Year 4 English Literary Techniques

Figurative Language

Figurative language uses creative comparisons and effects to make writing more vivid and expressive.

Four Types of Figurative Language

A simile compares two things using the words "like" or "as".

✓ "The footballer was as fast as a cheetah."

✓ "Her smile was like sunshine on a cold morning."

✓ "The water was as clear as glass."

A metaphor compares two things by saying one thing is another (without using "like" or "as").

✓ "Life is a journey full of twists and turns."

✓ "The classroom was a zoo after lunch."

✓ "His words were daggers that hurt deeply."

Personification gives human qualities to non-human things, like animals, objects, or nature.

✓ "The wind whispered through the trees."

✓ "The sun smiled down on the picnic."

✓ "The old car groaned and complained up the hill."

Onomatopoeia uses words that sound like the noise they describe.

buzz crash sizzle splash whoosh hiss

✓ "The snakes hissed and the bees buzzed in the garden."

Example 1: Identify the technique

"The thunder clapped its hands angrily."

This is personification — thunder is given the human action of clapping hands.

Example 2: Simile vs. Metaphor

Simile: "She was like a fish in water." (uses "like")

Metaphor: "She was a fish in water." (no "like" or "as")

Both compare her swimming ability — but a metaphor is more direct.

Example 3: Onomatopoeia in a sentence

"The bacon sizzled and crackled in the hot pan."

Sizzled and crackled are onomatopoeia — you can almost hear the cooking!

A comparison using "like" or "as". Example: brave as a lion.

A direct comparison saying one thing is another. Example: Life is a rollercoaster.

Giving human qualities to non-human things. Example: The trees danced in the wind.

Words that sound like what they describe. Examples: buzz, crash, sizzle.

Loading questions…

●A simile compares using "like" or "as" — as brave as a lion.
●A metaphor says one thing IS another — Life is a journey.
●Personification gives human qualities to non-human things — the wind whispered.
●Onomatopoeia uses words that sound like what they describe — buzz, crash, sizzle.