Figurative Language Guide
Every example in Mighty Hopeful, chapter by chapter, with page numbers.
Mighty Hopeful hides a figurative-language lesson inside its story. This is the guide from the back of the book — free to use in your classroom or at your kitchen table. Page numbers are the printed book’s.
Download the guide (PDF, 5 pages)
Types of figurative language
- Simile
- a comparison that uses "like" or "as"
- Metaphor
- a comparison that does not use "like" or "as"
- Hyperbole
- an exaggeration that makes a point
- Oxymoron
- a phrase that uses two words that mean the opposite of each other
- Idiom
- a commonly used phrase that has a cultural meaning beyond its individual elements
- Personification
- a phrase that gives human qualities to non-human objects
- Alliteration
- a phrase that uses words with the same beginning sounds
Chapter One: Celebration
Simile
- In fact, he was as happy as a lark with his age.page 1
- He hated when people would cuddle him like a stuffed teddy bear, squeeze his cheeks, or nibble his face like it was a big ball of cotton candy.page 1
- Some days, he felt like he had the confidence to climb Mount Everest.page 2
Metaphor
- He was king of the world!page 2
Hyperbole
- When he was six, everybody treated him like a total baby.page 1
Oxymoron
- No longer was he seen as a big baby.page 2
Chapter Two: Helping Out
Metaphor
- Mighty Hopeful shine as bright as crystal in his father's eyes.page 4
- Their relationship was worth its weight in gold.page 4
Hyperbole
- It seemed like an eternity.page 4
- Earning his father's approval meant more to Mighty Hopeful than a million dollarspage 4
Oxymoron
- It was unbelievably real to him.page 3
Idiom
- He even got a kick out of his mother calling him a "computer whiz" every time she needed help with her phone or surfing the Internet.page 3
- He knew his prediction of who would win would carry a lot of weight with his father, and he wanted to put his best foot forward.page 4
Personification
- His heart smiled at the idea of pleasing his father.page 4
Alliteration
- After a lengthy pause to ponder all these possibilities, Mighty Hopeful stuck out his chest and announced to his father that the Philadelphia Eagles would win the game!page 4
Chapter Three: A Predicament
Simile
- The teeth in his hand felt light as a feather, but the pain of finding out the truth made his feet feel as heavy as brickspage 7
- Their faces were round, and their eyes were as clear as crystal.page 9
- Their smiles were like a rainbow on a stormy day.page 9
- Their words echoed like thunder rumbling through the sky.page 9
- It sounded like billions of angels were singing along with you.page 12
- Your heart is like a flower.page 16
- I am sure to feel like a sock left in the dryer.page 18
Metaphor
- Remember, respect is the bridge between love and hate.page 15
- To Mighty Hopeful, the angel's kindness was sunshine after the rain.page 15
Hyperbole
- It looked wider than a barn door.page 7
Idiom
- They're going to get a kick out of making jokes about my mouth.page 8
- I will be the laughing stock of the town!page 8
- He was completely blown away.page 9
Alliteration
- He's the school's biggest, most bothersome bully, and he will blatantly blast my business around the entire school.page 18
Chapter Four: Real Emotions
Simile
- In the past, he would have been as excited as a kid in a candy store.page 20
- Tears gushed from his eyes like a geyser.page 21
Metaphor
- "Listen, my precious boy," she replied, "even with three missing teeth, you are handsome, you are smart, and you are dynamite!"page 23
Hyperbole
- Tears gushed from his eyes like a geyser.page 21
Idiom
- She stopped in her tracks.page 21
- When Mighty Hopeful made eye contact with his mother, he let out a cry that would send a shiver down your spine.page 21
Alliteration
- After pondering his predicament, he ran to find his mother, who was in the kitchen preparing breakfast.page 20
- He could smell the awesomely alluring aroma of his favorite breakfast burritos.page 20
- Not even the delicious, delectable, and downright finger-licking breakfast burritos could erase his fear about his missing teeth.page 20
- Mighty Hopeful wanted to follow these wise words, so he collapsed into his mother's arms.page 23
- Mighty Hopeful was surprised to see his mother simply smile at his distress.page 23
Chapter Five: A Change of Circumstances
Simile
- Mighty Hopeful rose from the floor like smoke from a fire.page 26
- She hugged her son again before they settled down for the bountiful breakfast burritos, as happy as clamspage 26
Oxymoron
- Well, I guess you could call this a happy accident.page 26
Idiom
- Mighty Hopeful collapsed in stitches.page 25
Alliteration
- She hugged her son again before they settled down for the bountiful breakfast burritospage 26
Chapter Six: Facing Fear with Confidence
Metaphor
- As the two of them got out the car, Mighty Hopeful's dad gave him a teddy bear hug.page 30
Idiom
- His dad saw his anxiety and asked, "Penny for your thoughts?"page 27
Alliteration
- I am going to need all the confidence in the world to face big, bold Bubbub Bookey.page 29
Chapter Seven: Acts of Bravery
Simile
- He felt as brave as a lion.page 34
- He was as confident as a soaring eagle.page 38
Hyperbole
- The two of them ran faster than the wind.page 34