Name: ______________________________
Identifying Figurative Language #1

Directions: Read the lines of poetry.  Slashes represent line breaks.  Figure out which technique is being used: simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or personification.  In the boxes, explain how you figured out your answer.  It is possible that more than one technique is being used.  If you can, explain each.  

1. Like burnt-out torches by a sick man's bed 

Which technique is being used? 

__________________________________________________________________________________
Simile, Metaphor, Personification, or Hyperbole

How do you figure?
(write a sentence explaining your answer)

	

2.  There’s a faucet in the basement / that had dripped one drop all year 
since he fixed it, we can’t find it / without wearing scuba gear.

Which technique is being used? 

__________________________________________________________________________________
Simile, Metaphor, Personification, or Hyperbole

How do you figure?
(write a sentence explaining your answer)

	

3.  When the stars threw down their spears, / And water'd heaven with their tears,

Which technique is being used? 

__________________________________________________________________________________
Simile, Metaphor, Personification, or Hyperbole

How do you figure?
(write a sentence explaining your answer)

	

4.  The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas, 
     The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,

Which technique is being used? 

__________________________________________________________________________________
Simile, Metaphor, Personification, or Hyperbole

How do you figure?
(write a sentence explaining your answer)

	

5.  The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play. 
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same, 

Which technique is being used? __________________________________________________________________________________
Simile, Metaphor, Personification, or Hyperbole

How do you figure?
(write a sentence explaining your answer)	

6.  The sun was shining on the sea, / Shining with all his might:

Which technique is being used? __________________________________________________________________________________
Simile, Metaphor, Personification, or Hyperbole

How do you figure?
(write a sentence explaining your answer)	

7.  The leaves are little yellow fish / swimming in the river. 

Which technique is being used? __________________________________________________________________________________
Simile, Metaphor, Personification, or Hyperbole

How do you figure?
(write a sentence explaining your answer)	

8.  The old clock down in the parlor / Like a sleepless mourner grieves,

Which technique is being used? __________________________________________________________________________________
Simile, Metaphor, Personification, or Hyperbole

How do you figure?
(write a sentence explaining your answer)	

9.  By the lakes that thus outspread / Their lone waters, lone and dead / Their sad waters, sad and chilly

Which technique is being used? __________________________________________________________________________________
Simile, Metaphor, Personification, or Hyperbole

How do you figure?
(write a sentence explaining your answer)	

10.  Fame is a bee. / It has a song -- / It has a sting --

Which technique is being used? __________________________________________________________________________________
Simile, Metaphor, Personification, or Hyperbole

How do you figure?
(write a sentence explaining your answer)