Figurative Language
A comparison of two things using the words "like" or "as"
Similie
This term refers to the literal, dictionary definition of a word.
Denotation
This type of context clue directly gives the meaning of an unfamiliar word right inside the sentence using commas, dashes, or parentheses.
Definition Clue
This literary element is defined as the author's attitude toward the subject or audience.
Tone
Read the passage: My first flight on a jet was going fine until the very end. The pilot came on the speakers and said, "We will be beginning our descent into New York City shortly. We will be landing in just 20 minutes. What is the meaning of the word descent?
A move down
Giving human qualities, feelings, or actions to non-human objects or ideas.
Personification
This term refers to the emotional, cultural, or implied meaning attached to a word.
Connatation
Read the sentence: "He rode the bike so well, on his first try, that no one could believe he was a novice." Based on the context, what does novice mean?
Beginner
This literary element is defined as the overall atmosphere or the emotional feeling the reader experiences while reading.
Mood
Read the Passage: You must be fond of Narnia, hobbits, and Harry Potter. If you pore over Dr. Seuss, then you need not bother. Please come to Weldon Hall on Saturday morning. There will be a book club meeting that is far from boring.
What is the tone of this passage?
Playful
Identify the device in this sentence: "The classroom was a three-ring circus during the final hour before break
Metaphor
Out of the two words—thrifty and stingy—which one carries a more negative connotation?
Stingy
Read the sentence: "Unlike his gregarious sister who loved parties, Mark was taciturn and preferred to sit quietly alone." What does taciturn mean based on the contrast clue?
quiet, silent, or uncommunicative
If a text uses words like gloomy, shadows, ominous silence, and creeping dread, the mood is most likely this.
eerie, suspenseful, or scary
My history report about the Appalachian Mountains is due in three hours. Now, I have to work against the clock to turn it in on time. What does the idiom "work against the clock mean?"
to try to meet a deadline
An extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or humor, such as "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
Hyperbole
Change the word "confident" in the sentence "She is a confident leader" to a word with a negative connotation meaning overly self-assured or arrogant.
pushy, aggressive
Read the sentence: "After working in the hot sun for six hours, the exhausted worker felt parched." What word in the sentence serves as a clue that parched means extremely thirsty?
"hot sun" or "working for six hours"
True or False: The tone of a piece of writing can be humorous, sarcastic, solemn, or critical.
true
Dear Mr. Frenkel,
Thank you for the scholarship. I look forward to attending the Weldon Company Theater Workshop this summer. This is a great chance to master the basics of theater. The Weldon Company is known for having first-class instructors and exceptional programs. I appreciate your support of my theatrical pursuits.
Sincerely,
Dylan Combs
Which words contribute to the formal tone of this letter?
"Mr." and "sincerely"
Identify the specific type of figurative language in this line: "The ruthless wind ripped the warm breath straight from her lungs.
personification (and imagery)
True or False: The denotation of a word changes depending on the speaker's personal feelings, while connotation stays strictly objective
false? (Denotation is objective/literal; connotation is emotional/subjective).
When a writer uses an example right after an unknown word to explain it (e.g., “The cellar contained an abundance of provisions, such as dried meat, flour, and canned beans”), what kind of context clue is this?
example/illustration clue?
Explain the core difference between tone and mood in one sentence.
Tone is the author's attitude, while mood is the reader's felt emotion
The journalist _______ the mayor's plan to cut spending by closing the community recreation center.
Which of the following words would express a negative connotation for a word meaning "to uncover"?
Exposed