After a month spent reading and writing poetry and learning all about figurative language, I stood in front of the class this morning answering last-minute questions before the test. It seemed like students had a good grasp of the definitions and examples of simile, metaphor, personification, and hyperbole. They knew the difference between figurative and literal language, too. I was just going to pat myself on the back when someone raised a hand to ask one last question.
"I know the difference between literal and figurative," she started, "but can you give us some examples of figurative language?"
My jaw dropped and my eyes widened, but I kept my composure and tossed the question back to the class. "Can anyone help here?"
There was silence.
"You guys!" I finally said, "All of these things are figurative language! That's what we've been talking about this whole time!"
They tilted their heads in slow motion, a light flickering behind their eyes until suddenly it ignited.
"OOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhh!" they replied collectively.
"Now I get it!" said the first student.
"Well thank goodness you asked," I told her, "because obviously, I didn't make that clear."
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