Give your students a clear, engaging introduction to figurative language with a presentation that covers all seven essential devices — definitions, classic examples, modern examples, and a quick-reference summary they can actually use.

This figurative language presentation moves through each device one at a time, pairing a student-friendly definition with a classic poetic example and relatable modern examples so students can see each device in action across multiple contexts.

Seven Devices Covered:

• Alliteration — Repeated initial consonant sounds, with a limerick example and familiar examples from song titles and tongue twisters
• Metaphor — Direct comparisons without like or as, with a lullaby example and everyday phrases
• Simile — Comparisons using like or as, with a limerick example and a clear simile-vs-metaphor breakdown
• Onomatopoeia — Words that imitate sounds, with a poem example and categorized lists (animals, actions, everyday sounds)
• Personification — Human qualities given to non-human things, with sentence examples and explanation of why writers use it
• Hyperbole — Dramatic exaggeration for emphasis or humor, with a poem example and a list of common everyday hyperboles
• Idiom — Phrases whose meaning can't be taken literally, with six common examples and cultural context

Also Includes:

• An introductory card explaining what figurative language is and why writers use it
• A Quick Reference table with all seven devices, definitions, and one-line examples — perfect for students to screenshot or print for their binder
• An activity on the final slide prompting students to identify some examples of each type on their own.

Why Teachers Love It:

• Each device is taught in the same consistent format: definition → classic example → modern examples → why writers use it
• Modern examples connect to song lyrics, everyday conversation, and things students already know
• Works as a whole-class introduction, small group review, or independent reference
• Clean, visually engaging design students want to look at

Best For:

• Grades 4-8 ELA (Reading & Literature)
• Figurative language and poetry units
• Reading and writing workshop
• Test prep and literary analysis review

This presentation was originally created by Dr. Jennifer Chandler and has been fully updated in Gamma. Your purchase includes a PDF version of all slides, plus a hyperlink on the final page that takes you directly to the live Gamma presentation — complete with animations — for use during classroom instruction.