Lit. Term #1:
Simile: comparing two unlike things using "like" or "as"
—Like a Stone” by Audioslave
--
—“In your house I long to be;
Room by room patiently,
I'll wait for you there, like a stone.
I'll wait for you there, Alone.”
--
—In the song, “Like a Stone,” the singer is using the phrase “like a stone” as a simile to exemplify…
Lit. Term #2
Metaphor: comparing two unlike things NOT using "like" or "as." Often implied rather than simply stated.
“Youth” by Matisyahu
--“Their insides are crying low
Some of them teachers squashed the flame
'fore it had a chance to grow
Some of them embers still glow
Them charcoal hushed and low.”
--Matisyahu is using “flame” or “fire” as a metaphor to explain how teachers can affect the education of youth. Not only education, but also the spirit and enthusiasm of youth.
Lit. Term #3
Hyperbole:
—Definition: Obvious and intentional exaggeration used for effect.
“Out of My Head” –Lupe Fiasco
“High off life, don't need a pill in there
You're killin' me, I think I need a will in here
Got me feeling real skills impaired
Hard to describe why you still in here”
—Lupe Fiasco is rapping about a girl that he can’t out of his head and he uses hyperbole when he says, “You’re killin me, I think I need a will in here.” He is over exaggerating how she can’t get out of his head in a sense that she is killing his brain so much that he needs a will. He isn’t literally dying obviously, but she is dominating his thoughts so much that it hurts like he is dying. He is saying it in a good way; trying to flatter her.
Lit. Term #4
Personification:
--Definition: the attribution of human characteristics to things (objects), animals or abstract notions. Examples: A smiling moon, a jovial sun, the winds whispered.
“Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel
—“In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence”
—Explanation:
The artist uses personification when he says, “…my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light.” This reminds me of times when I have felt like I’ve been blinded with a bright light after being in the dark for an extended amount of time. The pain does in fact feel like you are being stabbed for the first few seconds until your eyes adjust. The artist uses this personification to emphasize how he was jolted by the light emitting from the street lamp.
Lit. Term #5
Symbolism:
—Definition: the practice of representing things by symbols. Sometimes blatant and obvious, sometimes in an implied fashion. Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
—“We could live offa the fatta the lan'.” –Lennie in chapter 3.
--
—In John Steinbeck’s novel, he continually references a farm George and Lennie want to buy where they can “live offa the fatta the lan.” This “lan” or farm symbolizes their American Dream. It is much more than just a piece of property, it represents their hopes, dreams and aspirations for a better life.
Lit. Term #6
Theme- Definition: a unifying idea, image, or motif, repeated or developed throughout a work. (main message)
—“By My Side” –Ben Harper
—“Oh, my care for you is from the ground up to the sky.
It's over under up above, down below and to the side.
There's no use in pretending, no use in saving face.
My love is never ending and you are my saving grace.”
--
—Explanation: Ben Harper is singing about his loved one and how special she is to his heart. As he states, “My love is never ending…” he is explaining how deep and wide (metaphorically) his love is. The theme of the song is…how much he loves his special lady.
Lit. Term #7
Satire: --Definition: A work of literature that mocks social conventions, another work of art, or anything its author thinks ridiculous. Often using irony, sarcasm and/or ridicule. --Example: “Work it Out” by Jurassic 5
Now if you know what I know you need to work it out
If you ain't happy with yourself you need to work it out
You havin problems with your family then work it out
The things we go through just to work it out
I work it out when the situations seems unworkable
unreversible but God is most merciful
Many works, Many men converse
With soul search sweat it out
when they tryin to work it out
Explanation:
—Jurassic 5 is making a political statement that not everything can be solved or “worked out” just by working hard. They are saying this through sarcasm and ridiculing George W. They are saying that at some point government needs to make a change and help citizens overcome the economic downturn we’ve been involved in over the last eight years or so. As you can see in the video, they are making fun of how George Bush has handled his reign as president.
Lit. Term #8:
Your Choice!! Look up examples of Figurative Language and come up with your own literary term.
Simile: comparing two unlike things using "like" or "as"
—Like a Stone” by Audioslave
--
—“In your house I long to be;
Room by room patiently,
I'll wait for you there, like a stone.
I'll wait for you there, Alone.”
--
—In the song, “Like a Stone,” the singer is using the phrase “like a stone” as a simile to exemplify…
Lit. Term #2
Metaphor: comparing two unlike things NOT using "like" or "as." Often implied rather than simply stated.
“Youth” by Matisyahu
--“Their insides are crying low
Some of them teachers squashed the flame
'fore it had a chance to grow
Some of them embers still glow
Them charcoal hushed and low.”
--Matisyahu is using “flame” or “fire” as a metaphor to explain how teachers can affect the education of youth. Not only education, but also the spirit and enthusiasm of youth.
Lit. Term #3
Hyperbole:
—Definition: Obvious and intentional exaggeration used for effect.
“Out of My Head” –Lupe Fiasco
“High off life, don't need a pill in there
You're killin' me, I think I need a will in here
Got me feeling real skills impaired
Hard to describe why you still in here”
—Lupe Fiasco is rapping about a girl that he can’t out of his head and he uses hyperbole when he says, “You’re killin me, I think I need a will in here.” He is over exaggerating how she can’t get out of his head in a sense that she is killing his brain so much that he needs a will. He isn’t literally dying obviously, but she is dominating his thoughts so much that it hurts like he is dying. He is saying it in a good way; trying to flatter her.
Lit. Term #4
Personification:
--Definition: the attribution of human characteristics to things (objects), animals or abstract notions. Examples: A smiling moon, a jovial sun, the winds whispered.
“Sounds of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel
—“In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence”
—Explanation:
The artist uses personification when he says, “…my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light.” This reminds me of times when I have felt like I’ve been blinded with a bright light after being in the dark for an extended amount of time. The pain does in fact feel like you are being stabbed for the first few seconds until your eyes adjust. The artist uses this personification to emphasize how he was jolted by the light emitting from the street lamp.
Lit. Term #5
Symbolism:
—Definition: the practice of representing things by symbols. Sometimes blatant and obvious, sometimes in an implied fashion. Symbols are objects, characters, figures, and colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
—“We could live offa the fatta the lan'.” –Lennie in chapter 3.
--
—In John Steinbeck’s novel, he continually references a farm George and Lennie want to buy where they can “live offa the fatta the lan.” This “lan” or farm symbolizes their American Dream. It is much more than just a piece of property, it represents their hopes, dreams and aspirations for a better life.
Lit. Term #6
Theme- Definition: a unifying idea, image, or motif, repeated or developed throughout a work. (main message)
—“By My Side” –Ben Harper
—“Oh, my care for you is from the ground up to the sky.
It's over under up above, down below and to the side.
There's no use in pretending, no use in saving face.
My love is never ending and you are my saving grace.”
--
—Explanation: Ben Harper is singing about his loved one and how special she is to his heart. As he states, “My love is never ending…” he is explaining how deep and wide (metaphorically) his love is. The theme of the song is…how much he loves his special lady.
Lit. Term #7
Satire: --Definition: A work of literature that mocks social conventions, another work of art, or anything its author thinks ridiculous. Often using irony, sarcasm and/or ridicule. --Example: “Work it Out” by Jurassic 5
Now if you know what I know you need to work it out
If you ain't happy with yourself you need to work it out
You havin problems with your family then work it out
The things we go through just to work it out
I work it out when the situations seems unworkable
unreversible but God is most merciful
Many works, Many men converse
With soul search sweat it out
when they tryin to work it out
Explanation:
—Jurassic 5 is making a political statement that not everything can be solved or “worked out” just by working hard. They are saying this through sarcasm and ridiculing George W. They are saying that at some point government needs to make a change and help citizens overcome the economic downturn we’ve been involved in over the last eight years or so. As you can see in the video, they are making fun of how George Bush has handled his reign as president.
Lit. Term #8:
Your Choice!! Look up examples of Figurative Language and come up with your own literary term.