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
Related Posts
Complex Sentences Made Simple: The Comma Checks Middle Schoolers Can Actually Use
How to Teach Connotation and Word Relationships in Middle School (Grades 6–8) Using Books Kids Are Already Reading
How to Teach RI.6.3, RI.7.3 & RI.8.3 | Mini-Lessons
Skill Gap or Access Barrier? Middle School ELA Diagnostic
Middle School ELA Diagnostic Data: What to Teach Next