Figurative Language Activities for Middle School | Teach Across Genres | Grades 6–8
1. Why Figurative Language is Essential
2. Figurative Language in Fantasy
1. Tolkien: The Fellowship of the Ring — The One Ring
2. Jacobs: The Monkey’s Paw — Symbol of Fate
3. Lewis: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — Aslan as Symbol
4. Key Takeaways: Figurative Language in Fantasy
3. Figurative Language in Nonfiction
1. Martin Luther King Jr.: I Have a Dream — The “Bad Check” Metaphor
2. Malala Yousafzai: UN Speech — Repetition & Parallelism
3. Winston Churchill: “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” — Anaphora
4. Key Takeaways: Figurative Language in Nonfiction
4. Figurative Language in Poetry
1. Langston Hughes: Dreams — Extended Metaphor
2. Emily Dickinson: Because I Could Not Stop for Death — Personification
3. Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken — Symbolism
4. Key Takeaways: Figurative Language in Poetry
5. Figurative Language in Everyday Speech & Marketing
1. Nike: “Just Do It” — Imperative Metaphor
2. Red Bull: “Gives You Wings” — Hyperbole
3. Kit Kat: “Have a Break, Have a Kit Kat” — Rhythm & Parallelism
4. Memes/TikTok Captions — Figurative Language Students Already Know
5. Key Takeaways: Figurative Language in Everyday Speech & Marketing
6. Why Figurative Language Matters
Figurative Language Activities for Middle School | Teach Across Genres | Grades 6–8
Debra Shepherd
14 minute read
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