Taylor Swift Figurative Language Worksheet Printable

When it comes to learning figurative language, there’s nothing like the compelling lyrics of a song to make the concepts stick. Taylor Swift, a maestro of storytelling through her music, weaves a tapestry of similes, metaphors, and personifications in her songs that resonate with listeners worldwide. In this blog post, we explore how Swift’s poetic prowess can transform a mundane lesson on literary devices into an engaging and memorable experience.

The worksheet contains concepts that are typically taught in middle school language arts curricula, around grades 6-8, although the specific grade could vary depending on the school system and the individual teacher’s lesson plan. High school students might also encounter similar exercises as a review or in more advanced contexts.

What is Figurative Language?

“figurative language” is often interchangeably used with terms such as “literary devices,” “rhetorical devices,” or “poetic devices.”

These terms refer to techniques used by writers and speakers to convey meanings or to create particular effects in their writing or speech. While “figurative language” specifically refers to words or phrases that have a meaning different from their literal interpretation, “literary devices” can also include techniques that contribute to a writer’s style, character development, narrative, and storytelling beyond just the use of figurative speech.

Engaging Students with Music

Music speaks to the soul, and when the lyrics are as rich as Taylor Swift’s, they also speak to the mind. Educators have long known the power of using music to engage students, but Swift’s songs offer a unique classroom opportunity. They are current, popular, and ripe with examples of figurative language that students can analyze and learn from.

Decoding Swift’s Lyrics

Taylor Swift’s discography is more than just a collection of chart-topping hits; it’s a gateway to understanding complex literary devices. Her lyrics often reflect themes of love, loss, and personal growth, which are universally relatable and emotionally charged – the perfect catalyst for a deeper look into the language that evokes such strong feelings.

Taylor Swift is renowned for her artful use of literary devices in her songwriting, which not only paints vivid pictures but also conveys deep emotion and storytelling.

Let’s explore some examples and the literary devices she employs:

1. Metaphor and Personification: In the line “Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes,” Swift uses metaphor and personification. The devils and angels are personified, given human actions of rolling dice and eyes, which metaphorically represents the idea of taking chances and expressing disdain or disbelief, respectively. These metaphors provide a more nuanced portrayal of risk and reaction than straightforward language could.

2. Synecdoche and Metaphor: Swift’s use of the phrase “writing letters addressed to the fire” is a beautiful example of synecdoche and metaphor. Instead of stating plainly that she burned letters, she implies it by addressing the letters to the fire, which personifies the fire as an entity capable of receiving mail. This metaphor is emotionally charged and conveys the finality and intention behind the act of burning the letters, suggesting a release or an end to what the letters represented.

3. Imagery and Connotation: “November flush and your flannel cure” showcases Swift’s skill with imagery and connotation. Rather than simply saying a boy gave her his jacket, she conjures a specific scene and mood. “November flush” suggests the chilly redness on someone’s cheeks that comes with cold weather, and “flannel cure” implies the warmth and comfort provided by the boy’s jacket. This not only sets a scene but also implies a sense of intimacy and care within the relationship.

4. Allusion: Swift often includes allusions in her lyrics, referencing cultural touchstones or personal anecdotes that resonate with listeners. For example, she may mention characters from literature or folklore to draw parallels between her stories and those well-known narratives, enriching the song with deeper meaning.

5. Extended Metaphor: In some songs, Swift uses an extended metaphor, where she takes a central metaphor and stretches it across a verse or an entire song. This can be seen in songs like “Cardigan,” where she compares a lost lover to an old cardigan under someone’s bed, which symbolizes comfort and memories, something that was once cherished and then neglected.

6. Oxymoron: Swift often uses oxymorons, placing contradictory terms side by side to highlight complex emotions that are in conflict with each other, much like the “bittersweet” nature of some memories or experiences.

7. Alliteration and Assonance: She uses alliteration and assonance to give a musical quality to her lyrics beyond the actual music. Repetition of consonant sounds (alliteration) or vowel sounds (assonance) can make a phrase more memorable and impactful.

By employing these literary devices, Taylor Swift turns simple statements into rich, emotive, and relatable stories. Her songwriting doesn’t just tell us what’s happening; it shows us, leads us through the emotions, and allows listeners to find their own stories within hers. The use of such devices elevates her lyrics, making them resonant and timeless.

The Swift Way to Learn

Our specially designed worksheet, inspired by Swift’s clever lyricism, challenges students to identify different types of figurative language. From the heart-wrenching “death by a thousand cuts” to the whimsical imagery of “a nightmare dressed like a daydream,” learners can dissect the meaning and method behind the music.

Taylor Swift Linguistic Devices Questions and Answer Key

Below is the content from the worksheet so you can see before you download.

Directions: Write the correct answer in the blank. Some might be used more than once. Some might not be used at all. 

Simile | Metaphor | Personification | Hyperbole | Idiom | Onomatopoeia | Symbol | Alliteration | Oxymoron | Pun | Situational Irony | Verbal Irony

1. Saying goodbye is death by a thousand cuts ____________________
2. I look through the windows of this love even though we boarded them up ____________________
3. Bridges burn; I never learn ____________________
4. Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place ____________________
5. And you call me up again just to break me like a promise ____________________
6. Tried to change the ending, Peter losing Wendy ____________________
7. You, with your words like knives, and swords and weapons ____________________
8. Your eyes whispered “have we met” ____________________
9. He’s long gone when he’s next to me ____________________
10. Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street faster than the wind ____________________
11. Balancing on breaking branches ____________________
12. Romeo save me I’ve been feelin’ so alone … Marry me Juliet ____________________
13. Long live the mountains we moved ____________________
14. Hold on to the memories; they will hold on to you ____________________
15. (There’s three in this one) Darling, I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream ____________________
16. The monsters turned out to be just trees ____________________
17. I’m a crumpled up piece of paper lying here ____________________
18. The rest of the world was black and white, but we were in screaming color ____________________
19. I had a marvelous time ruining everything ____________________
20. They’re burning all the witches, even if you aren’t one ____________________
21. You call me up and it’s like a little love song ____________________
22. Cherry lips, crystal skies, I could show you incredible things ____________________
23. We were both young when I first saw you ____________________
24. I walked through the door with you, the air was cold ____________________
25. The high was worth the pain ____________________
26. The lights are so bright but they never blind me ____________________
27. You’ve got that James Dean daydream look in your eyes ____________________
28. I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me ____________________
29. And the players are gonna play, play, play, play, play ____________________
30. We’re happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time ____________________

Answer Key

1. Hyperbole (Exaggerating the emotional pain of saying goodbye as if it were a series of physical cuts)
2. Metaphor (Comparing the act of looking into a past relationship to looking through windows that have been closed off)
3. Personification (Giving the bridges human qualities, as if they can burn and have the capacity to learn)
4. Simile (Comparing the falling of autumn leaves to how pieces fall into place, implying a natural order or design)
5. Metaphor (Equating a person with a broken promise, suggesting a betrayal or disappointment)
6. Allusion (Referring to the characters Peter Pan and Wendy, drawing a parallel to a story or experience ending)
7. Simile and Metaphor (Using “like” to compare words to knives and swords is a simile, but it also metaphorically attributes the qualities of weapons to words)
8. Personification (Attributing the human action of whispering to eyes, which cannot literally whisper)
9. Hyperbole (An exaggerated statement that someone is gone or absent even though they are physically present)
10. Simile and Hyperbole (Comparing loving someone to a futile and dangerous act is a simile; exaggerating the speed to be “faster than the wind” is hyperbole)
11. Metaphor (Using the imagery of balancing on fragile branches to describe a precarious or risky situation)
12. Allusion (Referring to the characters Romeo and Juliet to evoke the feeling of being alone and wanting a romantic resolution)
13. Hyperbole (Exaggerating the accomplishment as if they had the power to move mountains)
14. Metaphor (Using memories as something that can be held, suggesting that they have a tangible, supportive quality)
15. Simile, Oxymoron, Pun (Describing a complex personality with contrasting images “nightmare” and “daydream” is a simile; combining opposing terms “nightmare” and “daydream” is an oxymoron; “dressed like a daydream” suggests a play on words with “dressed” as it is not literal, which can be seen as a pun)
16. Metaphor (The monsters are not literal but represent fears or obstacles)
17. Metaphor (Comparing oneself to a crumpled piece of paper to suggest being discarded or feeling worthless)
18. Metaphor (Describing the vividness of an experience by contrasting colors)
19. Verbal Irony (The phrase implies the speaker did not literally enjoy the act of ruining things, which is usually negative)
20. Hyperbole (Exaggerating for effect; not literally burning witches)
21. Simile (Comparing a phone call to a love song)
22. Simile (Describing lips and skies using “like” to compare them to cherries and crystal)
23. Allusion (Referring to a shared knowledge of being young or a common phrase/story)
24. Personification (Attributing human qualities to the air being cold as if the air acts with intent)
25. Oxymoron (Juxtaposing the concepts of high pleasure with pain)
26. Hyperbole (Exaggeration for effect; the lights are very bright but don’t literally blind)
27. Metaphor (James Dean is associated with a specific image or persona)
28. Metaphor (Building a castle out of bricks is a metaphor for creating something strong from negative experiences)
29. Personification (Attributing human actions to players as a representation of life events)
30. Oxymoron (Describing simultaneous conflicting emotions)

Downloadable Lesson Plan – Taylor Swift Lyrics Figurative Language worksheet

For teachers looking to “Begin Again” with their approach to teaching these concepts, or for parents hoping to “Enchant” their kids with a love of language, we offer this worksheet as a free PDF download. It’s a ready-to-go lesson plan that’s sure to get “The Best Day” reviews from students and Swifties alike.

Click below to download the PDF file with the Taylor Swift language worksheet and the answer key in one digital file.

Terms of use: Free for personal use and classroom use / educational use.

By tapping into the cultural zeitgeist that is Taylor Swift’s songwriting, we can create an educational experience that’s not just effective but also enjoyable.

So whether you’re a seasoned educator or a homeschooling parent, invite Taylor into your lesson plans and watch the love for language flourish.

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Credit: We saw this idea from a student in a Taylor Swift fan group so we have used some questions from an existing worksheet and added more of our own.