GrammarEmotive language

What is emotive language?

• Language is called emotive when it causes people to feel emotional e.g. frightened, ecstatic, disheartened

• The language used will often represent what actions a person might use to show their emotions e.g. pale cheeks, furrowed brows

• If you have just had your new bike stolen, your friends may avoid speaking about how great their bikes are as it would be an emotive subject for you since this has happened.

Example

Read the following example and decide what emotion is being shown.

The salty water that glistened in her eyes spilled over, leaving wet, track marks along each cheek – more fell with each sharp intake of air.

Example

Read the following example and decide what emotion is being shown.

The salty water that glistened in her eyes spilled over, leaving wet, track marks along each cheek – more fell with each sharp intake of air.

Answer

Sadness

Example

Read the following example and decide what emotion is being shown.

As his mother switched off the light and left the room, John tensed. He huddled under the covers, gripped the sheets, and held his breath as the wind brushed past the curtain.

Example show-not-tell

Read the following example and decide what emotion is being shown.

As his mother switched off the light and left the room, John tensed. He huddled under the covers, gripped the sheets, and held his breath as the wind brushed past the curtain.

Answer

Fear

Example

Read the following example and decide what emotion is being shown.

Upon hearing the news, her eyes widened and a giant grin spread across her face; bouncing on the heels of her feet, she could barely contain squealing in glee.

Example

Read the following example and decide what emotion is being shown.

Upon hearing the news, her eyes widened and a giant grin spread across her face; bouncing on the heels of her feet, she could barely contain squealing in glee.

Answer

Happiness

Identify and highlight the emotive language

Knuckling the salty tears from my pale cheeks, I stared blankly at the photograph my mother had slipped into my suitcase before I left. A lump formed in my throat as I struggled to catch my breath between the heaving. Over my shoulder, the sound of the wireless drifted up the stairs; Mr Tom called me,

“Children’s hour, Rose!” he chimed.

Startled, I patted my blotchy face with the sleeve of my cardigan; I didn’t want him to see me this way.

ANSWERS

Knuckling the salty tears from my pale cheeks, I stared blankly at the photograph my mother had slipped into my suitcase before I left. A lump formed in my throat as I struggled to catch my breath between the heaving. Over my shoulder, the sound of the wireless drifted up the stairs; Mr Tom called me,

“Children’s hour, Rose!” he chimed.

Startled, I patted my blotchy face with the sleeve of my cardigan; I didn’t want him to see me this way.

Character description activity

• Use adjectives and phrases to describe the four emotions represented in the boxes.

• Consider the body language and facial features someone experiencing these emotions might display.

Emotive Phrases

• Using the adjectives from the previous activity, create some emotive phrases that you could use for your writing task ‘Create a myth’.

• Write 5 sentences in your books.

• Try to include a phrase for multiple emotions.