Figures of Speech Worksheets
About These 15 Worksheets
These worksheets will help you learn and practice different types of figures of speech in language. Figures of speech are creative and imaginative ways of using language to add depth, vividness, and meaning to our expressions.
To explain figures of speech, let’s take an example of a figure of speech called a simile: “Her smile was as bright as the sun.” In this sentence, the comparison between the smile and the brightness of the sun creates a vivid image in our minds. Similes use “like” or “as” to compare two things that are different but share a similar characteristic.
Figures of speech worksheets provide exercises and activities that help you understand and identify different figures of speech in texts. These worksheets often contain sentences or phrases where you have to recognize and analyze the types of figures of speech being used.
By working on figures of speech worksheets, you can learn how to:
Identify and Understand Meaning
Figures of speech worksheets help you develop the skill of recognizing figures of speech in language. By reading sentences or phrases, you learn to identify expressions or phrases that go beyond literal meanings and use imaginative language. This skill helps you appreciate the richness and creativity of language.
Figures of speech worksheets allow you to analyze the meanings and effects created by different figures of speech. You explore how these expressions add depth, evoke emotions, create imagery, or emphasize certain aspects of the message. By understanding figures of speech, you gain insight into how language can be used creatively and effectively to communicate ideas.
Enhance Writing Skills and Vocabulary
By learning about figures of speech, you enhance your writing skills. Figures of speech provide you with tools to make your writing more engaging, descriptive, and expressive. By practicing figures of speech through worksheets, you develop the ability to incorporate these devices into your own writing, making it more captivating and powerful.
Figures of speech worksheets expose you to a variety of expressive language. As you encounter different figures of speech, you learn new words, phrases, and idiomatic expressions. This exposure expands your vocabulary and helps you become a more effective communicator.
Figures of speech are commonly used in literature to add beauty, depth, and impact. By working on figures of speech worksheets, you develop an appreciation for the artistry and creativity of literary devices. You recognize how authors use figures of speech to create vivid imagery, convey emotions, and engage readers on an emotional and intellectual level.
What Are Figures of Speech?
Figures of speech are creative and imaginative expressions used in language to convey meaning in a non-literal way. They add depth, vividness, and emphasis to our communication by employing various linguistic devices. Here are five examples of figures of speech:
Simile – A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using “like” or “as” to highlight a shared characteristic.
For example: “He runs as fast as a cheetah” or “Her voice is as sweet as honey.”
Metaphor – Metaphor is a figure of speech that also compares two different things, but without using “like” or “as.” It directly states that one thing is another, creating a symbolic or imaginative connection.
For example: “Life is a journey” or “Her heart is made of stone.”
Hyperbole – Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggerated or extravagant statements not meant to be taken literally. It emphasizes a point through exaggerated language.
For example: “I’ve told you a million times!” or “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!”
Personification – Personification is a figure of speech that attributes human qualities or actions to non-human things or abstract concepts. It brings inanimate objects or ideas to life by giving them human characteristics.
For example: “The sun smiled down on us” or “The wind whispered through the trees.”
Onomatopoeia – Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech that uses words that imitate or mimic the sounds they represent. It creates a vivid auditory effect.
For example: “The bees buzzed around the flowers” or “The thunder rumbled in the distance.”
How Do Authors Use This Technique?
Authors use figures of speech as a form of figurative language in literature for several reasons:
Enhancing Descriptions
Figures of speech bring richness and vividness to descriptions in literature. By using imaginative language, authors can paint a more detailed and engaging picture in the readers’ minds. Figures of speech add depth, color, and sensory imagery to the writing, making the scenes, characters, and settings come alive.
Figures of speech add depth and layers of meaning to the writing. By using creative language devices, authors can convey complex ideas, explore abstract concepts, or express multiple interpretations. Figures of speech provide a means to express deeper thoughts, symbolize themes, or convey subtle nuances that go beyond literal language
Evoking Emotions and Senses
Figures of speech have the power to evoke strong emotions in readers. By using expressive and metaphorical language, authors can tap into the readers’ emotions and create a deeper emotional connection. Figures of speech allow authors to convey complex emotions, create moods, and elicit specific feelings within readers.
Figures of speech appeal to the senses, making the reading experience more immersive. By incorporating sensory imagery, authors stimulate the readers’ senses of sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. This sensory engagement enhances the readers’ immersion in the story and helps them connect with the narrative on a more visceral level.
Captivating and Memorable Writing
Figures of speech make writing more captivating and memorable. By employing imaginative and evocative language, authors create a distinct voice and style. Figures of speech engage readers’ attention, leaving a lasting impact on their memory. They make the writing stand out, capturing readers’ interest and drawing them into the world of the story.
Figures of speech serve specific literary purposes and effects. They can create irony, humor, suspense, or dramatic tension. Figures of speech allow authors to play with language, create wordplay, or develop unique metaphors that add richness to the narrative. These literary effects enhance the overall reading experience and make the literature more engaging and thought-provoking.