Question

figurative language
with harry styles
word bank:
simile: a comparison using like or as
metaphor: a comparison without using like or as
hyperbole: a purposeful and obvious exaggeration
personification: giving nonhuman things human qualities
idiom: a commonly used phrase/expression to express a more complex
or abstract phrase
allusion: an indirect reference to something else
alliteration: repetition of the same consonant
synecdoche: a figure of speech using a word to represent a whole
directions: for each of the lyrics below, identify what kind of figurative language harry uses to express an
idea or feeling.

1. “honey, i’d walk through fire for you” - harry styles, adore you

figurative language: ____________

1. “matilda, you talk of the pain like it’s all alright” - harry styles, matilda

figurative language: ____________

1. “holding me back, gravity’s holding me back.” - harry styles, as it was

figurative language: ____________

1. “just stop your crying, it’s a sign of the times. welcome to the final show.” - harry styles, sign of the times

figurative language: ____________

1. “sounds like something that i used to feel” - harry styles, two ghosts

figurative language: ____________

1. “you lay with him as you stay in the daydream” - harry styles, boyfriends

figurative language: ____________

1. “...and it sounds just like a song.” - harry styles, watermelon sugar

figurative language: ____________

1. “we’ve been doing all this late night talking ‘bout anything you wanna” - harry styles, late night talking

figurative language: ____________

Explanation:

1. The lyric uses extreme, unrealistic exaggeration to show devotion, which matches hyperbole.
2. The lyric uses "like" to compare talking about pain to being alright, a key marker of simile.
3. Gravity is given the human action of "holding me back", which is personification.
4. "Sign of the times" is a widely used, established phrase with a non-literal meaning, fitting an idiom.
5. The lyric uses "like" to compare a current feeling to a past one, a simile.
6. The lyric uses "as" to compare lying with someone to being in a daydream, a simile.
7. The lyric uses "like" to compare a sound to a song, a simile.
8. This lyric has no non-literal figurative language; it is literal.

Answer:

1. Hyperbole
2. Simile
3. Personification
4. Idiom
5. Simile
6. Simile
7. Simile
8. None (Literal language)