Figurative & Literal Language worksheet for students to practice identifying literal and figurative language in sentences.

Problem Overview:

The task involves identifying whether each sentence is literal or figurative.

- Literal language means the words are used in their exact, dictionary sense.
- Figurative language uses words in a non-literal way to create images, suggest ideas, or evoke emotions.

Solution Approach:

We will analyze each sentence and determine whether it is literal or figurative based on the definitions provided.

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Sentences Analysis:

1. Americans commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15.
- Literal: This sentence states a factual event without any metaphorical or symbolic meaning.
- Answer: L

2. The holiday starts on September 15 because El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua all celebrate their national independence on that day.
- Literal: This sentence provides a factual explanation for why the holiday begins on September 15.
- Answer: L

3. Mexico and Chile celebrate separation from Spain on September 16 and 18, respectively.
- Literal: This sentence describes historical events in a straightforward manner.
- Answer: L

4. Two of my favorite Hispanic artists are Frida Kahlo and Pablo Neruda.
- Literal: This sentence expresses personal preference in a direct manner.
- Answer: L

5. “Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?”
- Figurative: This sentence uses metaphorical language ("wings to fly") to express freedom or transcendence, not literally about flying.
- Answer: F

6. Frida Kahlo, a 20th-century Mexican painter, said that.
- Literal: This sentence identifies Frida Kahlo as a Mexican painter and attributes a statement to her.
- Answer: L

7. Kahlo’s paintings speak to my soul.
- Figurative: The phrase "speak to my soul" is a metaphorical expression of emotional connection, not literal speech.
- Answer: F

8. President Lyndon B. Johnson began National Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968.
- Literal: This sentence provides a historical fact about the origin of the celebration.
- Answer: L

9. It was expanded to a full month in 1988.
- Literal: This sentence describes a factual change in the duration of the celebration.
- Answer: L

10. There are a million ways to honor Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Figurative: The phrase "a million ways" is an exaggeration (hyperbole) to emphasize numerous possibilities, not a literal count.
- Answer: F

11. I like to sing the praises of Hispanic artists, scholars, and scientists.
- Figurative: The phrase "sing the praises" is a metaphorical expression meaning to highly commend or admire, not literal singing.
- Answer: F

12. Two famous Hispanic-American writers are Sandra Cisneros and Gary Soto.
- Literal: This sentence identifies two well-known writers by name.
- Answer: L

13. Sandra Cisneros grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and Gary Soto was raised in Fresno, California.
- Literal: This sentence provides factual information about the childhood locations of the writers.
- Answer: L

14. There are more than 44 million Hispanics in the U.S. today.
- Literal: This sentence presents a statistical fact about the population.
- Answer: L

15. “Peace goes into the making of a poem as flour goes into the making of bread.”
- Figurative: This sentence uses a simile to compare peace in poetry to flour in bread-making, which is not literal.
- Answer: F

16. The Chilean poet Pablo Neruda said that.
- Literal: This sentence attributes a statement to Pablo Neruda.
- Answer: L

17. No poet captures the human heart like Neruda.
- Figurative: The phrase "captures the human heart" is a metaphorical expression of emotional impact, not literal capture.
- Answer: F

18. Immortalize your favorite Hispanic artist in a poem of your own!
- Literal: This sentence encourages creative writing but does not use figurative language itself.
- Answer: L

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Final Answers:

1. L
2. L
3. L
4. L
5. F
6. L
7. F
8. L
9. L
10. F
11. F
12. L
13. L
14. L
15. F
16. L
17. F
18. L

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Boxed Final Answer:

\[
\boxed{
\begin{array}{ll}
1. & \text{L} \\
2. & \text{L} \\
3. & \text{L} \\
4. & \text{L} \\
5. & \text{F} \\
6. & \text{L} \\
7. & \text{F} \\
8. & \text{L} \\
9. & \text{L} \\
10. & \text{F} \\
11. & \text{F} \\
12. & \text{L} \\
13. & \text{L} \\
14. & \text{L} \\
15. & \text{F} \\
16. & \text{L} \\
17. & \text{F} \\
18. & \text{L} \\
\end{array}
}
\]