Exploring Figurative Language with Poems

Exploring Figurative Language with Poems

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to discuss how a poet uses figurative language to help readers create mental pictures with words.

What do you already know about figurative language in poems?

What is Figurative Language?

Figurative language is a way of expressing ideas or feelings in an imaginative way. It goes beyond the literal meaning to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

Types of Figurative Language

There are several types of figurative language, including similes, metaphors, personification, and more. These help poets paint detailed mental images in the reader's mind.

Understanding Similes

Similes are comparisons using 'like' or 'as'. They help us make connections between two different things by highlighting their similarities.

Exploring Metaphors

Metaphors compare two things by stating that one thing is another. They help create strong mental images by drawing direct comparisons.

Discovering Personification

Personification gives human qualities to non-human things. It helps readers relate to objects or concepts in a more personal way.

Analyzing Poems with Figurative Language

Now that you understand figurative language, let's read a poem together and identify the figurative language used by the poet to create mental pictures with words.

Applying What You've Learned

It's your turn to create a short poem using at least one type of figurative language. Think about the mental pictures you want to paint with your words.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.