

Website: ABCTeach
Similes
This worksheet allows students to practice using similes.

Website: ABCTeach
What’s a Euphemism? (PDF)
This worksheet teaches students how to exchange simple phrases for clever euphemisms.

Website: The Educator’s Reference Desk
Analysis of Literary Devices Used By Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X
By analyzing the speeches of MLK, Jr. and Malcolm X, students get immersed in figurative language and creative thinking.

Website: The Educator’s Reference Desk
Figurative Language
This lesson plan goes extremely in-depth about the use and interpretation of figurative language, and requires the use of internet resources provided within this page. This lesson plan also comes with worksheets.

Website: Education World: The Educator’s Best Friend
Fear Factor Fun
Students are asked to write descriptions to “Fear Factor” stunts they create in the hopes of grossing out other students. It teaches them to use figurative language in an effective way.

Website: Education World: The Educator’s Best Friend
Poetry Shopping Spree
Students “shop” for poems that provide examples of literary elements/devices such as metaphors, similes, personification, imagery, or onomatopoeia.

Website: Education World: The Educator’s Best Friend
Snowy Similes
This activity asks students to create picture booklets using as many similes as possible.

Website: Harris Middle School
Alliteration Lesson Plan and Resources
This website provides several ideas for classroom activities about alliteration, as well as links to other resources.

Website: Harris Middle School
Descriptive Words
This activity encourages students to describe phrases in creative ways that they would not normally think of.

Website: Harris Middle School
Imagery

Students are asked to identify imagery within a poem, and then to write their own poems using creative imagery.

Website: Harris Middle School
Personification Lesson Plans and Resources
This website recommends numerous activities for teaching personification.

Website: Harris Middle School
A Simile and Metaphor Sample Lesson Plan
This lesson plan teaches students to identify and create similes and metaphors.

Website: Mr. Donn’s Language Arts
Figurative Language Lesson Plans & Activities
This website features lesson plans, activities, quizzes and links to other resources about figurative language.