Question

literal and figurative usage
when a word is used in a literal sense, it is being employed in its primary meaning. it is meant to be read in a logical and/or realistic way.
when a word (or phrase) is used in a figurative way, it is being employed in a symbolic or nonliteral way.
some types of figurative language include similes, metaphors and personification.
for each sentence, indicate whether the sentence is describing something literal or figurative by writing an l (for literal) or an f (for figurative) on the line provided.

1. ________ the mouse sat quietly in the corner.
2. ________ she was as quiet as a mouse.
3. ________ his room was a mess.
4. ________ his room was a pigsty.
5. ________ i am extremely bored.
6. ________ i’m dying of boredom.
7. ________ when the circus came to town, some of the performers stayed in our spare bedrooms.
8. ________ living with my brothers and sisters is like living in the middle of a circus.
9. ________ the sun was shining all day.
10. ________ that day, the sun smiled upon us.
11. ________ the golden rays of the sun playfully tickled our upturned faces.
12. ________ his anger was a wild and violent storm that left just as quickly as it came.
13. ________ when he found out about the scandal, he was very angry.
14. ________ my emotions are an open book.
15. ________ i wear my heart on my sleeve.
16. ________ it is often very easy to tell what i am feeling because i am always very expressive.

Explanation:

1. "The mouse sat quietly in the corner." describes a straightforward event, so it is literal.
2. "She was as quiet as a mouse." uses a simile (a type of figurative language), so it is figurative.
3. "His room was a mess." is a simple, non - symbolic statement, so it is literal.
4. "His room was a pigsty." uses a metaphor comparing the room to a pigsty, so it is figurative.
5. "I am extremely bored." is a direct expression, so it is literal.
6. "I’m dying of boredom." is an exaggeration (hyperbole), a form of figurative language, so it is figurative.
7. "When the circus came to town, some of the performers stayed in our spare bedrooms." is a factual statement, so it is literal.
8. "Living with my brothers and sisters is like living in the middle of a circus." uses a simile, so it is figurative.
9. "The sun was shining all day." is a literal description of the weather, so it is literal.
10. "That day, the sun smiled upon us." personifies the sun, so it is figurative.
11. "The golden rays of the sun playfully tickled our upturned faces." personifies the sun's rays, so it is figurative.
12. "His anger was a wild and violent storm that left just as quickly as it came." uses a metaphor, so it is figurative.
13. "When he found out about the scandal, he was very angry." is a direct statement, so it is literal.
14. "My emotions are an open book." uses a metaphor, so it is figurative.
15. "I wear my heart on my sleeve." is a metaphor, so it is figurative.
16. "It is often very easy to tell what I am feeling because I am always very expressive." is a literal statement.

Answer:

1. L
2. F
3. L
4. F
5. L
6. F
7. L
8. F
9. L
10. F
11. F
12. F
13. L
14. F
15. F
16. L