Figurative Language 1
Is this a simile or a metaphor? "Her voice was music to his ears."
metaphor
Define personification in one sentence and give a one-word example (e.g., "whispering").
Personification: giving human qualities to nonhuman things. Example: "whispering" (as in "the wind was whispering").
What does "trembled" most likely mean in this sentence: "Her hands trembled as she held the pencil"?
"Shook." ("Trembled" most likely means shook.)
Which word has a more positive connotation: "curious" or "nosy"?
"Curious" has the more positive connotation; "nosy" is more negative.
What does the prefix "un-" usually do to a word? Give one example (e.g., "happy" -> "unhappy").
Prefix "un-" usually makes a word mean "not" or the opposite. Example: "happy" -> "unhappy."
Give an example of onomatopoeia using a sound from a school hallway.
A noise you would hear in a school hallway.
Rewrite this sentence as a simile: "The rocket was fast."
Simile: "The rocket was as fast as a lightning bolt." (Any appropriate simile using like or as.)
Identify the context clue that helps define "delicious" in: "The pie was delicious; everyone asked for seconds."
The clue is "everyone asked for seconds" — this implies the pie tasted very good (definition by example/context).
Explain how the words "youthful" and "childish" differ in connotation. Which is more negative?
"Youthful" suggests positive energy or freshness; "childish" suggests immature or negative behavior. "Childish" is more negative.
What is a suffix? How does the suffix "-ful" change the meaning of "joy"?
A suffix is a word ending added to a root to change its meaning or part of speech. The suffix "-ful" added to "joy" makes "joyful," meaning full of joy.
Identify the type of figurative language and explain the comparison: "The city was a jungle at lunchtime."
Metaphor - the city was crazy around noon
Explain the difference between hyperbole and understatement. Give a short example of each.
Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration (e.g., "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse"). Understatement makes something seem smaller or less important than it is (e.g., after winning a championship: "We did okay").
Give a short sentence where the word "stubborn" is used with a positive connotation and another where it's used with a negative connotation.
Inference clue: the dark clouds and wind suggest danger or threat, so "ominous" is inferred from the situation.
Give a short sentence where the word "stubborn" is used with a positive connotation and another where it's used with a negative connotation.
Positive use: "She's stubborn when she believes in a good cause" (suggests determination). Negative use: "He's stubborn and never listens to anyone" (suggests inflexibility).
Use the root "bio" to write two different words and explain their meanings.
Words from "bio": "biology" (the study of life), "biography" (a written account of someone's life). (Any two correct "bio-" words with accurate meanings are acceptable.)
Explain how an author uses imagery in this sentence: "The air smelled of cinnamon and warm bread." What senses are being used?
The author uses the sense of smell to create a warm, homey feeling for the reader.
Find the implied meaning in this metaphor: "He was a rock during the storm." What quality does it suggest about him?
Implied meaning: he is steady, dependable, strong, and unshakable in hard times.
Read this sentence: "The leader was described as 'stern' by some and 'strong' by others." Explain how connotation changes readers' feelings about the leader.
"Quiet" and "staring at his paper" suggest worry or upset; "distraught" means very upset or distressed. Those surrounding words indicate emotional disturbance.
Read this sentence: "The leader was described as 'stern' by some and 'strong' by others." Explain how connotation changes readers' feelings about the leader.
"Stern" has a stricter, possibly cold connotation; "strong" has a positive, capable connotation. Readers who hear "stern" may view the leader as harsh; "strong" suggests respect and confidence.
Explain how the prefix "re-" changes the meaning of "write." Use it in a sentence.
"Re-" means "again." "Rewrite" means to write again. Example sentence: "I will rewrite my paragraph to make it clearer."
Read the two lines of a short poem and identify the dominant figurative device, then explain its effect: "Clouds like cotton candies float above, Dreams drift up on winds of love."
The dominant figurative device is a simile which conveys a feeling of weightlessness.
Choose a short sentence and transform it into both a simile and a metaphor. (Example sentence to change: "The lake was calm.")
Example transformation (original: "The lake was calm."): Simile: "The lake was as calm as a sleeping cat." Metaphor: "The lake was a polished mirror." (Many answers possible.)
Pick a neutral word (for example, "cheap") and write one sentence showing a positive connotation and one showing a negative connotation using that word or a close synonym.
Example acceptable answer (teacher can accept equivalent): "The doctor smiled when he examined the old mole and said it was harmless. She scheduled a routine checkup and reassured the patient that no treatment was needed." (Context shows "benign" = not harmful; student-crafted two sentences demonstrating harmlessness is correct.)
Pick a neutral word (for example, "cheap") and write one sentence showing a positive connotation and one showing a negative connotation using that word or a close synonym.
Example (neutral word "cheap"): Positive connotation sentence: "I found a cheap travel deal that saved us a lot of money." Negative connotation sentence: "The clothes felt cheap and fell apart after one wash." (Accept equivalent sentences showing contrasting attitudes.)
Choose the word "careless." Break it into root and affix(es), explain how the suffix changes the meaning, and create a new word by adding a different suffix that changes the meaning in another way (e.g., "careful").
"Careless": root = "care" + suffix = "-less." The suffix "-less" means "without," so "careless" means without care (not careful). A different suffix example: "careful" = "care" + "-ful" meaning "full of care." (Acceptable alternative: "carefully" adds "-ly" to change to an adverb.)